Running back Adrian Peterson will meet up with representatives from the NFL Tuesday morning in an attempt to figure out his playing status for the 2015 season, Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo reported Monday.
Neither the league or Peterson’s agent Ben Dogra will comment on the impending meeting, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated publicly before that he’d planned to meet with Peterson before his suspension was lifted.
The Minnesota Vikings running back spent all but one game on the Commissioner’s Exempt List last season as a de facto suspension for a bloody beating he gave his young son with a switch.
Peterson is officially suspended until April 15, but has appealed that ruling by the NFL. With the 15th fast approaching, it doesn’t really seem like an issue now. As part of his punishment, Peterson is supposed to visit a psychiatrist, Dr. April Kuchuk of the New York University Department of Psychiatry and begin a counseling and treatment program.
It remains unlikely @AdrianPeterson will be reinstated before April 15 _ which has always been @nflcommish date for consideration
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) April 6, 2015
Peterson, through his agent, has made it clear he doesn’t plan on returning to Minnesota and the team has been actively shopping him in a trade. His $12.75 million a year salary has been an issue, not only in moving him, but for teams that would want to add Peterson to their roster even getting him under the salary cap.
With former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice cleared to play and Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy just waiting for a suspension, there doesn’t appear to be any real roadblocks for Peterson to resume his NFL career.
Bengals add wideout Denarius Moore
Denarious Moore was a rising star in the NFL for the first three years of his career, but an injury-plagued 2014, coupled with a rookie quarterback, ended his time in Oakland with the lowest numbers of his career.
On to Cincinnati (via @AlbertBreer): http://t.co/YEiO16iZUz #NFLFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/s6OyiOyzZ6
— NFL (@NFL) April 6, 2015
Monday the Cincinnati Bengals decided to add the 6-foot, 190-pound Moore to their wide receiver unit with a one-year contract. Moore adds one more weapon to a crowded Benglas receiver squad along with A.J. Green, Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones and Brandon Tate. Moore’s best season was in 2012 where he caught 51 passes for 741 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season was the first where Moore didn’t catch at least five touchdowns. He had zero in 2014.
Colts bolster defense with Dwight Lowery
Safety Dwight Lowery got another chance as an NFL starter last season and didn’t waste it. It couldn’t come at a better time for the eight-year veteran as he was able to cash in with a one-year deal with a the Indianapolis Colts, joining a potential Super Bowl contender.
Lowery recorded 79 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and five passes defended with the Atlanta Falcons last year. All were his best numbers since his rookie season with the New York Jets in 2008. The Colts are Lowery’s fourth team since joining the NFL as a fourth-round pick out of San Jose State. Lowery spent three injury-plagued seasons with the Jaguars from 2011-13.
49ers add Nick Bellore to special teams
You can rest easy San Francisco 49ers fans, because regardless of your quarterback situation, the retirement epidemic on your defense or a head coach that no one would hire to manage the cleaning crew at a Denny’s, because your special teams issues are settled. Linebacker Nick Bellore joined the 49ers this week after spending the last two seasons with the New York Jets. Bellore has 90 special teams tackles in his career. So that should probably make up for losing Chris Borland and Patrick Willis in less than month.
Other recent moves
The Redskins sent an undisclosed 2016 draft pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for safety Dashon Goldson. Goldson had 80 tackles for the Bucs last season and appeared in 14 games.
Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Stephen Schilling is retiring from the NFL at 26 years old, saying that it was a personal choice. Schilling started three games for the Seahawks last season before suffering a knee injury.
The Minnesota Vikings added free agent quarterback Mike Kafka, one of the few standouts at the recent NFL Veteran’s Combine. They also added defensive end Caesar Rayford and cut quarterback Pat Devlin.
The Benglas brought back backup quarterback Josh Johnson after a year away with the 49ers. Backup offensive lineman J’Marcus Webb signed with the Oakland Raiders
