Did the Ray Rice domestic abuse case make a case against Adrian Peterson possible?
The running back maintains he merely disciplined his child. A Texas grand jury agreed. But a zealous prosecutor opted to take the case to a second grand jury. They called the discipline child abuse, and Peterson faced a warrant for his arrest Friday. Whether the case involving the Baltimore All Pro running back influenced the prosecutor, or the second grand jury, in indicting the Minnesota All Pro running back will likely serve as a point of debate, along with the question of where the parent’s role as disciplinarian ends and the state’s role begins, if not in court than at least in the court of public opinion.
Peterson admits to administering a “whoop” on his four-year-old boy, who, authorities say suffered marks and cuts from a switch struck against his legs, buttocks, and hand. Peterson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, claims that the former NFL MVP merely disciplined his child the way his father disciplined him.
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. 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.
Peterson has been deactivated from Sunday’s game with the New England Patriots.