Each week sports reporters Matthew Lambert and Eric Schroeder will face off on a hot topic in sports. The world of sports is changing quickly and constantly, but we want to slow it down and take a better look at the juiciest gossip, scandal, rumor or issue that is making headlines this week. Lambert and Schroeder will take different sides and battle it out, telling you why you they are right.

This week’s topic: Should Adrian Peterson be allowed to play?

With the Adrian Peterson scandal coming to a close and the legal process has officially finished, the question of whether or not Peterson should be reinstated and allowed to play is being asked. With the league taking their time to come to a decision, let’s talk about it…

(Recap by Eric Schroeder and Matthew Lambert)

FROM ERIC SCHROEDER

In my opinion, Peterson should not be allowed to play again this season. While he has served suspension during the legal process, the fact that he admitted guilt brings in another dimension.

Admitting guilt may help him reach a plea deal in our legal system, but that shouldn’t mean he is excused from consequences in other areas of his life. A misdemeanor reckless assault, which is defined as knowingly causing bodily harm to another individual, would potentially mean the loss of a job for your everyday American. Minnesota is an “at will” state essentially meaning you can be fired for any reason as long as it is not discriminatory. The fact alone that he is still able to retain his job is gracious given that. He will be able to find somewhere to play again given his skill level alone.

After returning from an ACL tear in less than nine months (an injury that in high impact sports can take upwards of a year), it is simply a matter of time before Peterson suits up again, but it should certainly not be this year. The NFL knowingly botched up the suspension of Ray Rice and now they have a chance to somewhat redeem themselves by not allowing Peterson back this year. He has committed a crime and to help their own image and the Vikings organization should not allow him to play.

Here is the thing though: no one will pay attention to this. At 4-5 with seven games left, having Peterson back could mean a playoff birth for the Vikings and regained explosiveness and excitement that Peterson brings to the game.

Despite the fact that the NFL knows allowing Peterson back this year is not the best decision, they will allow him to suit up in purple and gold again. Roger Goodell takes a hit as to why he should no longer be commissioner and the league will have another black eye.

FROM MATTHEW LAMBERT

While Adrian Peterson may have given the Vikings a black eye, just as Ray Rice did to the Ravens, why should he continue to be punished?

Peterson avoided jail time and received probation by pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault with a wooden switch that he used to discipline his four-year-old son.

Not only that, Peterson has been on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, a list that hasn’t existed until this year (which is worthy of an article in it’s own regards). This list has made it possible for the Vikings to hold onto Peterson without having to release or suspend him.

So Peterson has probation only, which many NFL athletes have been able to play while on probation. Also, Peterson has been on a list where at any moment he could play. So why shouldn’t he be able to play for the Vikings?

Sure he admitted his guilt to avoid jail time, but think about this: if the second video of Rice hadn’t come out, he would have been playing for the last seven weeks. Also, guys like Wes Welker and Matt Prater have come back after getting in trouble for drugs and no one has brought up their controversies.

Let Peterson play. After all, the Vikings will need him when they play the Packers.