Vikings' Peterson 'sorry' for hurting child, reinstated to play Sunday
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- On the day the Minnesota Vikings reinstated their all-time leading rusher, running back Adrian Peterson released a statement regarding the charges he's facing for injuring a child.
Peterson, the 2012 NFL MVP, rejoined his team on Monday after being held out of Sunday's loss at home to the New England Patriots. Peterson, 29, is facing charges of injuring a child from an incident of disciplining his 4-year-old son with a tree branch.
Peterson has been advised not to discuss the facts of his case, in which he disciplined a son in May with a "switch" in Montgomery County, Texas, just north of Houston and where Peterson lives in the offseason.
"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," Peterson's statement read, in part. "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."
Peterson traveled to Texas late Friday night where he was facing the charges in Montgomery County. Peterson turned himself in and was released on a $15,000 bond. Peterson's first court setting will be on Oct. 8, a source told FOXSportsNorth.com.
The Vikings announced Monday morning Peterson would be a full participant in practice this week and play Sunday when the team travels to New Orleans.
Peterson testified before a grand jury last month in regards to the case and has cooperated with authorities. He acknowledged the allegations but said he "never intended to harm my son."
"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," Peterson continued in the statement. "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."
The Vikings moved swiftly on Friday after news broke of the charges against Peterson and announced he wouldn't play on Sunday. The team took the weekend to gather information regarding the case and chose to allow Peterson to return on Monday.
"I understand this is a very difficult thing to handle," general manager Rick Spielman said Monday. "But also, we feel strongly as an organization that this is disciplining a child. And 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."
Spielman repeatedly said the team is trying to respect the legal process. He said the team has been in contact with league officials and also has seen "everything that's in the file" regarding Peterson's charges, including pictures that have circulated showing the injuries suffered by the child, who lives with his mother in Minnesota and was visiting Peterson.
"When you look at the photos, the photos are disturbing," Spielman said. "I understand that. But to be clear, any matter that's involving the child is very important for this organization. But we also think that it is right for him to go through the process legally."
Spielman said the Vikings learned of the formal indictment on Friday and refused to say whether the team knew of the allegations when Peterson was excused from practice on Aug. 21 to testify in front of a grand jury.
The team spent the weekend reviewing the case before deciding to allow Peterson to play during the legal process. The decision is a change from how the team handled cornerback Chris Cook's charges of domestic abuse in 2011. Cook was held out for one game before being reinstated, but he was told to stay away from the team while he handled his legal situation.
Cook missed the season's final nine games and was eventually acquitted and returned to the team in 2012. Spielman denied Peterson's return was based on his standing as a player.
"It has nothing to do with him as a football player," Spielman said. "It has to do based purely on the facts that we have that have been presented to us."
Coach Mike Zimmer said he anticipates Peterson will be with the team all week and the coach spoke about the potential distraction to the team.
"It comes with what's going on," Zimmer said. "I understand that. But I also understand that we did our due diligence the best way we can and collected the best and most information we have to date. Based off of everything that we've been able to gather to date, this is the decision the organization made. But by no means or in light, do we take lightly child abuse or anything with children."
Since becoming coach in January, Zimmer has already had to deal with the suspension of special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, who was reinstated Monday, and Peterson.
"You sign up for everything when you become the head coach," Zimmer said. "You sign up for the good days and the bad days, and the days where you get beat, whatever the score was yesterday, 30-7, and 36-7 wins. So, it's not my most favorite times but it's the way it is."
Peterson had returned to the Vikings facility on Monday. Several players were in the locker room at the team's headquarters in Eden Prairie. Some declined comment, but those who spoke said they are trying to support their teammate.
"I'm glad he's back," fullback Jerome Felton said. "We're going to support him and move forward with him."
Felton later said, "I know he was hurting a lot that he couldn't be with us Sunday. I'm sure he's glad to be back."
Follow Brian Hall on Twitter
