Why Adrian Peterson Should be Allowed to Play (work)

[dballance]

Last edited Wed Sep 17, 2014, 10:48 AM - Edit history (1)

Sure, in some of my earlier posts I climbed on the band wagon of "Punish Peterson" and the general "burn the witch at the stake" kind of philosophy.

After a couple of glasses of Chardonnay and reading some of the very good posts in disagreement with my earlier position I have to say I have changed my mind. That's something we do here on DU all the time. We actually read arguments against our position and are willing to be moved by them.

I think the best thing for Peterson's children would be to allow him to work so he can continue to support them. Yes, we do need to call out the abuse he visited upon one of his kids and make it a topic for discussion and an example of how not to be a parent.

It will not help that particular kid and Peterson's other children if we put Peterson in a jail cell. What WILL help Peterson's kids is to allow Peterson to work and provide support for his children. What will help Peterson's kids is the justice system requiring Peterson have therapy and learning how to be a parent without using physical violence as discipline.

Thanks Pisces for making the good argument that helped me change my mind.

On Edit:

When I wrote my OP I didn't know that he was going to get paid over $10 million even if he doesn't play. I did the wrong thing and assumed that if he didn't start in a game he didn't get a paycheck. I was wrong.

At this point I'd have to say his children and their mothers need to do everything within their legal limits to secure some of his pay/pension to support the kids and their future.

So "what do I think about my OP?" I think I was wrong and I'm not embarrassed to say so.

[FSogol]

1. Are we pretending that he only abused one of his 7 kids?

Wouldn't your boss suspend you if your face was in the news because of abuse allegations?
He represents Minnesota in the NFL. They have every right to suspend someone bringing negative attention to their team/business just as your boss would have the right to suspend you if you were harming your company.

[uponit7771]

3. No, in some states that would be illegal because what you do not associated with the company

... isn't your bosses business.

Also, speculation on if he abused his other children shouldn't be entered into the context.. there's no proof

[cali]

4. where? And yes there is evidence that he abused another son.

photos, tweets, a mother who went to CPS.

[merrily]

14. First, his contract no doubt has a so-called morals clause.

Those clauses have a lot less to do with morals than with negative publicity.

Every contract in the entertainment business or an entertainment like business has one--and for damned good business reasons.

Second, you bet your bottom your boss would fire you if something you did seemed likely to cost him ticket sales, sponsors, tax breaks and overall notoriety.

We call it the goodwill of a business, but it's vital to the ability of the success of a business, especially one like pro football.

[ProfessorGAC]

50. The NFL Has A Generalized Personal Conduct Policy

Only a real hair-splitter would say that this doesn't fall under that aegis.

[merrily]

52. Or, someone who is not aware that those kinds of clauses exist and

exist whenever public opinion is important to viewership, ticket sales, etc.

Early examples: Ingrid Bergman's adultery, and writers blacklisted from the movie industry because of that turd McCarthy and other industry turds, like Jack Warner. Probably the real reason why Ronnie really went Republican--skeered he might lose his B move contract.

[ProfessorGAC]

81. Not Going To Doubt Your Thoughts on Profit Motive

That is the most likely lever.

[FSogol]

30. If you are a visible part of the company, you'll get laid off or suspended for bringing

negative attention. Child abuse isn't your boss's business?

[uponit7771]

33. On the condition you're a visible part of your company that goes without saying, the question

... did not qualify though

[merrily]

55. He is a visible part of the company and that does make it his boss's business.

If you think that is so self evident that it goes without saying, why did your OP say something else?

Just trying to understand here.

[cali]

2. He's a multi-millionaire and set for life.

http://www.davemanuel.com/net-worth/adrian-peterson

I don't know whether he should go to prison, but he doesn't need to work another day in his life to support his children.

so that does in your argument. furthermore, allowing him to play is minimizing what he did and sending a really bad message.

[dilby]

15. He is most certainly not set for life.

The problem with NFL players is 90% of them have dedicated their lives to football from the time they were old enough to put on pads, most of them have never had a job that paid over minimum wage or worked at all so they have absolutely no concept of how to manage their money. The NFL has done a terrible job of helping young kids who are one day flat broke in college and the next NFL players making Millions to be smart about managing their money and spending. Adrian Peterson will probably be broke in a couple years and his children will definitely suffer.

