Posted on 09/17/2014 3:49:13 AM PDT by fatima
MINNEAPOLIS -- After a day of public pressure from angry fans and concerned sponsors, the Minnesota Vikings have reversed course and placed star running back Adrian Peterson on the exempt-commissioner's permission list, which means he will have to stay away from the team while he addresses child abuse charges in Texas.
The move comes less than 48 hours after the Viking said Peterson would play this coming Sunday, in the third week of the National Football League season.
Peterson has been indicted in Texas on felony charges of "reckless or negligent injury to a child" -- a four-year-old son -- for using a wooden switch to spank his 4-year-old son. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Oct. 8.
After the indictment, the Vikings deactivated Peterson for their game this past Sunday, which turned out to be a 30-7 loss to the New England Patriots.
Then came word of Peterson's reinstatement, which drew heavy criticism from many quarters.
Several sponsors responded by either suspending their deals with the Vikings or severing ties with Peterson.
"While we were trying to make a balanced decision yesterday, after further reflection we have concluded that this resolution is best for the Vikings and for Adrian," owners Zygi and Mark Wilf said in a statement. "We want to be clear: We have a strong stance regarding the protection and welfare of children, and we want to be sure we get this right. At the same time we want to express our support for Adrian and acknowledge his seven-plus years of outstanding commitment to this organization and this community."
The stunning reversal comes after a harrowing day on Tuesday that included the Radisson hotel chains suspending its sponsorship with the Vikings. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/adrian-peterson-banned-by-minnesota-vikings-from-all-team-activities/
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
I felt so sorry for him then.He didn’t even know he had a child.Now this and his other child with a gash on his head that required stitches.That one was 4 at the time.
Extremes? Really? Thanks for that nod to the opposition, I used to expect better on this forum.. I do NOT justify what he did - I just do not want my government dictating what I do.
Peterson has at least seven children. I think two live with him.
Dude. REALLY?
I have a life.
I thought he had around 7.They better check the rest of them.
I am a Vikings fan and I am very disappointed, but not terribly surprised by his behavior.
Of course, the NFL is ALL about branding (perception), and the players’ contracts allow dismissal if they harm the NFL brand. That’s business.
But the law says that a citizen is innocent until proven guilty. There is a formal system for deciding guilt or innocence. It’s slow and methodical, and actually works pretty well most of the time.
Unfortunately, the “court” of public opinion rules pretty quickly on scant information. Outrageous news sells. Sometimes publicity distorts legal outcomes (OJ Simpson).
It’s a shame that so many people get these things confused.
Had not seen those pictures before.
Peterson is a strong-as-an-ox NFL running back, and this kid was four. It could have been much, much worse.
The majority of Texans support “spare the rod and spoil the child”. I had presumed the evidence must be pretty damning if a Grand Jury there returned an indictment.
It is.
He is innocent until proven guilty. In the criminal justice system. The Vikings are not the criminal justice system. They are a football team. They’ve reviewed the evidence and determined they don’t want AP on their football team.
This has nothing to do with a lynch mob mentality.
Peterson sent her several tweets, including one about how she was going to be mad when she saw one of the wounds on the boy's thigh, one about how he didn't know the switch was whipping around to the front, one about how he felt bad after he saw how he had accidentally hit the boy's scrotum, one about how hit he the boy about five times more than he should have, and one about how the boy was going to be 'aight' (alright).
When the boy returned to Minnesota from Texas, the mother took the boy to the doctor. He reported the case to child welfare authorities.
Good points and why I don’t care about this situation. I care that a kid gets beaten by a thugster but I care more that our “news” outlets are wasting time on this “story” while the country burns to the ground, kids are killed overseas, etc.
There is no constitutional right to keep your job in a situation like this. None.
no so sure. i knew a guy who got arrested and subsequently fired from his job. he was found not guilty, and the company had to rehire him plus pay for violating his civil rights.
and that’s why he isn’t legally locked up now. The Vikings aren’t the legal system.
the example you sited is as it should be. Doesn’t mean that the Vikes have to trot Peterson out there like everything is fine and dandy though
well said
He has not been fired.He is getting full pay.
He admitted to hitting the child with the switched 10 times to police.He also admitted he went too far.
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