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MINNEAPOLIS -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodells power to freely punish Adrian Peterson has prevailed, two seasons after the Minnesota running back became embroiled in a child-abuse case that heightened the dispute over league discipline.A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that an NFL arbitrator acted within his rights by upholding Goodells six-game suspension of Peterson in 2014. That came under the personal conduct policy the league toughened up following a brutal act of caught-on-video domestic violence committed by Baltimore running back Ray Rice.The 8th Circuit ruling overrode the decision issued Feb. 26, 2015, by U.S. District Judge David Doty that found NFL arbitrator Harold Henderson overreached his authority in handling the NFL Players Associations appeal on behalf of Peterson.Appellate judges James Loken, Diana Murphy and Steven Colloton heard the leagues arguments Oct. 19, 2015.The dispositive question is whether the arbitrator was at least arguably construing or applying the contract, including the law of the shop, Colloton wrote for the panel. The arbitrator here undoubtedly construed the Rice decision in reaching his decision. Disagreement with his conclusion is not a valid ground on which to vacate the decision.The NFL had no immediate comment on the ruling, issued about 27 months after the injuries to Petersons then-4-year-old son were reported.The NFLPA issued a statement of resignation.Our union pursues all claims because we believe in due process, fundamental fairness and in the spirit of collective bargaining agreements. While the NFLPA disagrees with the decision, we accept this loss, the union said. When negotiation or collective bargaining fails to resolve our differences, we will always fight and pursue every recourse for our players rights.The leagues primary argument was that a judge should not be able to intervene in a collectively bargained labor dispute like this, and the appeals court agreed.Doty had sided with the NFLPAs contention that the six-game ban, announced by Goodell on Aug. 28, 2014, couldnt apply retroactively to Peterson since the boy was hurt more than three months before the enhancement of the personal conduct policy. Peterson was indicted on Sept. 12, 2014, by a grand jury in Texas after it found him guilty of disciplining the boy with a tree branch. He eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault.Peterson was on paid leave for nine games. Then Goodell issued the unpaid suspension with six games left on Minnesotas schedule. The league collected half of the roughly $4.1 million that Peterson was to forfeit, the proration over a 17-week basis from his $11.75 million salary for that year. It held off on the remaining three-game fine, pending the NFLPAs petition to Doty to vacate Hendersons decision.After playing in only one game in 2014, Peterson returned to the Vikings last year and led the league in rushing with 1,485 yards. The dispute in front of the 8th Circuit, then, boiled down to power, principle and about $2 million.The league has gotten its share of court losses to the union, but not lately and not at the higher level.Three weeks ago, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York issued a rejection of requests by the NFLPA and Tom Brady to reconsider a decision that reinstated a four-game suspension of the New England Patriots quarterback. Brady was punished for his role in deflated footballs during the AFC championship game after the 2014 season.As with Deflategate, the Peterson case was ultimately about the scope of Goodells power over player discipline and well beyond the initial behavior that landed him in trouble in the first place.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Terry Bradshaw Steelers Jersey . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Ernie Stautner Jersey . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Heath-Miller-Jersey/ . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Terry Bradshaw Jersey .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Heath Miller Steelers Jersey . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. CHICAGO -- The white Chicago Bulls jersey with the red No. 3 felt no different to Dwyane Wade than the one he wore for 13 seasons with the Miami Heat.Its the same material, he said with a smile.Its also a new beginning.Wade is starting work with his hometown team after winning three championships and spending his entire career with Miami, and the Bulls are hoping he and fellow newcomer Rajon Rondo can help point them back in the right direction after last seasons collapse.Its a different environment, Wade, a 12-time All-Star, said at the Bulls media day on Monday. I was somewhere for so long I knew where to go, I could walk backward and get everywhere. Its just different. But different is not a bad thing. Its been cool. Im like the new kid in class. Ive got to find my one friend to talk to before I get more friends.That shouldnt be too difficult for such an accomplished player.While Wade may be in the twilight of his career, the Bulls are counting on the 34-year-old to help set the tone for their younger players and help them bounce back from what might have been the most disappointing season ever for the franchise.A year that began with high expectations ended with a 42-40 record, Chicagos first playoff miss since 2008, a disjointed locker room and all sorts of questions about the teams leadership. But theyre hoping for a different result, starting with the first practice on Tuesday.South Side product and former MVP Derrick Rose got traded to New York. Joakim Noah signed as a free agent with the Knicks shortly afterward. And Pau Gasol left as a free agent for San Antonio.Ill say this, said executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson, who has rarely addressed the media in recent years. If I was a young player on this roster and I saw Dwyane Wade in the building, Rajon Rondo, Jimmy Butler -- you can throw Taj (Gibson) and Robin (Lopez) in there, too -- I would be soaking up every day what they bring to the table.Wade, a native of Chicagos south suburbs, stunned Miami when he accepted a two-year deal worth about $47 million from the Bulls that was more lucrative than what the Heat were promising.That was part of an eventful -- and tragic -- offseason in which he spoke out against violence and lost a cousin to gunfire in Chicago.Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthoony and Chris Paul took the stage together at the ESPYs, ESPNs annual awards show, to decry violence against unarmed black men.ddddddddddddThey also encouraged athletes to speak out and support local police.In August, Wade was part of an ESPN discussion in Chicago on violence. The next day, his cousin Nykea Aldridge, a mother of four, was shot to death while pushing her baby in a stroller near a school where she planned to register her children.Violence is a hot-button topic in Chicago and around the country. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been kneeling in protest during the national anthem, and NFL and college players have followed his lead.I think Kaepernick educated a lot of us on things that we didnt know, that we werent aware of, said Wade, who is not sure if NBA players will do the same. But I think for me ... we have a different kind of battle here in Chicago, a different focus. Thats what my focus is on. My focus is on the city. What am I capable of doing to help out youth in the city?He is also focused on the Bulls, who at this time a year ago thought they were a contender. Management believed soft-spoken coach Fred Hoiberg and his fast tempo were just what the team needed after a falling out with the hard-driving, defensive-oriented Tom Thibodeau.But it didnt work out the way they envisioned.Hoibergs transition to the NBA after a successful run at Iowa State was a rocky one, with Butler even saying last season that the Bulls needed to be coached a lot harder at times. Butler also said Monday that he implored Hoiberg to really get on my tail about little things in order to motivate the younger players.Paxson said he expects to see growth from Hoiberg and that he and general manager Gar Forman talked a lot to Fred this summer.Hoiberg said: Nobody looked at this thing harder in the offseason than I did.Note: Forman said trading Rose was a basketball decision and not related to rape allegations brought against him. And Paxson said the Bulls did not investigate the allegation against Rose. We knew what everyone else knew, he said. Thats it. We did not do anything beyond that. These are legal matters. Thats not our purview. ' ' '