Adrian Peterson: Vikings Refuse To Cut The Running Back, But Might Trade Him
In the wake of a child abuse indictment handed down to Adrian Peterson by a grand jury last week, the Minnesota Vikings deactivated the player prior to yesterday’s game where the Vikings lost to the Patriots, 30-7. Now, however, the New York Post is saying that the Vikings won’t cut Adrian Peterson from the team; instead, Minnesota’s NFL franchise may trade the all-pro running back.
A source “familiar with the thinking of the Vikings’ ownership group” said that the only thing certain at the moment is that the team won’t cut Adrian Peterson as a result of the indictment. The source went on to say “everything else is on the table,” including the not-very-likely option of a trade down the road to another team.
The Minnesota Vikings were commended for acting quickly in response to Adrian Peterson being arrested and jailed on child abuse charges last Friday. They immediately deactivated their star running back, a choice that was applauded by former Vikings hall-of-famer, Cris Carter.
As reported by the Inquisitr, Carter emitted a fiery tirade against Adrian Peterson, child abuse, and abuse against women on yesterday’s edition of ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown.
Adrian Peterson was indicted by a grand jury on Friday for a “punishment” he gave to his son last summer. The boy was visiting Peterson at his Texas home. When the child returned to his mother a week later following the trip, she took pictures of the boy’s injuries and went to the authorities. Reportedly, Adrian Peterson broke off a tree limb and beat his son in an attempt to “discipline” him, and stuffed leaves in the boy’s mouth. The boy suffered numerous cuts and bruises to his buttocks, scrotum, legs, arms and hands. It was reported that the injuries on the boy’s hands were defensive wounds.
According to ESPN, Rusty Hardin, Peterson’s lawyer, released a statement following the indictment.
“This indictment follows Adrian’s full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgement as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened. Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from the beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury.”
If the Vikings continue to “deactivate” Adrian Peterson throughout the season, he will still be paid. The team could suspend him without pay, but the NFL labor rules dictate that the Vikings ownership can only do that for four games. The source quoted above as being “familiar to the thinking of the Vikings ownership” thinks the New Jersey-based ownership group is waiting the whole episode out. If worse comes to worse, they will attempt to trade Adrian Peterson.
image via 4hotos