[cali]

19. He damn well is. He will be paid millions even if he doesn't play another day.

[dilby]

25. No he wont be paid millions, he will lose his contract and the vikings wont have to pay him a dime.

Aaron Hernandez did not get a dime when he was dropped by the Patriots and he had a 40 million contract with them.

[cali]

37. He damn well will be paid.

Vikings Will Pay Adrian Peterson $10.38 Million While He Deals With His Legal Problems

http://thevikingage.com/2014/09/17/vikings-will-pay-adrian-peterson-10-38-million-deals-legal-problems/

Why are you insisting that he won't get paid? Will you now admit you are in error?

[hifiguy]

97. Maybe this year because of a suspension related to legal issues.

But it is very important to remember that unlike NBA and MLB contracts, NFL contracts are NOT guaranteed. A player can be cut at any time if a team is willing to take the salary cap hit. But once cut, the team's obligation to pay is basically terminated.

[cali]

99. He will be paid over 10 million this year. He is worth over 20 million.

He's financially set.

[hifiguy]

100. That is all true.

The main reason he is being paid this year is that the terms of the CBA require it. And you can bet that the Players' Association is going to have its two cents worth heard at some point as well.

I just don't see this as the same kind of deal that the Rice situation was. The critical question is intent. You can't really have any but bad intentions when you punch another person in the face. Peterson may be ignorant, as he says he was raised this way, but ignorance can be remedied. And sadly, there are a lot of people in this country who agree that what Peterson is alleged to have done is perfectly acceptable and reasonable. I am not one of them, but that's the way it is.

[Iggo]

5. He's getting paid. (n/t)

[Johonny]

39. +1

You can still get paid while placing him on an inactive list. Dolphins did it last year to Incognito.

[cali]

6. It has nothing to do with "burn the witch at the stake"

It has everything to do with not sending a message that what he did is in any way acceptable.

[Pisces]

45. Yes and that message is loud and clear, "we will get our revenge". How about the message that we

want what is best for the children and society. We should be demanding therapy, parenting classes etc. Burning him at
the stake is exactly what the mob wants to happen here. We want to " make that Fucker pay' is what I read from one of the
responses. Who gives a shit that this guy was himself abused by his own father. That by 1 account was whipped with a belt
in front of his peers after a football practice. If he is to receive 10 million dollars, much of that money should be put in
annuities and trusts for the children. I don't think he should play football. But I absolutely do not think sending him to prison
will do anything to make him a better parent or person in this society. If we are truly concerned for his children
we should be demanding therapy and anger management classes with supervised visitation at the very least.

[cali]

46. excuse me? are you saying I said anything about revenge?

why is that in quotes?

Of course, it's awful that he was abused by his father. It not a fucking excuse. I was too. I never hit my kid.

I don't care whether he goes to prison. I just want his children protected. That has zip all to do with revenge.

[Hari Seldon]

8. He should be allowed to work

But not in the very visible position of Star Running back.

I think the Vikings should find ways to keep him busy, but not on the field.

Perhaps eventually.

[cali]

11. The Vikings are done with him.

that's clear.

[merrily]

20. The public will not stand for it.

Which means sponsors will not.

Which means ticket sales will go down.

Which means the next time taxpayers are hit up for a stadium or police overtime or whatever, they are going to protext.

Which means the not for profit status of NFL is going to be mentioned again and again.

Which means people are going to keep talking about whether it's drugging that is causing these men to lose it so extremely at the least provocation, like a freakin four year old pushing his brother.

[GeorgeGist]

9. You missed the sarcasm.

[Dawgs]

10. Uh, he will get paid over TEN MILLION dollars by his employer without working.

He'll be fine.

[cali]

12. I don't get why people don't grasp that star football players are very wealthy individuals

[Phentex]

16. Money aside, isn't that a bad idea on its own?

A single dad of four kids can't continue to work if he breaks the law and goes to jail for it.

[dballance]

21. Well, to propose the opposite argument. He hasn't been convicted of anything.

So far, Peterson is under indictment. He has not been tried by a jury and found guilty.

As far as our justice system is concerned he is still innocent and should not be subject to any punishment until found guilty.

