The NFL’s tumult deepened Wednesday with the arrest of Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer on suspicion of domestic violence, hours after two other players, Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy, were placed on indefinite leave by their teams.
The NFL’s tumult deepened Wednesday with the arrest of Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer on suspicion of domestic violence, hours after two other players, Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy, were placed on indefinite leave by their teams.
Since the video emerged last week of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee in a casino elevator, the NFL has been besieged by the fallout from a series of off-field incidents that have led to criticism from sponsors and calls for Commissioner Roger Goodell’s resignation.
The 25-year-old Dwyer is the latest addition to a storm that hasn’t abated.
According to multiple reports, Phoenix police arrested Dwyer on suspicion of aggravated assault in connection with two July incidents involving a woman and a young child. The accusations include fracturing one of the woman’s bones and preventing her from calling 911.
The Cardinals deactivated Dwyer from all team activities because of the “serious nature of the allegations” and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
Some NFL players seemed incredulous about the latest incident.
“You know its not that hard!!!! Keep your … hands off women!!!! God made women for you to Lean on them Not beat on them,” Baltimore Ravens receiver Steve Smith tweeted.
Cardinals defensive end Darnell Docket added on Twitter: “I swear some people don’t know how lucky to be able to ‘play’ in the NFL.”
Earlier in the day, the Minnesota Vikings reversed course and placed Peterson on the exempt-commissioner’s permission list. The little-used maneuver bars the six-time Pro Bowl player from all team activities while still being paid after last week’s indictment on a charge of reckless or negligent injury to a child after allegations he beat his 4-year-old son with a tree branch. Peterson will remain away from the team until the legal proceedings are finished.
Originally, the Vikings said Peterson would play this weekend after sitting out last Sunday’s game. That drew a flurry of criticism, including Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton describing the situation as a “public embarrassment.” Numerous sponsors cut ties with Peterson, the NFL’s most valuable player in 2012, and the Radisson hotel chain suspended its sponsorship of the Vikings.
In a news conference Wednesday, the Vikings ownership called reinstating Peterson a mistake, but said the decision wasn’t driven by financial concerns.
“In the end, it really is about getting it right, and that’s what we wanted to do here,” said Mark Wilf, who owns the franchise with his brother, Zygi. “We made a mistake and the main thing is we are getting it right.”
The NFL Players Association described the move as a “voluntary leave” by Peterson “to take care of his personal and legal issues.”
Peterson previously acknowledged disciplining his son with a “switch.”
Not long after the Vikings exiled Peterson, the Carolina Panthers did the same with Hardy.
In July, a North Carolina judge found the defensive end guilty of assault on a female and communicating threats. Hardy has appealed the ruling and is scheduled for a jury trial on Nov. 17.
Hardy played in one game this season, but this week Panthers coach Ron Rivera described the situation around the standout defender as “fluid.” On Wednesday, that turned into placing Hardy on the exempt-commissioner’s permission list until his legal case is resolved. Hardy will still collect his $13.1 million salary while sidelined.
“The biggest thing was that Greg wanted to try to take away the distraction,” Rivera told reporters Wednesday. “He also wanted to be focused on making sure that he takes care of business that needs to be taken care of.”
The Panthers called the move a “voluntary leave of absence.”
Dwyer, who had 16 carries in two games this season for the Cardinals, will be subject to the NFL’s newly enhanced domestic violence policy that calls for a six-game suspension for the first offense. Goodell announced the policy in August following widespread criticism over the initial two-game suspension of Rice.
After the recording of Rice’s punch became public, Goodell suspended the former Baltimore Ravens running back indefinitely. The NFLPA is appealing the punishment.