Adrian Peterson Barred From Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings can’t make up their mind regarding Adrian Peterson. Just days after they decided to allow him to play in this Sunday’s upcoming game, it looks like they have reversed their decision yet again. According to sources, Peterson has been barred from all team activities until his child abuse case is resolved. 

You may recall earlier this week, a second child abuse claim was brought up against Peterson. Although the team says they knew about it but law enforcement did nothing about it, the bad press probably played a huge role in their recent decision to sit Peterson out. Vikings owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf announced they were placing Peterson on the NFL’s exempt/commissioner’s permission list, saying in a statement, “After giving the situation additional thought, we have decided this is the appropriate course of action for the organization and for Adrian.” 

Peterson’s agent describes the move as  “the best possible outcome given the circumstances.”

As far as Peterson, he’s recently released a statement regarding the allegations. Read it below:

“My attorney has asked me not to discuss the facts of my pending case. I hope you can respect that request and help me honor it. I very much want the public to hear from me but I understand that it is not appropriate to talk about the facts in detail at this time. Nevertheless, I want everyone to understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child. I never wanted to be a distraction to the Vikings organization, the Minnesota community or to my teammates. I never imagined being in a position where the world is judging my parenting skills or calling me a child abuser because of the discipline I administered to my son.

I voluntarily appeared before the grand jury several weeks ago to answer any and all questions they had. Before my grand jury appearance, I was interviewed by two different police agencies without an attorney. In each of these interviews I have said the same thing, and that is that I never ever intended to harm my son. I will say the same thing once I have my day in court. I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen. I know that many people disagree with the way I disciplined my child. I also understand after meeting with a psychologist that there are other alternative ways of disciplining a child that may be more appropriate.

I have learned a lot and have had to reevaluate how I discipline my son going forward. But deep in my heart I have always believed I could have been one of those kids that was lost in the streets without the discipline instilled in me by my parents and other relatives. I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man. I love my son and I will continue to become a better parent and learn from any mistakes I ever make.

I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser. I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury. No one can understand the hurt that I feel for my son and for the harm I caused him. My goal is always to teach my son right from wrong and that’s what I tried to do that day. I accept the fact that people feel very strongly about this issue and what they think about my conduct. Regardless of what others think, however, I love my son very much and I will continue to try to become a better father and person.”