[cali]

29. How is suspending him from the team connected to the legal process?

Players sign code of conducts as part of their contracts. The team can fire at will. He has admitted (more like bragged) to beating his son. There are pictures and tweets.

[dballance]

36. Too True.

An employer like the Vikings/NFL is under no obligation to follow the same standards as our justice system is obliged to do.

They are free to execute the terms of the contract the players sign at their own discretion.

I have to agree with you that some of his texts to the child's mother do seem to be bragging. The text about "tearing up that butt when needed" is especially disturbing to me. I can't think of when a 4-year-old's butt "NEEDS" tearing up.

[Phentex]

43. exactly

[pipi_k]

35. He may not have been

tried and convicted (yet), but the evidence is still there.

He admitted to having used a switch on his kid.

The kid has welts and marks all over him, including his scrotum.

His SCROTUM, FGS!!!!!


Until he can explain how something like that could happen while the kid was in his care, I don't care how "innocent" he's presumed to be.

Oh, and that only applies to the legal system. His employers (the team and the NFL) are not the legal system and can fire his ass for no reason at all if they want to.

[dballance]

38. You are absolutely right.

I don't disagree with you at all.

As I said in another post:

An employer like the Vikings/NFL is under no obligation to follow the same standards as our justice system is obliged to do.

They are free to execute the terms of the contract the players sign at their own discretion. The text about "tearing up that butt when needed" is especially disturbing to me. I can't think of when a 4-year-old's butt "NEEDS" tearing up.


I totally appreciate your passionate response to my post.

[cali]

22. His children don't live with him- and he has 6 or 7 kids

it's a far worse idea to let him continue playing and send the message that beating a child bloody is not that big a deal.

Also, Peterson is nearing the end of his career.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/934494-nfl-running-backs-the-rapid-rise-and-fall-of-footballs-most-physical-position

[joeglow3]

72. Sadly, many of them, are not.

They blow their money of stupid shit and their entourage.

A coworker of mine does tax work on the side for a number of NFL players. He has said many/most get their paycheck on Sunday and have it spent by the next weekend. That is is there has been such an emphasis of getting financial training as part of their rookie year.

[msanthrope]

13. Fucker's still getting paid. Bench his ass. Attack his pension, investments,

and assets for child support.

[merrily]

17. Let me hasten to this opportunity to agree with msanthrope.

But, he is getting paid. A lot.

The court should appoint someone to represent his kids so they can sue his abusive ass for assault and battery.

[dballance]

26. Good Point. I just read he's going to get over $10 million even if he doesn't play.

I did a Google search and found that Peterson is going to get paid even if he doesn't play. To the tune of over $10 million. Certainly, his children and their mothers should do whatever they can to get a portion of that to secure the children's welfare and future.

[questionseverything]

54. so what about judge fuller?

as a lawyer you should be leading the charge to get him off the federal bench

this time he beat his wife but in his 1st divorce it came out he beat that wife and their kids

how is it that we can hold football players to higher standards than federal judges?

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10811

[merrily]

58. The federal Constitution specifies judges serve for life and

federal judges do not sign contracts with a personal conduct clause.

Impeaching a federal judge raises Constitutional issues and all around is a much bigger deal than firing a football player for breach of contract, which barely raises a credible contractual issue.

[questionseverything]

76. fuller has legal standards he has breached (besides beating his family)

The legal standard for a judge to recuse himself is simple, straightforward, and clearly reaches Fuller:
Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned. 28 U.S.C. § 455(a).
What person wouldn’t reasonably question the impartiality of a judge whose (at least) $5,000,000.00 investment could become worthless overnight if one of the parties is unhappy with his rulings? Yet, even after Siegelman’s and Scrushy’s attorneys learned of the Doss Aviation link (after the trial), Fuller repeatedly refused to recuse himself.

You don’t have to take my word that there was a clear ethical mandate for recusal. Judicial ethics expert, and Georgetown University Law Center Professor, David Luban had this to say:
This one is a politically charged case involving a former governor in which political leaders in Washington, D.C., who ultimately exercise tremendous control over the process of military procurement contracts, are likely to take great interest. Given the amount of money Judge Fuller’s company gets from government contracts, any reasonable person would question how impartial he could be.

