Report: Adrian Peterson won’t be with the Vikings on Sunday
By Dan Zinski
Adrian Peterson has posted bond after turning himself in on a charge of reckless or negligent injury to a child stemming from an incident of viciously over-zealous punishment involving his four-year-old son.
More from Minnesota Vikings
- Kirk Cousins trying to emulate Patrick Mahomes after seeing co-star on Netflix doc
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook gives another status update on RB’s free agency
- Vikings: Jordan Addison issues apology after reckless driving charge
- 3 biggest mistakes from the NFL offseason
- Patrick Mahomes is picking a fight with the Kirk Cousins haters
Though Peterson has reportedly made his way back to Minnesota after doing what he had to do in Houston, don’t look for the running back at TCF Bank Stadium this afternoon when the Vikings suit up against the New England Patriots.
Peterson has not only been deactivated for the game by the Vikings, he reportedly will not be with the team at all.
There’s no rule preventing Peterson from being at the game in uniform with a helmet on despite his deactivation. Nevertheless, the Vikings and Peterson have agreed that it would be better for Peterson to make himself scarce for the time-being.
Whether this is being done to prevent a distraction to the other players or to minimize the negative publicity the Vikings might get for being associated with a man who is now known to be a vicious child abuser…well, that’s something we can’t say.
It’s probably a combination of both, though the second situation is likely foremost in owner Zygi Wilf’s mind right now as he and his team attempt to navigate this latest PR minefield.
The Vikings are a different team without their mainstay at running back, but in this case the team is putting common decency ahead of on-the-field considerations.
How much longer the Vikings will allow the desire to fend off negative pub to supersede their on-field needs is an open question.