Arizona Cardinals transgression may have dire consequences

Arizona Cardinals star Patrick Peterson’s transgression could have a negative effect on the cornerback’s Hall of Fame bid

Fans of the Arizona Cardinals were handed some shocking news last week. Star cornerback Patrick Peterson tested positive for PEDs and will have to serve a six-game suspension for the transgression. Unfortunately for the shutdown cover guy, his time away from the team may not be the only consequence.

Peterson now must hope that his irresponsible mistake does not put his Hall of Fame aspirations in jeopardy. Those who cast votes for the NFL’s most-cherished honor are an unpredictable bunch. Will the selection committee, when the time comes, ultimately forgive Peterson for the infraction?

The answer to that question is not an easy one. Did the substances Peterson ingested significantly improve his performance on the field? Perhaps the former first-round pick would have been just as productive without the supplements that caused him to fail the test.

At the present moment, Peterson is a first-time offender. No one knows precisely how long the former LSU Tiger has been breaking the rules. Doesn’t Peterson deserve a break if it’s proven that the 28-year old has only been using the substances for a short amount of time?

The fact that Peterson used a masking agent to try to alter the results of the test does not help his Hall of Fame chances. The voters would likely see that as an admission of guilt. That degree of cheating added two games to the suspension, meaning that Peterson must now sit for six contests instead of four.

Peterson, like every other player, will be eligible for the Hall of Fame five years after he retires. That’s still a long way off, so Arizona’s eight-time Pro Bowler has plenty of time to try to make people forget about his indiscretion. With a little luck and a certain amount of forgiveness, Peterson will succeed in accomplishing that task.