Hidden away among old shirts and dusty suit jackets in the forgotten section of my wardrobe hang three NFL jerseys.
These seemingly innocuous garments provide a daily reminder of my failed fandom, my very own twist on the Madden Curse.
You see the three jerseys adorn the names Vick, Rice and Peterson.
All were in my possession before those players went from famous to infamous. Before their names became synonymous with dog-fighting, domestic violence and child abuse (respectively).
And in my wardrobe these jerseys will remain, because I can’t, in good conscience, wear any of them in public, right?
The first jersey was a gift – an oversized Michael Vick Atlanta Falcons Number 7.
It was given to me about a year before the dog-fighting charges surfaced.
In 2006, Vick enjoyed arguably his best year in Atlanta.
He had 22 touchdowns and more than 3500 yards from scrimmage. He was one of the most electrifying players in the NFL and the jersey remained a regular in my sporting clobber rotation.
In 2007, he was charged with operating an interstate dog-fighting ring, suspended indefinitely by the NFL, dropped by his sponsors, released by the Falcons, jailed for 23 months and forced to declare bankruptcy.
His fall from grace was dramatic and he was deservedly severely punished.
But Vick has paid for his sins.
He has stayed out of trouble since and rebuilt his career. The dog-fighting charges will always follow him, but they no longer define him.
He has worked to become so much more; a mentor, the NFL Comeback Player of the Year and the founder of a charitable organisation.
And yet the Vick Falcons jersey remains stashed away, that period of his career tarnished forever.
But I have higher hopes for the future of Adrian Peterson and my purple and white Vikings singlet.
Peterson deserves to be punished for his actions. There should be no argument there. Whether you want to call it child abuse or parental discipline, Peterson crossed the line. He hit a four-year-old boy with a stick hard enough to leave marks on his legs, ankles and genitals.
But what Peterson shouldn’t be asked to do is pay for the sins of disgraced running back Ray Rice, who punched his fiancée to the ground in a casino elevator. Nor should he have to absolve the transgressions of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who got Rice’s punishment so wrong it caused widespread outrage.
But that is what Goodell is making him do. Peterson deserved to miss the games he did and deserves to be docked pay for those games. But he doesn’t deserve to be suspended until at least April, 2015.
Peterson is being made a scapegoat because the league messed up so publicly on Rice.
I read one analysis that compared it to Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The initial two-game punishment of Rice was too lenient, the punishment of Peterson too severe.
The drama started with the Vikings sitting Peterson against the Patriots on September 14, two days after he was charged with child abuse and a warrant for his arrest was issued.
The next day Peterson was reinstated and was expected to play against New Orleans.
A day later, after pressure from sponsors and consultation with the NFL, Peterson was placed on the exempt/commissioner list.
This month, Peterson resolved the case. He was placed on probation, ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and perform 80 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to reduced charge of reckless assault.
Peterson was hoping to be reinstated immediately, at the very least he believed he would receive time served on his suspension.
But then the NFL goes and moves the goal posts, disciplining Peterson under the enhanced personal-conduct policy cooked up as the backlash over Rice was being turned up.
Under that policy, a first-time offense involving domestic violence would be an automatic six-game suspension.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith was on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike this week and said, “You get the feeling that over the last few months that the National Football League has simply been making it up as they go along”.
He is right. But it is partly the NFLPA’s fault that Peterson can not play until at least next year. The union collectively bargained an agreement allowing such vagueness from Goodell.
The commissioner took advantage of the language in the agreement to interpret the rule however he saw fit, doing what he thought necessary to keep Peterson off the field in 2014.
After bungling the Rice case, he couldn’t afford the public relations storm that would come if Peterson was allowed to suit up again so soon.
In a scathing letter to Peterson explaining his discipline, Goodell cited the three main reasons Peterson would not play again this year: the victim was a four-year-old, the “repetitive use of the switch” was akin to using a weapon and Peterson had shown “no meaningful remorse” for his actions.
The first two points may be valid but the third is unfair. Peterson apologised for the hurt he caused his son in a written statement in September and did so again this week. It’s a convenient reasoning for a league that feels bound by public pressure to deliver a strong stand.
You could say Goodell did what a Texas court couldn’t or wouldn’t – hold Peterson accountable for one of society’s most heinous acts: child abuse. You could argue the end justified the means. But Goodell wielding his unchecked powers leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Peterson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, criticised the punishment on ESPN this week, comparing the approach to Peterson’s case to the handling of Rice’s domestic violence case.
“I’m just amazed the way they just keep making these things up as they go along,” Hardin said.
