Ya think??
The Minnesota Vikings admitted on Wednesday what the rest of the country already knew — that it was “a mistake” to reactivate alleged child abuser Adrian Peterson after benching him for just one game.
With serious criminal charges hanging over Peterson, team owners sheepishly tried to explain themselves at a press conference following their middle-of-the-night decision to bench their superstar running back — again.
“We made a mistake, and we needed to get this right,” Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said.
“We embrace our role in the community and the responsibilities that go with it. It is always important to listen to our fans, the community and our sponsors. Our goal is to always make the decisions we think are right for the Minnesota Vikings.”
Peterson, 29, faces up to two years in prison on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child for allegedly hitting his 4-year-old son repeatedly with a switch at his Texas home.
He is due in court on Oct. 8 for arraignment.
Peterson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, did not return a call for comment.
After sidelining Peterson for just a single game — which they lost badly — the Vikings had been under fire for announcing that he would play this Sunday.
Then the team was blitzed by Vikings legend Fran Tarkenton and Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, who called Peterson’s actions an embarrassment to the state.
The Vikings collapsed under the rush and benched Peterson again.
Peterson was also sacked by Nike.
“Nike in no way condones child abuse or domestic violence of any kind and has shared our concerns with the NFL,” the company said in a statement.
“We have suspended our contract with Adrian Peterson.”
Nike had already pulled all of its Peterson merchandise off the shelves in the Twin Cities area.
Nike in no way condones child abuse or domestic violence of any kind and has shared our concerns with the NFL… We have suspended our contract with Adrian Peterson.
- Nike press statement
Two days earlier, the Radisson hotel chain cut ties with the team over the scandal, becoming the first corporate sponsor to end its relationship with an NFL team over the domestic-abuse issue.
The Vikings banned Peterson from all team activities after putting him on the NFL’s exempt/commissioner’s permission list until his case is resolved.
The team said Peterson agreed with the decision and told its officials that he did not want to become a distraction to the squad.
“Adrian is an unselfish person,” said Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman.
“He felt, on his side, that by stepping back, it would give the football team an opportunity to focus on football.”
The team could have released Peterson, as the Baltimore Ravens did with Ray Rice last week after the outcry over a video that showed him punching out his fiancée in an Atlantic City casino elevator.
But Spielman — who said just Monday that Peterson “deserves to play” — claimed the team was showing its support of Peterson by placing him on the exempt list.
Peterson will still collect his $11.75 million base salary.
Rice was suspended for two games initially until the surveillance video went viral.
The NFL reversed course and suspended him indefinitely. The Baltimore Ravens cut him.
Rice, backed by the players union, is appealing the suspension.