8:48am: Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that the NFLPA is prepared to file a grievance if the league has not ruled on Peterson’s status by Tuesday of this week, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that, although Peterson could face as much as a six-game ban, he expects a compromise to be reached that would allow Peterson to return in December. However, Rapoport does not sound as convinced as Mortensen and Schefter that the Vikings’ brass is fairly united in its desire to have Peterson back immediately. Rapoport tweets that an “internal battle” is brewing in that regard.

8:24am: The NFL Players Association demanded immediate reinstatement of Adrian Peterson via a letter it sent to the league on Friday, write ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. The NFLPA is basing its demands on the language contained within the agreement that placed Peterson on the Commissioner-Exempt list.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the agreement, which was signed by NFLPA general counsel Tom DePaso and NFL general counsel Jeff Pash, states:

“The player agrees that, effective as of yesterday (September 17, 2014), he is placed on the Commissioner-Exempt list with full pay until the criminal charges currently pending against him are adjudicated. No discipline will be processed or imposed against the player, by the Club or the League, until after the pending criminal charges are adjudicated.”

That statement certainly contains no definitive indication that the NFL intended to reinstate Peterson immediately upon resolution of his criminal case, but Florio believes that the NFLPA is correct in that the agreement clearly implies Peterson would be eligible to play as soon as the charges against him were adjudicated.

That implication is perhaps not quite as strong as Florio and the NFLPA would suggest, but another argument that the NFLPA has advanced may carry a little more weight. As Mortensen and Schefter write, the union claims that Peterson’s personal conduct review should be no different than the review of any other player’s case, and that Peterson should be eligible to play immediately until the league is finished with its review under the personal conduct policy and determines whether any disciplinary action should be imposed. Mortensen and Schefter point out that such an approach “has been accepted and has precedent.”

Mortensen and Schefter go on to say that, if and when Peterson is reinstated, most of the Vikings’ front office, coaches, and players want him on the team.

5:03pm: In a pair of posts at Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio explains that when Peterson agreed to be placed on the exempt list earlier this season, he did so believing the designation would be removed once his legal case was resolved. However, the league has decided to keep him on the exempt list even though the case has concluded, which could potentially be grounds for a lawsuit.

Additionally, since accepting a de facto suspension with pay means that he hasn’t technically been disciplined, Peterson could face further penalties now, though Florio points out that it would hurt the NFL in the long run if the league doesn’t take into consideration the eight games the running back has already missed. As Florio rhetorically asks: “Why would any player decide in future cases to agree to step aside from the playing field pending the resolution of his legal case if he knows that, in the end, any playing time he has missed won’t matter?”

2:44pm: The NFL advised Vikings running back Adrian Peterson this afternoon that his case is being reviewed for potential discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, writes Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Now that his criminal case has been resolved, Peterson has been asked to submit relevant information regarding his case and to meet with “designated experts” who will make recommendations for commissioner Roger Goodell to consider.

As Schefter details, Peterson will also have the opportunity to have a hearing prior to the NFL issuing any discipline. For now though, the running back’s status on the reserve/commissioner’s exempt list remains unchanged. And Schefter hears from sources that it’s “highly unlikely” there will be resolution on Peterson’s case until next week, at the earliest (Twitter link).

Although Peterson’s legal case has been resolved without a criminal conviction, his short-term NFL future remains murky. Having spent most of the season on the exempt list, the 29-year-old has already missed eight games, and because he accepted a no-contest plea, his camp will undoubtedly make the case that he should be reinstated immediately.

However, Peterson continued to receive his full salary for those eight games he missed, and hasn’t technically faced a suspension yet — the league’s new domestic violence guidelines call for a six-game ban for a first offense, but it’s not clear whether Peterson’s case falls under that umbrella, or whether that specific penalty applies only in the event there’s a conviction.

It’s also worth noting that both the NFL and the Vikings will have to make decisions on what to do with Peterson. Even if the league decides to forgo additional punishment and reinstate the running back, there’s no guarantee that Vikings ownership would be comfortable with seeing him back on the field for the club’s Week 11 game against the Bears. Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune reported today that the team continues to have “internal discussions” about whether Peterson should be allowed to play again this season.

In a PFR poll earlier today, more than half of our respondents voted that Peterson should be reinstated immediately, while more than 30% believe he should be suspended for the remainder of the 2014 season.

12:24pm: As expected, Peterson has accepted a no-contest plea on misdemeanor assault charges, and will sign it before the judge this afternoon, tweets Florio.

TUESDAY, 9:59am: A source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that Peterson will plead no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault. If accepted, the agreement will call for Peterson to be placed on probation, pay a $4K fine, and serve 80 hours of community service.

MONDAY, 7:53pm: Even if Peterson works out a plea agreement tomorrow, don’t expect him to be immediately reinstated and return to game action, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. While we could see Peterson rejoin the Vikings at some point, notes Rapoport, it won’t be right off the bat.

SUNDAY, 11:18am: Adrian Peterson hasn’t played for the Vikings since Week 1 after being indicted in a child abuse case, and he’s been on the commissioner’s exempt list since September 17. Because the league likely wouldn’t opt to remove him from said list until his case was adjudicated (his trial is set for December 1), the expectation had been that the 29-year-old wouldn’t return to the field in 2014. However, we could be closer to seeing some sort of resolution in the matter, as Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Peterson’s representatives have been discussing a plea agreement, and the talks could be completed as soon as Tuesday.

With Peterson currently in legal limbo, the NFL can easily claim that it will not address Peterson’s status on the exempt list until the courtroom process has run its course. But as Schefter writes, if Peterson is able to reach a plea deal, the league will be forced to consider taking action on Peterson. For his part, Peterson will surely argue that his case has been resolved, and that he should be able to return to the field, or at least be handed a suspension that would clarify when he could return to action.

Additionally, the Vikings will have to choose how to respond if/when Peterson is able to work out a plea agreement. The club originally supported its star player after the allegations first arose, and were going to allow him to play in Week 3. After fan, media, and sponsorship outcry, however, Minnesota opted to deactivate Peterson once more, and supported the league’s decision to place him on the exempt list. If Peterson secures a plea deal, the Vikings will have to decide how to address the issue once again, and opt whether to stand behind Peterson, enact their own suspension, or wait for the league to take action.

The case could act as a guide for Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, who is also on the exempt list while facing domestic violence charges. We learned Friday that Hardy will remain on the exempt list until his case goes to court in January, meaning his season is over. But if Peterson is able to work out a plea agreement, accept a light suspension, and return to game action, could Hardy try to work a similar deal?