Bedard On Peterson Suspension: 'NFL Making Crap Up As They Go Along'
BOSTON (CBS) - The MMQB's Greg Bedard, also a weekly guest on 98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger & Massarotti, spoke with Toucher & Rich Tuesday morning after news came out that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been suspended for "at least" the remainder of the 2014 season for "violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy in an incident of abusive discipline that he inflicted on his four-year-old son last May."
Peterson was initially placed on the NFL's commissioner's exempt list after he was accused of beating his 4-year-old son with a switch in Texas. He pled no contest on November 4 in state court in Montgomery County, Texas, and now his reinstatement to the league cannot be considered until April 15, 2015.
Peterson is appealing, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
While most find Peterson's actions disgraceful, Bedard and others have also been very critical of commissioner Roger Goodell for his abuse of power.
"[Goodell] has the right to do this because the commissioner can do whatever he wants basically. Ever since the Ray Rice scandal, the policy of the NFL has been to make crap up as they go along," Bedard said of Goodell, a man he believes should step down from his role.
Bedard notes the commissioner's exempt list was something the league pulled out of thin air, and believes this hardline stance on off-field problems is merely for public relations.
"They're basically being swayed by advertisers and public sentiment. People in the NFL, or some people, have been abusing their girlfriends, wives and children for years and nobody did anything," said Bedard. "Then all of a sudden this Ray Rice video comes out and now they just realize it's a problem? It's embarrassing."
In conclusion, Bedard is of the mind that the NFL and NFLPA are in for one hell of a fight, because he believes Goodell is exercising power outside of his reach.
"What Adrian Peterson did was a terrible thing. From his comments and his background there's obviously a disconnect between what Adrian Peterson thinks is okay and what the civilized world thinks is okay in terms of rearing your children -- obviously that needs to be corrected. With what he's gone through in the court system, what he agreed to in the court system, something needed to change. The NFL has the power to be the conduit for good and make Adrian Peterson understand his problems," said Bedard.
"He sat out for nine games. Yes he's been paid, but nine games for a guy who has never been in trouble before is an unprecedented suspension. I just think it's ridiculous and it's way too far-reaching."
Listen below for the full interview:
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