It’s been a tough week for NFL running backs. First the video of now ex-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking out his then-fiance, now-wife was released and watched by millions, then Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy came under fire for tipping a waitress only twenty cents after receiving terrible service. Now Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been indicted in Texas for child injury after allegedly hitting his son with a “switch,” or a tree branch, as punishment.
According to MyFox Houston , Peterson was indicted in Montgomery County on the charge of reckless or negligent injury to a child. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer has tweeted the news all morning, questioning when Peterson will turn himself in and even questioning if Peterson will be available to play this weekend, which seems in very poor taste.
With indictment Peterson will have to turn himself in and thus his status for this weekend is now unclear
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) September 12, 2014
According to Glazer, Minnesota Vikings are still deciding if Peterson will play.
Vikings are currently deciding on Peterson’s status for this weekend — Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) September 12, 2014
Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network explained that Adrian Peterson was indicted for the disciplining of his 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
As Sports Illustrated reports , Adrian Peterson is in his ninth season in the NFL and has accumulated over 10,000 yards rushing. He was also named the league’s most valuable player in 2012 after returning from a devastating knee injury. But success on the football field and legal troubles off of it should be two very different things, even if that line was blurred this week in what can only be described as a PR nightmare for the NFL.
Adrian Peterson resides in Texas and was rumored to be heading to Dallas to join the Cowboys, as reported here on The Inquisitr . There is no word on what, if anything, this indictment will do to dissuade Cowboys owner Jerry Jones from seeking one of the NFL’s best running backs.
Regardless of where he plays, and even if he plays, Adrian Peterson is looking at legal troubles in Montgomery County; he is expected to turn himself into authorities very soon to be booked. Do you think he should still play this weekend?
[Image courtesy of AP/Charlie Neibergail]