[msanthrope]

60. What about that fucker? He's under federal judicial investigation,

not hearing cases, and I'm helping to GOTV in the House to make impeachment a possibility.

Other than that, what am I supposed to be doing?

[questionseverything]

83. use it to get out the vote

Tim Mak at The Daily Beast noticed the story, and the ironic comparison to the Rice case as well:

The Ray Rice case shows that the NFL's domestic abuse policy is bad. But the federal judicial system's is even worse.
Although U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller is accused of a more prolonged and arguably more brutal assault on his wife than Rice, he will likely keep his job. With the protection of lifetime tenure on the bench and a helpful plea deal, Fuller appears set to skate away professionally unscathed.
...
"The beating he administrated to his wife is far more extensive than the one Ray Rice administered to his fiancée," Donald Watkins, an Alabama attorney who is trying to get Fuller expelled from the bench, told The Daily Beast. "I've seen that the privilege and power of being a federal judge gives you impunity to beat your wife." Watkins recently wrote to the Supreme Court urging Chief Justice John Roberts to take action against Fuller.

But where Judge Kopf had argued that the Chief Judge of the Circuit should take action to keep Fuller off the bench, it looks like that Chief Judge has little interest in doing so. Mak notes, "The acting chief judge of the 11th Circuit has already alluded to Fuller's return to the bench, telling Law360 that 'Fuller recognizes that he needs to deal with these serious issues quickly so when he returns there is as little disruption to his cases as possible.'"

That's right, "when he returns."

///////////////////////////

if the repubs in the house will not impeach a wife/child beater...we really should let their constitutes know

[joeglow3]

75. Can you be more racist?

He is black, so he must not be paying his child support. Is that it?

[dballance]

18. I'm so glad I spurred a lively discussion.

This is what I love about DU.

[cali]

23. OK, but now that you know, he's not going to hurt for money

what do you think about your op- which was all about how he should be allowed to play in order to support his kids.

[dballance]

32. That is a very valid question. I'd have to say I was wrong in my OP.

When I wrote my OP I didn't know that he was going to get paid over $10 million even if he doesn't play. I did the wrong thing and assumed that if he didn't start in a game he didn't get a paycheck. I was wrong.

At this point I'd have to say his children and their mothers need to do everything within their legal limits to secure some of his pay/pension to support the kids and their future.

So "what do I think about my OP?" I think I was wrong and I'm not embarrassed to say so.

[cali]

40. thank you. I think all your posts on this come from a good place.

[dballance]

44. Thanks.

It is so easy to become defensive on a discussion site like DU. Some times I throw out a post to try to help people see the other side of an argument. I get piled upon but that's okay. I usually get a good education and learn things that way.

Thank you for seeing that my posts on this come from a good place. A place where I try to live up to the values of us liberals and look at every side of a topic. Not just the side that is in line with my preconceived notions.

I think the evidence of what Peterson did to his kid is abuse is pretty overwhelming. His texts to the kid's mother about "whopping" the kid and striking the kid's genitals is pretty damning. I am not a supporter of Peterson at all.

Though, having grown up in the same sort of environment where physical punishment bordering on abuse was "normal" I do have some empathy for Peterson. What I took away from my time being disciplined with a switch or a belt was "I'll never do that to another person."

That's not the same message many people learn.

Peterson is not an outlier. His "whooping" of the kid is "normal" and typical of many, many families.

[Pisces]

41. Maybe he shouldn't play another game in the NFL. The lynch mob is out. Blood for blood. I think

we get confused on the left as to what we support. We ask for more education, less prisons, less prison time. We argue that
prison time is what is ruining the African American family. With so many men incarcerated. Yet here we are in mass
ready to throw away the key on Peterson. This is a real person not some abstract liberal idea of who gets locked up in this
country. People aren't all good or all bad.

Prison does not reform, this will not help anyone in the situation. Peterson himself was abused and in need of therapy.
Questions should be asked like how can we break this cycle, how did Peterson come to think this was a reasonable form
of discipline? No one wants to understand this guys motives they just want him punished. How about questions like why don't
these NFL players have life coaches. They should all undergo anger management classes. Therapy, parenting classes, supervised
visitation and money put in annuities for these children so that he can't spend it all on some nonsense.

Education is the answer. I am not in favor of incarceration because I know this will do nothing to make him a better father or person in society.

