Minnesota Vikings wide running back Adrian Peterson was cleared to play this Sunday at New Orleans, after visible injuries to his son resulted in an indictment in his home state of Texas.
In an statement he released via Twitter, Peterson says while he can’t comment on specifics, he never meant to hurt the 4-year-old son at the center of the controversy.
Watch former NFL player Chris Carter speak on his own experience of childhood whippings above.
Peterson wrote:
“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.”
However, Peterson, it is now alleged, was also implicated in injuring another son Last June, after a visit to his Spring, Texas home, Peterson sent the child’s mother a photo of him with a head wound covered by two bandaids. That would would ultimately leave a scar. This child was also 4-years-old. The mother who lives out of state, ultimately reported Peterson to Child Protective Services but its unclear what action, if any was taken. In a series of text messages, obtained by USA Today, who reported the additional allegation, Peterson says he disciplined the child while in his car seat for cursing at another sibling and he hit his head on the car seat. When the mother asks what he was hit with, Peterson responds that “if he’d just taken his whooping, he’d have saved himself.”
USA Today says that Peterson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, denies the allegations.
“The allegation of another investigation into Adrian Peterson is simply not true,” Hardin told the media via a statement. “This is not a new allegation, it’s one that is unsubstantiated and was shopped around to authorities in two states over a year ago and nothing came of it. An adult witness adamantly insists Adrian did nothing inappropriate with his son. There is no ongoing or new investigation.”
The Vikings say they will reactivate Peterson and await the outcome of the legal case.
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