Vikings’ Double Reverse: Peterson on Exempt List

September 17, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Midweek musings: In case anyone wants an excellent case study of crisis management and public relations, the NFL will be happy (OK, not really happy) to provide one in Adrian Peterson. And if you want another, there’s always Ray Rice. The Vikings early Wednesday (12:47 Central time, according to a release from the team) placed their star running back Peterson on the Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission list. Which means he must stay away from all team activities.

Something to divert your attention from the NFL.

* You have to give the Vikings credit for the courage of their convictions. Especially because their action came after what sure looked like a terribly embarrassing performance Monday by general manager Rick Spielman at a press conference explaining that the team was reinstating Peterson, whom the team had deactivated for last Sunday’s game because of a sense of decency (OK, not really; public outcry was more like it in the wake of Peterson’s being indicted in Texas for child abuse). Courage? No. Convictions? Possibly Peterson in Texas.

* If nothing else, the Vikings’ banishment does quiet newspaper columns in Wednesday’s papers and much of the Tuesday night media coverage. And it may placate some of those who have been outraged by Minnesota’s mishandling of the Peterson case. “Fumbling” or “dropping the ball” does not even begin to describe how ineptly the Vikings’ ownership and front office have performed.

* The Vikings give new meaning to “panic attack.” As in management’s performance in the Peterson saga. Not to be confused with the team’s offense as it looks forward to a season minus Peterson.

* Still waiting for commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL to take action regarding Peterson. The Vikings’ action came after a day that saw Anheuser-Busch, Campbell Soup, McDonald’s and Visa voiced public concern about the lack of action from the NFL.

* Rather than issue statements (which is good PR), how about sponsors actually pulling financial support of the NFL? All talk, no action at this moment (early Wednesday), which does seem to be the way the NFL also operates (although sometimes without much talk). Is Goodell in some sort of witness-protection plan or is he merely more elusive than Gale Sayers or Barry Sanders in their prime>

* Unless the NFL takes action on Peterson, perhaps sponsors who stay can start preparing their “We support child abuse” ad campaigns.

* Yes, it appears the Vikings are saying farewell to Peterson. Unless they change their mind again. Not that that ever would happen.

* Oh, and former Ravens running back Rice (you may remember him punching out his then-fiancee in a casino elevator) has the NFL Players Association behind him in an effort to appeal his “indefinite suspension” after initially being banned two games for domestic violence. And the NFLPA wants Goodell to recuse himself from the case. Paging Mr. Goodell. Hello? Anybody home?

* Oh, and another friendly reminder: Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera (the former Bears linebacker) still is yet to say whether defensive end Greg Hardy, who was convicted of domestic violence in July, will be active for Sunday’s game. Yep, profiles in courage (or common sense or common decency) apparently won’t be adding anyone from the Panthers any time soon.

* Meanwhile, we turn to baseball for a brief respite from NFL chaos. Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta lost his no-hit bid in the eighth inning Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. The Cubs still won 7-0. The Chicago White Sox prevailed 7-5 at Kansas City. September baseball at its best. Or as good as it likely will be for Chicago’s baseball teams this season. Certainly unlikely to improve upon Arrieta’s first career complete game that featured a career-high 13 strikeouts.

* Any Cubs victory in the remaining 2014 schedule will provide hope — realistic and otherwise — for 2015.

* To their credit, the Cubs did their damage against Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto, who allowed six runs on five hits and five walks. Not exactly an outing he likely will add to his Cy Young Award resume. So the Cubs beat the Reds’ best pitcher on his worst night. Hey, you take what you can get.

* Jorge Soler hit a home run in going 2-for-3 and raising his batting average to .373. Shortstop Javier Baez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in lowering his batting average to .160. Soler has five homers and 15 runs batted in in 14 games. Meaning if he were to play 80 percent of the Cubs’ games in a 162-game season (roughly 130 games), he would hit more than 40 homers and have about 140 RBI — based on his current rate of success. Baez has 74 strikeouts in 166 at-bats. Meaning he strikes out 45 percent of the time. You don’t want to know how many strikeouts that equates to over a full season. Hey you take the bad with the good.

* Any White Sox victory in the remaining 2014 schedule similarly will provide hope — and in the case of a contending team such as the Royals — some satisfaction in an unsatisfying season.

* If nothing else, the Sox had a chance to see another bullpen perform poorly. And for a change,it wasn’t theirs.

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