He's back!

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has finally been reinstated by the NFL. He's been in limbo/on the Commissioner's Exempt List/suspended/in limbo/on the Commissioner's Exempt list since 1958. Actually he's been banished from football since September. It just feels like it's been since 1958. Or longer. This whole process has been a nightmare. It was probably worse for Peterson but he put himself into the nightmare. Not intentionally but his old-school views on discipline were clearly disagreeable to those that call the shots. Roger Goodell's "flip-a-coin" decision-making of the past year made the whole process worse. No one knew what was going on least of all the Commissioner of the NFL. Goodell finally decided to do what he should have done nearly six months ago. He reinstated Adrian Peterson just in time for the start of the Vikings offseason workouts on Monday. Here's the NFL Communication on the decision:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/16/15
http://www.twitter.com/NFL345

                             ADRIAN PETERSON REINSTATED 

Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was advised today that effective tomorrow he is reinstated as an active NFL player and may participate in all scheduled activities with the Vikings. In a letter from Commissioner Roger Goodell, Peterson was informed that he is expected to fulfill his remaining obligations to the authorities in Minnesota and Texas, as well as the additional commitments Peterson made during his April 7 meeting with the commissioner regarding maintaining an ongoing program of counseling and treatment as recommended by medical advisors. Beyond the requirement to comply with his court obligations and plan of counseling, Peterson was reminded that his continuing participation in the NFL depends on his avoidance of any further conduct that violates the Personal Conduct Policy or other NFL policies. Any further violation of the Personal Conduct Policy by Peterson would result in additional discipline, which could include suspension without pay or banishment from the NFL. Peterson was suspended without pay last November 18 for the remainder of the 2014 NFL 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 pled no contest on November 4 in state court in Montgomery County, Texas to reckless assault of the child. 

So. There you have it. Hopefully this nightmare can be put to rest. And, hopefully Goodell and his minions will use this as a lesson in how not to go about their business. Even if it's disagreeable to many consistent decision-making should be the norm.