My initial post in regards to Adrian Petersons ticket for driving 54 MPH faster than he should have been in a 55 MPH zone suggested that the worst Peterson should expect is the ticket and perhaps spending some time on the bench.
That may not be true. His punishment may be more severe than that.
In 2005, Minnesota passed a law stating that anyone caught driving over 100 MPH would have their license revoked. Minnesota State Senator Steve Murphy, who sponsored that law, thinks Peterson will pay the same price as anyone else that drives that fast.
Mr. Peterson is going to be walking for a little while. Thats an automatic suspension for anything over 100 mph, Murphy said. Just because he can go 100 mph on the football field doesnt mean he needs to go 100 mph on our roads.
Peterson can, of course, challenge the citation within 21 days from when it was written. This would require a court appearance.
Murphy also said, Maybe Adrians miscue will save the life of someone else and thats the good that can come out of this.
Minnesota State Patrol Captain Matt Langer, who was not the officer that stopped Peterson, gave the Associated Press this quote to put the speed at which Peterson was driving into context. He said, Any time you speed at all its dangerous, but to that extreme its just absolutely ridiculous.
In the same article, Brad Childress offered up weird quote on the matter. I dont know. Id stay out of the police industry, if that in fact is true, Childress said, adding: You got to take care of yourself. You cant put yourself in harms way. Anybody get what hes trying to say? I dont.
Childress did not say if Peterson would face punishment from the team.
I would be surprised if the hammer did not fall fairly hard and swift on Peterson from the powers-at-be within the Vikings organization.
In an effort to get public funding for a new stadium, Zygi Wilf and company have gone to great lengths to preach and practice high character in regards to their players off the field actions. Since trouble seemed to follow many Vikings players around prior to 2006, the Wilfs have managed to field a team of players that (for the most part) have been squeaky clean off the field.
Wilf will not be happy to see the image of the Vikings team gain a tarnish, no matter how insignificant people might feel this incident was, during their final push to get funding for a stadium.
Wilf will try to deal with any obstacles in his way of getting that funding, and Adrian Peterson is not exempt from being viewed as an obstacle that needs to be dealt with.
My guess is that Peterson will see some time on the bench very soon.
My other guess is that Sidney Rice will not find it so funny if Peterson steals his car during training camp again.