The NFL reacted with too little urgency in the Ray Rice case, and now has gone overboard to hammer Adrian Peterson.

Peterson has played in one game this season for the Minnesota Vikings, spending the rest of his time in the NFL’s version of suspended animation. After pictures emerged of the “discipline” he imposed on his son, he became a violator of certain NFL behavioral standards.

But his court case is over. He pleaded no contest earlier this month to a misdemeanor. The NFL, rather than hit him with time served, Tuesday suspended him for the rest of the season with possible reinstatement in April of 2015.

No one likes what Peterson did to his child. The court has dealt with that. He has paid by giving up half a season of his career, and we know NFL careers can be very short.

The NFL Players Association is appealing the NFL’s ruling and the comments by its executive director, DeMaurice Smith, seem to be right on point. Speaking on ESPN’s Mike and Mike radio show Tuesday morning, Smith said: “The process that the NFL has employed since the beginning of the season has been arbitrary, inconsistent, uneven and inconsistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement,” Smith said. “You get the feeling over the last few months that the National Football League has simply been making it up as they go along.”

The bad publicity that followed the earlier, light punishment of Rice for smacking his fiancée in a casino elevator seems to have inclined the NFL to get way too tough as if making up for past errors.

Smith is right. How about a clear and direct set of rules from the NFL, and a reinstatement for Peterson?

Today’s Question

Do you agree with the NFL’s suspension of Peterson, or should he be reinstated?

Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .