Extra Points: Modify your morality, Peterson belongs in NFL

(SportsNetwork.com) - Montgomery County, Texas District Attorney Brett Ligon coined the phrase "modify behavior" in an effort to describe his approach in the Adrian Peterson child-abuse case.

Now that the legal process has run its course, it's time for the NFL and, perhaps more importantly, the armchair moralists to put the torches and pitchforks into storage and allow Peterson to continue his professional football career.

The only other option is to assemble some type of Gestapo and start the due diligence on the other 500-plus players scheduled to suit up on Sunday. Otherwise any perceived righteousness over Peterson's behavior is both limited and convenient, rendering it virtually meaningless.

Ligon claimed deterring Peterson from using corporal punishment on his children in the future was his ultimate goal -- that and the publicity -- after dismissing a felony charge that technically could have sent the exiled Vikings running back to jail for a year.

The reality, of course, is that a first-time offender brought up on these chargers was never going to do any jail time, never mind a defendant as financially well-heeled as Peterson. So Ligon negotiated an agreement which allowed Peterson to plead no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault and avoid jail time in exchange for two years of probation, 80 hours of community service and a $4,000 fine.

"Our No. 1 concern has always been to modify Mr. Peterson's behavior so his children are safe going forward," Montgomery County First Assistant DA Phil Grant, Ligon's spokesman, said. "For us, it was about protecting those kids. In the future, he's got other avenues to go besides that level of corporal punishment. This plea resolved that No. 1 issue."

Grant also said the boy's mother supported the agreement.

"She was on board with the decision," he said. "She wants Mr. Peterson to be involved in their son's life and make sure that it doesn't happen again."

Peterson, who was indicted Sept. 11 after being accused of using a wooden tree branch to hit his 4-year-old as a disciplinary measure, was also contrite.

"I truly regret this incident," said Peterson outside the courthouse after the agreement was reached. "I take full responsibility for my actions. I love my son more than anyone of you can imagine. I am anxious to continue my relationship with my child. I am glad this over... so me and my family can move forward."

Moving forward sounds sensible enough because the legal case is now resolved and due process has been served.

Peterson, however, remains on the commissioner's exempt list as the league and the Vikings try to figure out their next move.

The Vikings said in a statement Tuesday evening that they were aware of the plea agreement and would have a further comment "at the appropriate time."

Earlier in the day when news of the plea agreement broke NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Pro Football Talk: "We will review the court documents. We cannot speculate on a timetable for a decision," a clear indication that the NFL has learned nothing from its rudderless direction of the past.

Of course commissioner Roger Goodell fostered this atmosphere by picking and choosing where to get involved in regards to off-the-field incidents. His lack of consistency and transparency over the years created the current problem yet the league continues to double down on that flawed philosophy.

In fact it's almost mind-boggling that the NFL hadn't hammered down its position on the Peterson issue in advance of this well-publicized agreement. The league certainly knew it was coming.

The minute Peterson accepted the plea he should have been reinstated. After all, the former All-Pro has not only paid for his own sins, he's been paying for the sins of others, namely Ray Rice and Greg Hardy.

"I hope and trust (Peterson) doesn't fall prey to all these publicized events involving other people, which had nothing to do with his situation," Peterson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said on ESPN Radio Wednesday morning. "This is a parent disciplining a child and an unintended harm occurred. But it has nothing to do with child abuse, domestic abuse, family abuse and so on, so I hope he doesn't continue to get lumped in with problems others have."

Remember Peterson was initially deactivated prior to a Week 2 game against New England after being indicted and was then reinstated by the team the following Monday. Only backlash from sponsors, fans and the Minnesota government, which was at least partially fueled by a series of other high-profile incidents, caused the Vikings to reverse course and place Peterson on the commissioner's exempt list.

On a national level, sponsors are never going to flee the NFL because it's the one television vehicle that has proven immune to an increasingly over-the-top digital distribution culture where streaming services like Netflix and Hulu continue to erode traditional viewership levels.

