Updated 9/12/14, 6:49 PM EST
Adrian Peterson has been ruled out for the Minnesota Vikings' Week 2 contest against the New England Patriots, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
The #Vikings have deactivated Adrian Peterson for Sunday’s game vs. the #Patriots
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2014
Updated 9/12/14, 6:39 PM EST
Per an ESPN report, a warrant has been issued for Peterson's arrest in Montgomery County, Texas:
UPDATE: An arrest warrant has been issued for Adrian Peterson. He is not in custody in Montgomery County. — NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 12, 2014
In addition, CBS Houston's Nick Wright has posted content from alleged text messages between Peterson and the child's mother detailing the incident:
Peterson indicated that he “felt bad after the fact when I notice the switch was wrapping around hitting I (sic) thigh” and also acknowledged the injury to the child’s scrotum in a text message, saying, “Got him in nuts once I noticed. But I felt so bad, n I’m all tearing that butt up when needed! I start putting them in timeout. N save the whooping for needed memories!”
In another set of text messages, Peterson allegedly added, “Never do I go overboard! But all my kids will know, hey daddy has the biggie heart but don’t play no games when it comes to acting right.”
Courtesy of Deadspin, here is Peterson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin's full statement on the matter as sent via email from abroad:
“Adrian Peterson has been informed that he was indicted by a grand jury in Montgomery County, Texas for Injury to a Child. The charged conduct involves using a switch to spank his son. This indictment follows Adrian’s full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment 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. He has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours. Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury.”
Updated 9/12/14, 5:41 PM EST
Here is the Minnesota Vikings' official statement on Adrian Peterson's indictment, via ESPN:
The Vikings are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson. At this time, we will defer further questions to Adrian's attorney Rusty Hardin.
Original Story
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson has been charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child. Fox 26 in Houston is reporting that the All-Pro was indicted in Montgomery County. Peterson missed practice on Thursday, with no explanation given for his absence. As reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the charges arose after Peterson allegedly use a stick to discipline his young son:
Arrest of Adrian Peterson (reported by @MarkBermanFox26) stems from the disciplining of a son with a switch, source says. He’s been indicted — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2014
Using a switch against a child is considered to be a form of corporal punishment, with the severity of the punishment usually determining whether legal action is taken on a case-by-case basis. 38 countries have full-on bans instituted when it comes to using physical means to punish the child. The United States is not one of those countries. According to Rapoport, the investigation into Peterson's actions have been going on for quite some time now:
The investigation has been going on for some time with Adrian Peterson, source says. He testified for a grand jury weeks ago. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2014
Peterson's lawyer, Houston-based attorney Rusty Hardin, declined to comment when contacted by Fox 26. Per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, there was no indication at Vikings' practice on Friday that anything was out of the ordinary:
There seemed be no sign of any of this coming at practice or in the locker room earlier today. I saw Adrian Peterson laughing and joking. — Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) September 12, 2014
Earlier on Friday, Adrian Peterson posted this message on Twitter (though it is unclear if it has any relation to the case at hand):
"People understand that if you are on God's course and suppose to have that position and man decides to remove you know that God will remove everyone to place you rightfully! You matter! Its your season! Weapons may form but won’t prosper! God has you covered don’t stress or worry!"
As tweeted by Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, Peterson will now be forced to turn himself in to Texas authorities, which understandably puts his status for Sunday's Minnesota Vikings/New England Patriots game in question.
More to come...
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