Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings superstar running back who is already facing felony charges in Texas for child abuse, was accused in a separate incident involving another son who was 4 years old.
This news, reported by KHOU-TV in Houston, did not prevent the Vikings from reinstating Peterson to the team Monday. But it did move hotel chain Radisson to suspend its sponsorship with the team.
This newly uncovered incident — coming on the heels of Peterson’s arrest for using a “switch” to recently bruise a 4-year-old son — is more than a year old and unfounded, according to Peterson’s attorney.
The TV station cited text messages that reportedly include a photo of the boy with an apparent head wound covered by bandages.
Peterson was at the Vikings facilities this week and did not entertain questions from the media. But he did issue a statement that read, in part: “I want everyone to understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child.
”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,” Peterson said. ”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.”
The Vikings, amid speculation that they were protecting a star player, said via general manager Rick Spielman: ”I understand that this is a very difficult thing to handle. But we also feel strongly as an organization that this is disciplining a child. Whether it’s an abusive situation or not, or whether he went too far disciplining, we feel very strongly that that is the court’s decision to make, but we also understand the seriousness of abusing children as well.”
Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf made the decision to reinstate Peterson after consulting with Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer, and the players who were available to the media Monday lined up to support it.
”We’ve just got to stick together. That’s how the best teams win games and that’s how the best teams grow as a team and (build) team chemistry,” defensive end Everson Griffen said. ”The best thing we can do right now is support the Minnesota Vikings, support the decisions that they made to reinstate Adrian Peterson and fully support Adrian.”
Radisson is the first company to back away from a sponsorship deal since the league has been facing criticism over its handling of domestic violence cases. Radisson’s sponsorship includes a press banner that is behind those speaking at Vikings news conferences. The banner was behind Spielman as he discussed the team’s decision to reinstate Peterson.
Peterson faces a charge of reckless or negligent injury to a child, which carries penalties of up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. His initial court appearance in Conroe, Texas, near Houston, was scheduled for Oct. 8.
