Adrian Peterson is free to resume his NFL playing career after a federal judge ruled that the NFL arbitrator “failed to meet his duty” in Peterson’s disciplinary hearing and subsequent punishment.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith called the ruling a “victory for the rule of law, due process and fairness.” No word on what Peterson’s son thinks since he’s probably afraid to open his mouth.
U.S. District Judge David Doty said in his ruling that the NFL disregarded the “law of the shop,” whatever that means, under the current collective bargaining agreement between the players and the league. Doty said, “The court finds no valid basis to distinguish this case from the (Ray) Rice matter.” Which, you probably remember, the NFL also lost.
“Our collective bargaining agreement has rules for implementation of the personal conduct policy and when those rules are violated, our union always stands up to protect our players’ rights,” Smith said. “This is yet another example why neutral arbitration is good for our players, good for the owners and good for our game.”
Peterson and his agent have made it clear over the last week that he doesn’t plan to return to the Minnesota Vikings. The All-Pro running back will not find too much trouble getting a new job in the NFL, though he probably won’t be asked to babysit anytime soon.
Titans offensive tackle Michael Roos retires
One of the best veteran free agents on the market this season has decided instead to call it a career. Roos played 10 seasons, all with the Titans and for three different head coaches. Roos missed most of last season with a knee injury.
“Michael was such an intelligent football player,” Mike Munchak, Roos’ former head coach and current offensive line coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, said. “He always understood his opponent, our offensive scheme, their defensive scheme and all the angles involved.”
Eagles release guard/tackle Todd Herremans
The Philadelphia Eagles will be in the market for a new right guard after cutting ties with 10-year veteran Todd Herremans Thursday in a salary cap related move. Herremans was a consistent starter for the Eagles, but missed half of last season with a torn bicep.
Herremans was a versatile lineman, making starts at every offensive line position except center in his decade with the team. The Eagles will have to eat $2.4 million of Herremans’ $5.2 million cap number this season.
Jaguars send Will Blackmon packing
Injuries cost veteran cornerback Will Blackmon half a season in 2014 and his job Tuesday. The eight-year veteran will hit the open market again for the fourth time in his career after the Jacksonville Jaguars announced his release.
Blackmon has always been a talented player that’s had trouble staying on the field. Only once, in 2008 with the Green Bay Packers, was Blackmon able to play a full 16 games. His second best season was 2013 with the Jaguars where he just missed one game. Those were the only two seasons of Blackmon’s career where he played more than nine games.
Blackmon recored 30 tackles last year with one forced fumble and a sack. The Jagaurs gain $920,000 in salary cap space with the release.
Steelers will not place franchise tag on Jason Worilds
With the announcement that the Pittsburgh Steelers will not use the franchise tag on outside linebacker Jason Worilds, wallets likely began buzzing and begging to be opened in New York, Buffalo and Arizona.
The Steelers are notorious for not paying to keep their own players outside of quarterbacks and the occasional wide receiver and Worilds is the latest player they’ve developed into a budding superstar then set loose in the world.
Last season Worilds recorded 59 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception and two passes defended. He immediately moves to the top of half the league’s free agent boards and will get a contract offer the Steelers will likely be unwilling to match or surpass.
