Chip Scoggins: Insist on change before bringing Peterson back

Adrian Peterson's locker stall inside Winter Park is filled with personal items and workout clothes. His helmet hangs on a hook. Everything looks the same as he left it.

Peterson remains banished from the team, seemingly out of sight, out of mind. But for how much longer?

ESPN reported this weekend that Peterson's legal team has been engaged in talks on a possible plea agreement in his felony child-abuse case. The media outlet, citing sources, said a resolution could come as soon as Tuesday.

And then what?

That's where things become more complicated. It's unknown how the NFL and the Vikings would proceed if Peterson pleads guilty to a lesser charge, presumably a misdemeanor.

The star running back has missed eight games while dealing with his criminal case. He has spent seven weeks on something called the exempt/commissioner's permission list, which essentially constitutes a leave of absence that allows Peterson to receive his $691,000 weekly salary.

Would the NFL consider Peterson's eight-week absence enough punishment and reinstate him? Would the league hand down additional punishment, perhaps a multigame suspension without pay? And how will the league handle Peterson's admission to a Texas court employee that he smoked marijuana before providing a urine sample as required in his legal case?

The league and Vikings obviously can't proceed in answering those questions until Peterson's legal situation gets resolved, but this report indicates that something could happen sooner than expected.

Peterson's return to the Vikings this season seemed unlikely until news of a possible plea agreement surfaced. A trial could have pushed the timeline into the offseason. Even before Peterson's legal trouble, we were under the belief that he might not be part of the team next season because of his age, massive contract and injury risk.

But if he avoids a trial, the timing could force the league and Vikings to make a decision on whether to allow Peterson to suit up again this season.

Teammates and the football side of the Vikings operation would embrace Peterson's return enthusiastically. The team's ownership and high-level executives might be more hesitant.

The blowback from fans and sponsors after the Vikings bungled their initial decision to reinstate Peterson has not been forgotten inside Winter Park. Team officials realize that a segment of fans probably never want to see Peterson in a Vikings uniform again, and that makes them nervous.

At a minimum, the NFL, if permissible, should fine Peterson the amount that he has been paid while on the exempt list, which is roughly $4.8 million at present.

The next step should hinge largely on Peterson's reaction to his mistakes. Like many, I abhor corporal punishment and Peterson's methods of discipline. Beating a 4-year-old with a stick 10 to 15 times should never be considered acceptable or even compared to a spanking. Peterson's actions were deplorable.

But there's also a place in this world for forgiveness and redemption if — and let's make this perfectly clear — Peterson shows genuine remorse and a true desire to make meaningful changes. Not PR spin, not a statement crafted by his handlers, not more of his defiance about whipping his kids.

Peterson has an opportunity to use his platform for something good. Tell people that he has learned from his mistakes and now understands that striking a child is not parenting, that physical punishment doesn't turn boys into men.

Hopefully he takes a cue from Cris Carter's emotional response after Peterson's arrest. Carter, in part, said: "My mom did the best job she could do, raising seven kids by herself. But there are thousands of things that I have learned since then that mom was wrong. This is the 21st century. My mom was wrong about some of that stuff she taught me. You can't beat a kid to make them do what they want to do."

That's what we would love to hear from Peterson. Sincere remorse and thoughtful reflection on the need to make positive changes in his life. Peterson mentioned speaking to a psychologist in a statement he released after being charged.

"I have learned a lot and have had to reevaluate how I discipline my son going forward," he said.

If Peterson acts defiant or standoffish about his behavior, his time here should be over.

But if he admits that he has made mistakes and seems contrite and follows every condition asked of him in a plea agreement, he should get the opportunity to wear his Vikings jersey again. His story doesn't have to end with such a sad and ugly conclusion.

Chip Scoggins • chip.scoggins@startribune.com