And others, who haven't embraced the convenience of over-the-top platforms rely more and more on their DVRs, at times making commercials useless.

The NFL, along with a few other sacred cows like the NCAA basketball tourney and the NBA playoffs, have proven to be DVR-proof so while some big-time advertisers like Anheuser-Busch may bluster, that's all it is.

Radisson did flee a local sponsorship deal with the Vikings due to the A.P. scandal and if others threaten to follow suit when he ultimately returns, Minnesota has every right to release Peterson.

Keeping him in limbo, though, is not fair and should not be an option.

When you take emotion out of any situation and replace it with logic, most will realize that "due process" is one of the major reasons why this country is regarded by so many as the greatest in the world.

Peterson has already been judged in a legal sense and there should be no double jeopardy in the court of public opinion.

Let Saint Peter legislate morality.

WEEK 10 (All Times Eastern)

Cleveland (5-3) at Cincinnati (5-2-1) (-6 1/2), Thursday, 8:30 p.m. - The last time the Browns and Bengals tangled for first place this late in the season, it was nearly 30 years ago (Week 15, 1986) so obviously this is a big deal in the Buckeye State. Trends are trends for a reason and it's hard to ignore the Bengals 13-0-1 home run, along with Cleveland's 17-game road losing streak in the division.

Bengals 24, Browns 17

Miami (5-3) at Detroit (6-2) (-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Two of the NFL's best defenses clash here as the Lions' No. 1 ranked unit (290.4 yards per game) tests itself against Miami's AFC-best group (304.6 ypg). The game may come down to which QB -- the Dolphins' Ryan Tannehill or Detroit's Matthew Stafford, handles himself the best. In his past five games, Tannehill has 1,283 passing yards and 10 TDs with a 104.1 passer rating, while Stafford led 21-point comeback win in Week 8 against the Falcons.

Dolphins 21, Lions 20

Dallas (6-3) (NL) at Jacksonville (1-8) at London's Wembley Stadium, Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Cowboys and Jaguars will meet in the last of three games to be played in the United Kingdom in 2014. The contest marks Jacksonville's second visit to London in as many years, while Dallas will play its first regular- season game outside of the United States. Cowboys starting QB Tony Romo missed a loss to Arizona last week with a back injury, but traveled with the team to London and hopes to return to the lineup. He has a 24-5 record as a starter in the month of November, the best winning percentage of any quarterback in the Super Bowl era for the month. The Jags are in the second year of a four-year commitment to play one home game each season at Wembley.

Cowboys 20, Jaguars 17

Tennessee (2-6) at Baltimore (5-4) (-9 1/2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Despite being above .500, the Ravens are in the cellar of the tough AFC North thanks to a two-game skid. Baltimore, which has won three straight at home, hopes to turn things around against Titans rookie signal caller Zach Mettenberger, who will be making his second career start. Mettenberger completed 27-of-41 for 299 yards and two TDs in his first start against J.J. Watt and the Texans.

Ravens 30, Titans 13

Kansas City (5-3) (-2) at Buffalo (5-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. - A pair of 5-3 teams in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt meet in Western New York. After an 0-2 start, the Chiefs have won five of six behind Alex Smith, who has completed 120-of-169 for 1,235 yards and 10 TDs with a 109.0 passer rating over that span, including four games with 100-plus rating. Smith's teams are 21-1-1 when he starts and records a 100-plus rating. The Bills have turned it around after making the move from struggling second-year signal caller E.J. Manuel to veteran Kyle Orton, who has won three of his four starts.

Chiefs 23, Bills 21

San Francisco (4-4) at New Orleans (4-4) (-4 1/2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - These teams may have identical records but New Orleans is on top of the dreadful NFC South and the 49ers are in third place in the tough NFC West, three games south of 7-1 Arizona. The Saints have won 11 straight in the Superdome and Drew Brees has won six of his seven starts against San Francisco.