“They looked bad in the earlier things. With Ray Rice, they handled things badly, publicly. And now, they’ve just decided to make Adrian the scapegoat for all of their past failings.”
I think he has a point. Peterson was at fault in using excessive discipline that caused temporary bodily harm to his son. But hasn’t he been punished enough – he has lost millions in endorsements, had his reputation tainted and spent months off the field.
Had this incident occurred last year, before the climate around player conduct and domestic violence had changed, then Peterson may have missed one or two games and it would have all been forgotten.
“This man has paid a tremendous price for making a mistake in spanking his son,” Hardin says.
“When is enough, enough? I would suggest enough was enough a long time ago. This is a good man who believed he was doing the right thing in raising his child and made a mistake in the process. He left no lasting injury. The NFL didn’t need to do another thing. We’re supposed to give people second chances, not self-righteously blast them repeatedly.”
Peterson has since appealed his suspension, with the NFLPA has called Goodell’s punishment “unprecedented, arbitrary and unlawful”.
Peterson has paid for his bad judgement, now the NFL wants him to pay for everyone else’s.
For now, the Peterson jersey remains resigned to the back of the wardrobe along with Rice and Vick. But it won’t be there forever. Peterson will be back. And if his miraculous recovery from ACL surgery has shown us anything, he will be better than ever.
mushi
Guest
Oh Brian M the man who said we should cheering Adrian Peterson for whipping his kid’s testicles! I’m guessing from all your comments dating back to September you’ve gotten in a little trouble for “discipline” in the past, is that what’s kept you busy of late a little action involving a frisky toddler? “Did anyone even ask what Peterson’s child did? We were never told. Perhaps it was something very serious. “ He pushed another of Peterson’s kids over (a half sibling I believe as AP has a fair few baby momma’s out there). If you are going to whip pre-school age kids for that with tree branches until they bleed then we are going to have an environmental problem and need some blood donors. What is the appropriate punishment if he punches a kid – cut his testicles off? “There’s a lot of criticism in America of black fathers who aren’t involved in their kids lives. Peterson actually cares enough to try to teach his kid right from wrong.” You should look into his parenting record first there before giving him father of the year and then you’d see how he barely knew one of his other children (to another woman) whom was killed via domestic abuse sorry you call it “discipline”. Beating a 4 year old for pushing someone over doesn’t teach him right from wrong it teaches him small problems are solved with extremely violent reactions. “Many kids today get zero discipline.” Yes any many more get discipline, it is just only violent troglodytes believe discipline has to result in open wounds on your legs 4 days later. You keep building this straw man that relies on the assumption that the only form of discipline is violence which delivers lasting injury. “Of course, the parent is always wrong today and children have all the rights to do whatever they wish.” The parent is only wrong if they violently attack their child to vent their own frustrations, which is what AP did. Plenty of parents manage to walk the very fine line of not letting their kids get away with everything and you know, not physically maiming them. And yes the child does have the right to live without being assaulted. This shouldn’t be a major surprise to anyone. “Children threaten to call child protective services if they don’t get their way on something.” The child didn’t threaten to call anyone, for starters he’s 4 so I don’t think he is screaming out “child protective services” and when it was uncovered he actually believed if he told on AP then Petersen would punch him in the face.
Brian M
Guest
There's a lot of criticism in America of black fathers who aren't involved in their kids lives. Peterson actually cares enough to try to teach his kid right from wrong. Many kids today get zero discipline. Did anyone even ask what Peterson's child did? We were never told. Perhaps it was something very serious. Of course, the parent is always wrong today, and children have all the rights to do whatever they wish. Children threaten to call child protective services if they don't get their way on something.
tk
Guest
Are you serious? Your article made me angry. Most people show remorse when they are caught especially when you are getting paid the salary package he is. I would be sorry too if it meant the potential of losing all that money. The pictures show a complete disregard for the kid. It does not matter if this is the way you were raised. In this day and age you should know better. I was raised the same way but that is not the way I treat my kids. Kids are vulnerable and gullible. This kid is scarred for life. Even if you are spanking them did he really have to hit the kid so hard that it left those marks on him. I agree the NFL stuffed up with Rice and they should have thrown the kitchen sink at him and that may have influenced Peterson's charges but so it should. The NFL has now made a firm stance against child abuse and domestic violence and that's the way it should be.
mushi
Guest
Quick question are you a parent Sam? As to your question both, I do think a rich football player in Texas is about as good a shot as you get for this type of behaviour. Let’s be honest most legal systems benefit the haves over the have nots, this isn’t going to equalise any time soon but one area which normally does help is the public damage to their reputation which is often part of what they trade off of. The NFL should be responsible for punishing him as a public figure he plays a part in “representing” what the NFL is about. It also depends on if they want to genuinely be a “socially” responsible league but let’s be honest Goodell would schedule a match in a gas chamber with one team in full third Reich regalia if he thought he could make a buck of it without any lasting negativity. Is he worth the money he’s paid if playing him builds a negative news cycle and allows other sports to close the gap on “representing” the community? No. When Barry sanders suddenly retired the league survived, good players will come and go and as long as you protect the community’s connection with the league it will flourish. I work in a role where I represent my company as an adviser to clients. If I do something like this my contract is toast, my deferred bonuses forfeited and the previous 2 years would need to be paid back. I would also be untouchable in the market and looking for a new career.
