National Football League

Report: NFL exec promised Peterson two-game suspension in recorded call

Published Dec. 15, 2014 10:05 a.m. ET

foxsports

A recording between Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson and a top NFL executive allegedly reveals that the suspended running back was promised a shorter suspension than he ultimately received.

According to ABC News, which says that it has exclusively obtained the recording from Peterson's lawyers, Vincent promised Peterson a two-game suspension over child abuse charges in the Nov. 12 conversation. Six days later, Commissioner Roger Goodell handed down an indefinite suspension to Peterson.

In a transcript of the conversation, ABC News reports that Peterson asked, "It will be two additional games, not time served?"

"No, no, no, no ... it won't ... The one this weekend," Vincent responds, according to the report. "So really, it's just next week and you ... you ... you ... you will be back."

The conversation also allegedly includes Vincent acknowledging the potential for reinstatement.

"Unless you want a different hearing, you want a proceeding go to another hearing," Vincent says, according to the report. "You will be reinstated and back with your club, you know, potentially the ... you know, that next week."

Peterson lost his suspension appeal on Friday. According to the report, in that hearing Peterson's attorneys claimed that the league retaliated for failing to meet with officials days before, a meeting his lawyers claim was not required.

On the call, Vincent addresses the meeting.

"Yeah, that is it ... but you cannot ... you got ... you've got to act. You gotta just go through the process," Vincent, 44, said, according to the report.

Vincent then seems to make a plea to Peterson.

"I gave you my word the other day. I think we looked at each other and in my heart, I'm praying that we can just get your family restored and get you back on this field so that you can continue to be the ballplayer, the citizen, the father, the husband that God's called you to be," Vincent said, according to the report. "You've done a lot, paid ... paid a price and I think everybody is ... everybody understands that."