Newly Released Audio Suggests The NFL Promised Adrian Peterson A Two-Game Suspension

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has released a November 12 audio recording of a conversation between him and the NFL's executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent in which Vincent promises Peterson a two-game suspension, according to ABC News.

“It will be two additional games, not time served?” Peterson asked Vincent in the recording.

“No, no, no, no … it won’t … The one this weekend,” Vincent said. “So really, it’s just next week and you … you … you … you will be back. Unless you want a different hearing, you want a proceeding go to another hearing. You will be reinstated and back with your club, you know, potentially the … you know, that next week.”

The NFL later suspended the All-Pro running back indefinitely, and won't allow him to come back until next season.

Peterson pleaded no contest with no jail time in a child abuse case involving his 4-year-old son, and he lost his suspension appeal Friday. At that appeal hearing, his lawyers claimed the league retaliated against the former NFL MVP for failing to meet with the league days before he was suspended, which his lawyers claimed was not required under NFL rules.

During the appeal, Vincent denied making promises to Peterson, saying, “I didn’t promise Adrian anything. Never promised. Adrian needed to show up … all things were to be considered.”

The NFLPA has filed a lawsuit against the league on Peterson's behalf.

This is the latest black eye for the NFL, who is already struggling to repair its image after the way the Ray Rice case was handled. An independent arbitrator ruled against the league in that case.