Adrian Peterson To Appeal Child Abuse Suspension- Has Star Running Back Played His Last Game For The Minnesota Vikings?

As Adrian Peterson today announced his decision to appeal the NFL's decision to suspend him without pay for the rest of the season for his child abuse charge, people are wondering whether the Minnesota Vikings will even want the star running back on their team next year. 

As announced by the NFL on Monday, Peterson was suspended for the remainder of the NFL season, without pay. Fox Sports 1's Mike Garafolo announced this morning that Peterson and his team had filed their appeal with the league, tweeting out "Adrian Peterson's grievance was filed early this morning. League vowed in its press release on Monday it would be heard 'promptly'."

USA Today's Tom Pelissero confirmed the report, saying that the NFL Players Association appeal on behalf of Peterson is arguing that the "NFL was not objective and inconsistent with due process". 

Peterson was also denied relief from his position on the NFL Commissioner's 'exempt list', meaning he will be unable to play while the appeal process works itself out. Peterson and NFL Players Association had hoped that Peterson would be able to come off the list and perhaps even play while during his appeal, but, as reported by NBC's Pro Football Talk, arbitrator Shyam Das found that the league could keep the player on the exempt list, meaning that Peterson will still be paid during the appeal process.  

Said Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith: "That means there's no chance of Peterson being allowed to play pending the appeal of his suspension. Given that Peterson's appeal will be heard by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell - the very man who just suspended him - it is extraordinarily unlikely that Peterson will play this year."

Meanwhile, ESPN's Ben Goessling figures "it likely means Peterson's time in Minnesota is over", saying that due to Peterson not being able to be reinstated to the team before April 15, which happens to fall after the beginning of NFL free agency, the "Vikings could make the best use of the $13 million in cap space they would gain from cutting a soon-to-be 30-year-old running back."

He adds, "Peterson likely will have to take a pay cut to play again, regardless of where he ends up. It's easier to imagine him making a fresh start in another city." 

What do you think; should Minnesota try to work things out with their superstar running back, or should they cut bait and move on without him?