Adrian Peterson reinstated after suspension overturned; NFL plans to appeal

UPDATE: The NFL has announced that they have looked at the decision and will appeal it. An NFL spokesperson released this statement earlier on Thursday:

"Judge Doty’s order did not contain any determinations concerning the fairness of the appeals process under the CBA, including the commissioner’s longstanding authority to appoint a designee to act as hearing officer. Even so, we believe strongly that Judge Doty’s order is incorrect and fundamentally at odds with well-established legal precedent governing the district court’s role in reviewing arbitration decisions. As a result, we have filed a notice of appeal to have the ruling reviewed by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. In the interim, Adrian Peterson will be returned to the Commissioner Exempt List pending further proceedings by appeals officer Harold Henderson or a determination by the Eighth Circuit Court."

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Arguably the best running back in the NFL is now able to play football again.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been reinstated after his suspension was overturned, according to multiple media reports:

Judge Doty has overturned Adrian Peterson decision and Peterson now will be reinstated, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 26, 2015

So that means Adrian Peterson is back and active, available to return to the Vikings, be traded or be released.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 26, 2015

NFL has no comment on the Peterson decision for now. They're reviewing the decision.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 26, 2015

Though he missed all but one game this past season due to a suspension related to domestic violence, Peterson is still considered one of, if not the best running back in the league. Then again, after rushing for more than 2,000 yards in the 2012 season, he was held to 'just' 1,266 yards in 2013 after missing two games with a groin injury.

Then in 2014, Peterson was indicted in Texas on a charge of injury to a child, and he ended up playing in just one game before being suspended for the rest of the season.

There's also tension between Peterson and the Vikings, which could lead to him forcing his way out of Minnesota. According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, Peterson wants the Dallas Cowboys to trade for him, but that report has been refuted.

Still, there have been plenty of rumblings that Peterson isn't happy with Minnesota failing to fight harder for him to not be suspended for the duration of the 2014 season.