[justiceischeap]

42. There's a huge difference here and not seeing it is your problem

No one advocates that violent criminals should not be punished and if AP is found guilty, that would make him a violent criminal (right now, he's just a violent man who got caught out).

I was abused as a kid and I don't go around abusing other people. I agree that he was taught to act like this but he made the choice on whether to continue the cycle, just as I did, just as Cris Carter has and many other people that have been abused and made the decision not to be abusers themselves.

I agree Peterson needs help but he also needs to know that this kind of behavior isn't acceptable--and sometimes that includes going to jail. Whipping a child until they bleed isn't a "spanking" it's abuse, full stop.

When we talk about the amount of black men being incarcerated, we're often referring to the fact that they are incarcerated longer than someone who commits a more violent crime (i.e. marijuana possession). I've not seen anyone on the left proclaim that a violent person shouldn't get prison time--white or black.

[Pisces]

53. I agree that he made the decision to become an abuser, where so many who were abused chose another

path. I just don't agree that the answer would be to send him to prison. This helps no one. It won't rehabilitate him, it won't
make him a better parent or a better person in the community. This is a very hard topic as it draws on a lot of emotion.
I feel like I am defending this guy and I don't want to make excuses for him. What I am against is how quick we are to meet
out a punishment that does nothing to help the real victims. The children of AP should also be given therapy and the mother
should also have to undergo parenting classes.

Education is the answer. AP is also a victim and must have psychological damage. He needs help, what better example can we
give to people if we show them what it looks like to admit you need help and then give that help through therapy etc.
AP's children can also learn that the consequences for your actions are severe ( like losing your high paying job) but that
people can redeem themselves and can get help.

[cali]

57. He was a victim. Now he's a perpetrator.

and he has hardly admitted he needs help. His first interview with the police is chilling. His tweets to the two mothers are chilling. First the guy will have to admit he was wrong and needs help. He is in denial.

[cali]

48. it's repulsive to use the phrase "lynch mob" in this context.

first of all, few people are arguing for prison. No one is arguing to "throw away the key". His son is evidently not real to you. His son has been damaged by his father.

You're fighting phantoms. there isn't a huge contingent of DUers saying he should be thrown in prison. In any case, that's up to the legal process, and if he is convicted and sentenced to prison, it would only be for a matter of months.

His motives are not nearly as important as his actions. He is a repeat abuser of children. I'm all for him getting anger management classes, parenting classes and counseling, but I'm not for justifying or excusing what he did.

[Pisces]

65. His son is very real to me. The example made of his father will stay with this child forever

with all that is happening. What will be the lessons he take away? There should be consequences and there should be
some compassion that AP was himself abused. Instead I think we are trying to teach the child revenge.

Is it justifying his actions to acknowledge that he was a victim of abuse himself?

Maybe you haven't said he should go to prison but many have. I am arguing that sending him to prison, jail helps no one
in this terrible situation. It does not break the cycle of violence and it does not help AP's children.

I do think that the majority of the money should be put in trusts or annuities for the children. I also think those children need
therapy. I think he should have to suffer the consequences of his choices, I just don't believe prison as a consequence helps
anyone.

I do feel a lynch mob mentality. We want to exact our revenge for what that child went through. There is a pile on and there is no compassion that he was himself abused. That is what I have read on many threads. I agree that it is a very emotional topic,especially with those horrific pictures. I reread many of my posts and I can see how you might feel I am supporting AP or
fighting phantom ghosts. I don't think prison time is a phantom when people want to make an example of a high profile case.
The NFL is a disgusting money machine. They will push for whatever is going to take the heat off of them as fast as possible.

[cali]

69. Jaysus. Being brutalized will stay with that child forever.

that doesn't even enter your mind.

As I said, very few people are arguing for prison, but still you insist there's a "lynch mob" mentality. That's absurd.

I don't think you're supporting him so much as you are justifying what he did and moving the emphasis from the child to AP.

Agree about the NFL.

[justiceischeap]

78. My father got it worse than me and my step-siblings got it worse than me

But just because my father was abused by his father did not give him the right to beat any of us kids because he couldn't control his temper.

My father wasn't the only kid in that house to get beaten by my grandfather but my father was the only one who made the decision to treat his kids that way.

