What to do with Adrian Peterson?

Last week on Election Day, Adrian Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor, ending the controversial child abuse case against him involving his four-year-old son. Peterson had been indicted by a Montgomery, Texas grand jury on a single felony charge of injury to a child.

In the plea agreement, Peterson agreed to two years’ probation, a $4,000 fine, and 80 hours of community service. Peterson has not played since the first game of the year against the St. Louis Rams, which was nine weeks ago.

Peterson was placed on the NFL’s rarely used commissioner’s exempt list, which allowed him to continue to get his contracted pay but he could not be around the team. The player’s association (NFLPA) is asking the NFL to reinstate Peterson immediately per the agreement the two sides made in September.

If the NFL does not comply with the agreement, the NFLPA can then file an expedited non-injury grievance to have Peterson reinstated immediately. Since Election Day November 4, the NFL wants Peterson to submit all evidence from his court case so independent experts can review those documents to make a recommendation on discipline. After that, they want him to meet with Roger Goodell, the commissioner, to discuss what happened to make a disciplinary decision.

The Vikings team — players and coaches — want Peterson back. That does not appear to be a feeling shared by team ownership. So the clock is ticking, and the Vikings travel to Chicago Sunday to play the suddenly awful Chicago Bears.

In Peterson’s plea agreement, he admitted to no wrongdoing. So the NFLPA’s position is that he should not be subject to the NFL’s newly created personal conduct policy, which could suspend Peterson for up to six weeks.

This is all playing out while the public opinion polls are mixed and the Vikings appear to be waffling at the potential hit from corporate sponsors.

In the letter the NFL sent to Peterson, the league specifically refers to the felony injury to a child charge, a clear signal that a no-contest plea to misdemeanor assault may have omitted any reference to child abuse. But the NFL will not ignore the incident in its review.

So stay tuned — this could get uglier if the NFL digs in and pushes aside the previous agreement made with the NFLPA in September and keeps Peterson on the commissioner’s exempt list and away from the Vikings.

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday-Friday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.