Saints 28, 49ers 20

Pittsburgh (6-3) (-4 1/2) at New York Jets (1-8), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The red-hot Ben Roethlisberger takes aim at the ailing Jets. "Big Ben" has a record 12 TD passes over the past two weeks, the first player in NFL history with six TD passes in back-to-back games. Roethlisberger also joined Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle (1962) as only players with two 6-TD games in one season. Veteran Michael Vick made his first start for the Jets last week, completing 21-of-28 passes for 196 yards and one TD for a 105.7 passer rating in Kansas City, a vast improvement from Geno Smith but not enough to keep "Gang Green" from losing again.

Steelers 27, Jets 16

Atlanta (2-6) (-1) at Tampa Bay (1-7), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Despite dismal starts nether 1-7 Tampa Bay or 2-6 Atlanta believes they are out of the NFC South race because New Orleans leads the division at 4-4. The loser of this one, though, is likely out of mulligans. Falcons QB Matt Ryan has won nine of his past 12 starts against the Bucs, who will turn back to veteran Josh McCown, began the season as the starting quarterback, but suffered a sprained thumb in a Week 3 game against Atlanta.

Falcons 21, Buccaneers 17

Denver (6-2) (-11) at Oakland (0-8), Sunday, 4:05 p.m. - The Broncos come in angry after an embarrassingly measuring-stick loss at New England. Denver QB Peyton Manning has won seven straight starts against Oakland, passing for 1,941 yards with 18 TDs versus five interceptions and a 112.9 passer rating in those games. Manning has also thrown a TD pass in 47 consecutive games, tied with Johnny Unitas for third-best in league history, Winless Oakland continues to suffer growing pains behind rookie QB Derek Carr, who leads all freshman with 1,711 passing yards.

Broncos 34, Raiders 14

St. Louis (3-5) at Arizona (7-1) (-7), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. - The Cardinals' 7-1 start is the franchise's best since 1974 and Bruce Arians' club has won eight of its past nine in the desert. Rams first-year starting QB Austin Davis will be aiming for his third consecutive division win.

Cardinals 24, Rams 17

New York Giants (3-5) at Seattle (5-3) (-9), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. - The slinking Giants visit a Seattle team that is 20-2 at home with QB Russell Wilson at the controls. Wilson has thrown 36 TD passer versus just nine picks in those 22 home games. New York may have found something offensively in a loss to Indianapolis in Week 9. Rookie WR Odell Beckham, Jr. had a career-high eight receptions for 156 yards against the Colts.

Seahawks 27, Giants 14

Chicago (3-5) at Green Bay (5-3) (-7 1/2), Sunday 8:30 p.m. - One of the NFL's oldest rivalries will be renewed on "Sunday Night Football" as the Bears travel to Green Bay to face the Packers. Both teams are coming off their bye weeks as the second half of the season begins. The Packers have won seven of eight games after byes since head coach Mike McCarthy, who just inked a three- year extension, took over in 2006. Bears embattled QB Jay Cutler is 1-9 in his career against the Pack with 19 interceptions.

Packers 31, Bears 20

Carolina (3-5-1) at Philadelphia (6-2) (-6), Monday, 8:30 p.m. - Week 10 Week 10 will finish with an NFC clash between the East-leading Eagles and the disappointing Panthers. Philadelphia moved past Dallas into first place in the with a 31-21 win at Houston last weekend but lost both the quarterback of their offense (Nick Foles, broken clavicle) and defense (ILB DeMeco Ryans, torn Achilles). For the Eagles, former Jets starter Mark Sanchez will try to keep getting the ball to Jeremy Maclin, who became the first player in franchise history to post at least 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns in consecutive games against the Texans. Despite their poor start, the Panthers remain only one win behind first-place New Orleans.

Eagles 24, Panthers 16