Yes, I have compassion for what my father and his sibs went through but that doesn't excuse what he did and it certainly doesn't mean there shouldn't have been consequences.

What Peterson's son is learning is two-fold: Peterson has taught him it's not okay for him to hit but it's okay for adults and if he looks back on the media coverage when he gets older, he'll learn that the majority of Americans don't think it's okay that he got beat.

[Brickbat]

67. What's this "we"?

We argue that prison time is what is ruining the African American family.

What many argue is that prison time for nonviolent crimes is what's ruining families.

How about questions like why don't these NFL players have life coaches.

They do have symposiums, counselors and other programs about life skills, many in partnership with the NFLPA.

Therapy, parenting classes, supervised visitation and money put in annuities for these children so that he can't spend it all on some nonsense.

Is this something you think employers should do, or governments?

[Pisces]

71. Therapy, parenting classes and anger management is what I think AP should be made to undergo.

Employers can force you to take anger management classes if you have displayed emotional problems as part of
a condition of employment. I would think they could also force therapy on you. I personally do not believe that anyone in
Peterson's family will benefit from prison time. He will not be rehabilitated in prison, he will not learn parenting skills
and he will not get the proper therapy to confront the deep psychological problems he has from being abused himself.

Maybe we should be asking questions on how we can break the cycle of violence. AP learned this behavior and if we don't
help this family that is what his children will also learn. Maybe we can use this high profile case to show people that
there is help available and that you can change your circumstances. You don't have to continue the cycle.

[Brickbat]

80. "Employers can force you to take anger management classes if you have displayed emotional problems

as part of a condition of employment."

Only if the anger has disrupted your work. It did not. To do so otherwise is a violation of the ADAAA. Employers must demonstrate that the counseling is job-related and a business necessity.

I would think they could also force therapy on you.

Only if they want to deal with a disability discrimination claim.

[Jenoch]

74. Are you assuming that only the starters get paid in the NFL?

That is ridiculous.

[pipi_k]

24. So, using that logic...

Someone like Aaron Hernandez (former TE for the Patriots) should be allowed out of his jail cell once a week to play for the Pats so he can continue to get a salary to support his baby daughter.


Above and beyond that, though, how could an organization be so clueless as to think that someone like Peterson would not be a huge distraction, both on the field, and in the locker room? Not to mention that there are lots of players with kids who are absolutely disgusted with him after learning some of the details.

Not only could he get seriously injured out on the field, but likely also someone else, in an attempt to hurt HIM.

Putting Peterson on the playing field would be tantamount to sticking a convicted child molester in with the general population of a prison.


Of course, he seems way too clueless to even consider that...

[lumberjack_jeff]

27. Does this logic extend to Ray Rice as well? n/t

[dballance]

61. I have disavowed my opinion in my OP because I was wrong.

Please note that I have edited my OP to state the fact I was wrong in my initial posting.

The Vikings/Ravens/NFL are well within their rights to suspend a person at their discretion. They need not follow the rules of law.

The evidence against Rice is far more compelling and visible than the evidence against Peterson. We have video of Rice abusing his fiancee in the elevator. We have evidence of Peterson abusing his child as reported to CPS by a doctor who is required to report child abuse.

Both of these sets of evidence are more than enough for an employer to invoke "conduct" clauses in the person's contract and suspend them.

[merrily]

28. P.S.If the fucker hasn't provided for his kids by now, he never will

He's made boatloads of money and no doubt has a business manager, a good lawyer and a good accountant. The first big money he made should have gone to set up trusts for his kids and the kids should sue his ass.

[cali]

31. absolutely. He's made tens of millions.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

34. Let rich people continue to keep earning despite committing crimes

so that their kids can grow up rich.

That's what I see as the distilled essence of that argument.

Would you let a poor guy who made squat escape punishment simply so that his 'kids aren't punished'?

If you want to make sure his kids aren't punished, make sure the safety net for the poor is strong, strong enough that no matter what income sources are taken away, no child goes hungry, without a roof, without clothes and school supplies.