Sam Rigney
Expert
Ok intent aside, but I'm curious to hear who you guys think should end responsible for punishing Peterson? The courts? The NFL? Both? Goodell appears to be correcting the mistakes of the legal system rather than looking to them for guidance. Is this going to be the norm now or is Adrian Peterson the exception?
mushi
Roar Guru
when this first broke he said when the facts came out he'd be vindicated. All his comments suggested he felt his behavior was entirely appropriate. He only changed his tune when he went to trial. This suggests a pattern of behavior. Not something he would have been remotely remorseful for if it didn't affect football. I believe he's remorseful for the impact in his nfl career but that is it. As for no malice, wow. So you think he genuinely had the kids interests at heart as he stuffed leaves into his mouth and then violently struck him. He's already screwed the kid up, the little guy thought he would "get punched in the face" if he told the truth.
Tigranes
Guest
Angus I think one part of peterson's defence was that was how he got disciplined as a child in east texas. I do think Peterson showed some remorse...however one thing about the man I found distasteful was that he only met one of his children just before he died...seriously do these NFL players knock up that many chicks they have heaps of illegitimate kids around the place?
Angus
Guest
How could you beat a child, your own child no less, while they are screaming and crying without malice? The pictures of the abuse doled out on the child are horrifying and the pain that child suffered will not be temporary like the scars you describe in your column, it will follow him all his life. He plead down because he is a millionaire with high quality lawyers who knew he was guilty, but make no mistake if you or I was caught in the same situation we would be serving time. Peterson got off easy.
Sam Rigney
Expert
He showed remorse, mushi. I firmly believe his crime is one of ignorance and stupidity and not malice.
Sam Rigney
Expert
Hey Tigranes. No 52 jersey. But I did think it was interesting that the double murder stuff was always in the background of Lewis's career, until the Ravens made the Super Bowl in 2012-2013 when it was suddenly huge news again and was constantly being revisited by mainstream media. Surely he is either involved/responsible or not, that argument shouldn't be revisited just because his name is in the news again a decade after the fact.
Dominic Davies
Expert
Good read Sam. Certainly something to think about. While I don't think the legal system gave him the punishment he deserved, it's clear the NFL is trying to make amends for their Ray Rice mistakes.
mushi
Roar Guru
Hmm not sure i agree. Guy whipped his kids scrotum and showed no remorse. The only crime being paid for is his.
Tigranes
Guest
Sam Did you have.a ray Lewis jersey as well? Hasn't done too badly for a bloke who was probably looking at a potential double murder...won a Super Bowl and got a job with ESPN as an analyst.
Sam Rigney
Expert
Good point, James. What Hardy did sounds deplorable, but you're right he was caught up in the Ray Rice fall out as well.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Goodell made a complete hash of the Ray Rice fiasco. The NFL owners wont remove him as he makes them too much money.
James
Guest
if you think peterson is being treated unfairly due to the timing of the incidence spare a thought for Greg Hardy. he has also lost a year and most likely won't be a Panther again. if all players that are accused of something are suspended for the year then I'll be interested when an elite QB gets accused of something similar to Hardy. I doubt he'll be hit as hard.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
The NFL seriously needs to look at an independent commission because Goodell is and has always been just an owner's puppet. The owner's will never agree to an independent commission of course because they pay a lot of money for the franchises and make lots of money. Still previous commissioners like Tagliabue operated in the same landscape as Goodell and ruled with a much fairer and firmer hand, as shown with his dealings with Al Davis. Goodell has dropped the ball on far too many ocassions now from Spygate to the Saints to recent off field incidences. The Rice incident in particular raised far too many questions. For the good of the game Goodell must stand down. Good article by the way.
Al
Guest
Did you actually see the photos of the injuries that this violent thug inflicted on his own child? He should be locked up but because he is good at the intellectually mind-blowing task of running fast whilst carrying an air filled oblate spheroid, he gets off easy.
Adam Hallinan
Roar Rookie
well said