Adrian Peterson Explains Decision To Play On Sunday


Adrian Peterson explained his decision to play on Sunday to Fox Sports reporter Laura Okmin, and his reasoning is enough to bring tears to our eyes.

Peterson tragically lost his two-year-old son on Friday after the toddler sustained head injuries on Wednesday. His alleged abuser, Joseph Robert Patterson, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery of an infant and aggravated assault.

Fox SportsMike Garafalo tweeted a photo of Peterson’s text message to Okmin, explaining his reason for suiting up on Sunday. Peterson wrote:

“My brother passed the night before the combine and I decided to go through with it. The same reason why I will play this week. You may ask why? God wants good to come from it… We mourn and grieve but heaven had the baddest welcoming party for my son. That knowledge gives me peace. I’m still hurt and feel the pain of life, but I’m able to function because of the peace and joy of knowing my loved ones are in a much better place.”

Adrian Peterson’s explanation for playing on Sunday may not make sense to everyone, but it is a testament to his strength and determination. Peterson’s son isn’t the only person he lost tragically over the years, notes Yahoo! News. The 2012 league MVP also lost his older brother, Brian, was killed by a drunk driver while Adrian was five feet away.

Peterson also lost his half-brother in 2007, and his father was arrested and sent to prison when the NFL player was just 13. Despite the tragedies life handed him, Peterson kept running, and that’s exactly what he’s doing on Sunday. Even though the Minnesota Vikings lost, Adrian still ran 62 yards, and was an active player in the game.

Along with sending a text to Okmin, Peterson also took to Twitter to thank fans for their support. He wrote, “God Bless everyone and thank u so much. The NFL is a fraternity of brothers and I am thankful for the tweets, phone call and text messages from my fellow players. Thank you to my family, my fans and fans of other teams for their support.”

What do you think of Adrian Peterson’s explanation for why he took the field on Sunday?

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]

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