The Hits Just Keep On Coming

Sponsors of the NFL have recently emphasized that they are starting to see a pattern of thug-like activity among the players. It's not just Rice and Peterson. It's clearly others.

To assuage those sponsors the Vikings have decided to put Adrian on their exempt list until his massive legal matters have settled. The Vikings have agreed to pay him this year. But next year's even larger salary is not guaranteed. It's very possible we have seen the last of Adrian Peterson in Vikings purple and yellow. The case could last for well over a year.

Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers was also put on the exempt list yesterday because of his domestic violence charge.

Again, any of these case by themselves may not have been a big deal. But the spotlight on the league has shown light on the bigger issue of domestic violence being in the NFL. It is a pattern, and sponsors are going to grow more wary of it.

And last night, Jonathon Dwyer, running back for the Cardinals was deactivated as well. He was charged with beating up his girlfriend and their 18-month old child.

NONE of this is going away soon. Now that women are coming forward on this matter, others will soon follow. It could very well be an epidemic of this sort of violence in the NFL. And the thugs will be dealt with.

For now, the Vikings will have to center their game plans on who they DO have and not on who they they wish they had available. And the league and their players will have to see that the handwriting is clearly on the wall. If remaining players have secrets in their domestic closets, they will come out. And the player's association will be forced to change their stance on protecting their members at all costs. Like most unions, they'll discover that public perception is way more important than their antiquated belief, that some people and their actions aren't worth protecting.

As for me, I'm looking forward to an Adrian Peterson-less season for the Vikings. I've always maintained that a good two or three back system brings you better results than having the bulk of your offense dependent on one player. I'm more than content for the Vikings to develop that system.