The Vikings would take only

MINNEAPOLIS - Adrian Petersons dispute with the NFL reached another level when the league suspended Minnesotas star running back without pay for at least the rest of the season. Cheap Sports Jerseys .As his representatives initiated an appeal, Peterson remained at the centre of an escalating argument between the league and the NFL Players Association over the player discipline process.Commissioner Roger Goodell told Peterson on Tuesday he will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15 for his violation of the NFL personal conduct policy. Peterson pleaded no contest Nov. 4 to misdemeanour reckless assault in Texas for injuries to his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch.The NFLPA quickly called for a neutral arbitrator to handle an appeal and sharply rebuked the league for what it labeled as inconsistency and unfairness in determining the discipline. The NFLs words were even stronger, with a nearly 1,600-word statement spelling out the conditions for Petersons return to the field and describing the reasons for the punishment.The NFL said Peterson would stay on the special exempt list and continue to be paid during the appeal process, but the unions attempt to at least temporarily reinstate him failed. The grievance filed against the league last week was overturned Tuesday by the arbitrator who heard the arguments, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.Even if Peterson were to win a shorter suspension with an appeal, the Vikings actually playing him would be an implausible scenario given the heat they have taken and the long time Peterson has been away from the team. The Vikings have six games left and host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.The Vikings issued only a brief statement: We respect the leagues decision and will have no further comment at this time.Fullback Jerome Felton said on Twitter that characterizing his feelings on the NFLs decision as a disagreement would be the understatement of the year. In Pittsburgh, Steelers safety Mike Mitchell questioned the system that gives Goodell executive power on player discipline.Im not just trying to bash him or come down on him, but I think players would feel better if he wasnt just judge, jury and executioner, Mitchell said.Peterson has said he intended no harm to his 4-year-old son, only discipline. Peterson was on a special exempt list at the sole discretion of Goodell, essentially paid leave while the case went through the legal system.The NFLPA said Peterson was told that would count as time served toward a suspension, citing an unidentified NFL executive. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said the stay on the exempt list was taken into account, citing aggravating circumstances for the extended suspension.Goodell announced Aug. 28 tougher punishment for players involved with domestic violence. That action stemmed from a torrent of criticism for the initial leniency toward Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice following a caught-on-camera knockout punch of the woman who is now his wife. Rice was later suspended indefinitely and recently had his appeal heard by an arbitrator.According to the enhanced policy, first offences of assault, battery or domestic violence bring a six-game suspension.Goodells letter to Peterson cited the aggravating circumstance, pointing to the childs age and the significant physical difference between him and his son.Further, the injury inflicted on your son includes the emotional and psychological trauma to a young child who suffers criminal physical abuse at the hands of his father, Goodell wrote. Second, the repetitive use of a switch in this instance is the functional equivalent of a weapon, particularly in the hands of someone with the strength of an accomplished professional athlete.Goodell also came down on Peterson for showing no meaningful remorse for hurting the boy and expressed concern that he may feel free to engage in similar conduct in the future.The injuries to the boy occurred in May. Peterson was indicted in September, a few days after the season opener. The Vikings put him on the inactive list for the next game. The day after, they announced he would resume playing until completion of his due process in court.But with the Rice backlash as a backdrop, Peterson, the Vikings and the NFL were inundated by protests as corporations cancelled sponsorships. The Vikings relented and less than two days later he was placed on the exempt list.The union has accused the league of overstepping bounds spelled out in the collective bargaining agreement.The decision by the NFL to suspend Adrian Peterson is another example of the credibility gap that exists between the agreements they make and the actions they take. Since Adrians legal matter was adjudicated, the NFL has ignored their obligations and attempted to impose a new and arbitrary disciplinary proceeding, the NFLPA said.Petersons salary for the season was $11.75 million. He will keep the money accrued while on the exempt list. But the NFLs punishment has now amounted to a 14-game ban, with six unpaid weeks. Thats the equivalent of a fine of more than $4.1 million.Peterson will turn 30 in March. There are three years and $45 million remaining on his contract, but none of it is guaranteed. The Vikings would take only a $2.4 million hit on their 2015 salary cap if they cut him before next season.___AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Sports Jerseys For Sale .com) - The Chicago Cubs reportedly signed recently-acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration. Cheap Tom Brady Jersey . -- Novak Djokovic benefited from an erroneous call and claimed he didnt realize he had broken the rules. https://www.sportsstarsjerseys.com/michael-jordan-jersey/ ." One game is checked off, 15 remain and the next one to get crossed out could come Tuesday night when the defending champion Heat host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.The Vancouver Canucks try to extend their winning streak to a season-high five games when they host the Carolina Hurricanes in Mondays interconference battle at Rogers Arena. Vancouver earned its fourth consecutive win in Sundays home triumph against Colorado. Its the second four-game winning streak of the season for the Canucks, who also went 4-0 from Oct. 22-28. The Canucks last won five in a row during a six-game tear from March 19-28 of last season. Mike Santorelli led the way in Sundays 3-1 victory against the visiting Avalanche, recording two goals and an assist to help Vancouver improve to 2-0 on its current five-game homestand. The Canucks are 7-5-3 on home ice this season. Vancouver led 1-0 after the first period and expanded its cushion to 3-0 after scoring twice in the early stages of the third. Ryan Kesler posted his team-leading 15th goal of the season just 1:32 into the final period and Santorelli made it 3-0 at the 7:17 mark. Santorelli has eight goals in 32 games this season after posting a total of 11 markers over 94 contests during the previous two campaigns. "If you want to be successful in this league, youve got to be able to hold onto leads, and tonight we did it the right way," Santorelli said. "We wanted to come out strong and not look at the time, and thats what we did." Roberto Luongo stopped 28-of-29 shots to improve to 14-8-5 this season. Backup Eddie Lack could give Luongo a rest tonight with the Canucks playing on back- to-back days. While Vancouver takes aim at a fifth straight victory tonight, the Hurricanes will try to extend their season-best winning streak to four games. Carolina has nottched three straight positive decisions against Washington, Nashville and Carolina, giving the Canes five victories over their past seven games. Michael Jordan Jersey North Carolina. After earning a 5-2 road win Thursday against the Predators, the Hurricanes returned home to beat the San Jose Sharks by a 5-3 count on Friday. Rookie Elias Lindholm capped a three-point night by scoring the go-ahead goal with six minutes remaining in the third period to help Carolina down the Sharks. Lindholm, the fifth overall pick of last summers draft, had gone five straight games without a point before posting a goal and two assists on Friday. The outburst doubled his career point total, giving the 19-year-old Swede six points on three goals and three assists in 18 games. Jordan Staal, Riley Nash and Jay Harrison each had a goal and an assist, while Eric Staal scored the other goal for the Hurricanes. Cam Ward made 22 stops for Carolina in the win. "The nice thing the guys are learning if they just stay the course and play the game the right way, youre going to get certain results consistently," Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said. Carolina will try to stay hot on the road, as the club is beginning a four- game swing on Monday. The Canes, who also are set to visit Edmonton, Calgary and Phoenix during this trip, are 6-6-1 on the road this season. The Hurricanes have not fared well in Vancouver in recent years, losing five straight at Rogers Arena. Carolina hasnt won in British Columbia since it recorded a 4-1 decision over the Canucks on Oct. 15, 1999. Vancouver has won two of three and three of the last five overall encounters in this series. ' ' '