Reusse: In the end, most parties got what they wanted in Peterson situation

A Vikings delegation spent 20 minutes on Wednesday morning attempting to explain what went into decision No. 3 in the Adrian Peterson case. Much of that time was spent repeating the admiration the Vikings have and the care they take for their tremendous fans.

The Vikings could demonstrate the truth of those platitudes toward the customers if they would offer a $25 discount in personal seat license fees for every time owner and team president Mark Wilf said, "We wanted to get it right,'' or a derivative thereof, in those 20 minutes.

That would take at least a grand off everybody's advance charge for season tickets when the new dome opens in 2016.

One thing the Vikings did get right: They had owner/chairman Zygi Wilf open by reading from a brief statement and then leave the podium.

Clearly, Zygmunt is more eloquent when dealing behind closed doors with disgruntled real estate partners than in public. Wilf's attempt to explain what went into the firing of coach Brad Childress in 2010 remains a knee-slapper for the ages when it comes to public speaking.

Peterson was indicted on Thursday by a Houston grand jury for injury to a child, and that information became public Friday. The Vikings promptly made decision No. 1 and deactivated Peterson for Sunday's game — an embarrassing, 30-7 loss to New England.

On Monday morning, General Manager Rick Spielman announced decision No. 2: Peterson would return to the team and play vs. New Orleans on Sunday.

One local sportswriter endorsed this decision. I wound up being outnumbered.

The public went bonkers. The national and local media commentators went bonkers.

And the Radisson became the first of what might have become a litany of sponsors to suspend its affiliation with the Vikings.

We can only guess at the loudness of the yelp when the first Radisson marketing person noticed that Spielman was making his comments on Peterson's return with a large Radisson/Vikings banner as a backdrop.

The good news for the Vikings was that there still was a sponsor for the backdrop on Wednesday, as Spielman, Mark Wilf and Vikings attorney Kevin Warren answered questions. It can be reported that vikings.com remains a loyal supporter of the Vikings.

Here's the deal: As absurd as was the waffling of the Wilfs over a period of 103 hours (5:45 p.m. Friday to 12:47 a.m. Wednesday), the result is that most factions got what they wanted.

Peterson's not going to be playing for the Vikings for the foreseeable future. That's what the sponsors wanted. That's what the media wanted. That's what parents, grandparents and other constituents wanted by what seemed a huge margin.

The outcry started Monday, and it had built to such a level on Tuesday that I'm not sure a motion to have Adrian continue to play would have carried with the Viking World Order.

Fair enough.

On Monday, Spielman mentioned that Peterson was entitled to "due process.'' I didn't need encouragement on that subject. I've long felt that Commissioner Roger Goodell's autocratic ways in leveling fines and suspensions were unjust.

Obviously, "due process'' doesn't apply in the workplace (unless you have a mighty union) as it does with the legal system. I wasn't saying that due process shielded Peterson from Vikings' or NFL discipline; rather, that it should.

Dozens of co-workers and civilian commenters told me that "due process'' was a phony excuse for the Vikings, and basically meaningless as a concept.

Too bad Paul Revere didn't know that. He wouldn't have had to ride around all night, worrying about the whereabouts of those Redcoats.

For sure, the result is in: Outrage 41, due process doughnut.

It is easy to express skepticism on two major points offered by the Vikings on Wednesday: One, that decision No. 3 to put Peterson in paid limbo was self-driven by the Vikings and not pushed for by the NFL; and two, that Adrian went along with it because he's such a selfless fellow that he didn't want to be a distraction to his team.

The fact that Carolina's Greg Hardy, a convicted domestic abuser, also went on the seldom-used Exempt/Commissioner's Permission list tells the world the NFL and players association have agreed to use this paid exemption as a catch-all for nonsuspended screw-ups.

The idea that Peterson — a man driven to play games and pile up rushing yards — did not have to be dragged along to agree to decision No. 3 is preposterous.

There is a bottom line, though, that was repeated often by Mark Wilf on Monday: In the view of the outside forces, the Vikings finally got it right.

Patrick Reusse can be heard 3-6 p.m. weekdays on AM-1500. preusse@startribune.com