[libdem4life]

47. Continue to play, given a salary 10% above actual bills for a year. The wife and the kids don't need

an angry, fired, 'roid rager at home 24/7. Probably can't do that, but imagine the power someone who makes millions feels and practices hitting and possibly maiming other people (players) for a living. A group of multimillionaires often in their 20s...1%ers. America needs some different heroes...and entertainment, IMO.

[cali]

49. he doesn't have a wife. He has 7 children by 7 different women.

None of his children live with him. you don't know that he's a "roid rager".

He is being paid over 10 million while his legal problems play out.

[libdem4life]

56. I stand educated. I don't watch football. When we know of 2 incidents, I guarantee you there have

many more. A 'roid rager would be a preferable excuse to intentional rage and harm. Those weren't little willow switches either, as everyone wants to give him such a break. If I did to my son what was done to me...I'd be in jail. But I grew up.

Only in one place did I read the entirety of the physical damage and one TV showed. Given the 7/7 statistics you mentioned, seems he doesn't get along much with women or they with him for more than one kid.

There is absolutely NO EXCUSE. I don't care what a celebrity he is.

[dilby]

59. Does the 7 different women make a difference?

Is he not paying child support? Is he not active in the children's lives?

[philosslayer]

62. In 2012 one of his children was murdered

And he met the child for the first time while the boy was in the hospital in a coma.

So.... I would give that a no.

[cali]

63. I think it makes things a lot more complicated.

he had a son that he didn't know who was killed last year by the abusive boyfriend of the mother. He is apparently involved with some of his kids and not with others. It's messy stuff to have 7 kids with seven different mothers.

[dilby]

68. As I understand the child that died he just learned he was the father.

I agree having as many mothers makes life messy but I know women who have children from multiple fathers and I think it's terrible the way they are judged by society. I don't know how Adrian is as a father, from the child abuse I would say not that great. But the fact that he had the children with him tells me he at least makes an attempt at being a father which is a lot more than other men out there who just write a check to the mom and never see the kids.

[cali]

70. I'm not judging the mothers.

I just think having 7 kids by 7 different women by the age of 29 is irresponsible.

[dilby]

73. I know you are not judging the mothers.

But I would say it was not irresponsible since he can support the children and it appears all the mothers wanted the children.

[cali]

85. but it's not just about money. it's about dysfunction.

[Jenoch]

79. He is married and I think he has two children with his wife.

[cali]

91. You're right. He was married in July

TMZ says he has at least one child with her:

http://www.tmz.com/2014/07/22/adrian-peterson-yes-i-got-married/

[Warren Stupidity]

51. He is free to work and the Vikings are free to not have him play.

If he doesn't like that situation he can quit and find another job.

[ALBliberal]

64. Let him work. Let him provide for these kids.

Therapy must be demanded for him the kids and family groupings as there may be. No unsupervised visits until such time professionals deem appropriate. Require trusts be set up for each child for their well being and education. He should have required community service promoting youth and should give financially for this reason. His life should be made by the legal system to take a.180° turn from what it was before. If he can't walk this new.road.fire him.

[cali]

66. He is getting paid over 10 million dollars while the legal stuff plays out

$10.38 million to be precise. He is worth around $20 million. He can provide for his kids just fine. Allowing him to play, minimizes the seriousness of what he did and sends a bad message over a big megaphone.

[ALBliberal]

88. Maybe it can send a message of turning a life around ... and his children's lives too by breaking

The cycle of abuse.

[Warren Stupidity]

90. Fuck that.

The Vikings are being more than generous with this asshole. As far as I can tell the only reason to "let him play" is to appeal to the fan base that doesn't give a shit about domestic abuse and is very concerned about either the Viking's prospects or their FF team's prospects. Fuck that.

[aikoaiko]

94. +1

[hifiguy]

77. The more I think about it the more inclined I am to agree with your OP.

Intent is an issue here. It wasn't in the Ray Rice case, because when you punch another person in the fact it is clear that your intent was to punch that person in the face. I don't think Peterson had any conscious intention to really hurt the child.

Peterson may be ignorant regarding appropriate punishment of children, but if he was raised the same way his ignorance may be, if not entirely excusable, subject to a reasonable explanation. ignorance can be fixed.

I don't pretend to have any hard and fast answers, but there are issues here that were not present in the Rice case. I also think that the league's initial underreaction regarding Rice has led to something of an overreaction here. Not that it isn't serious and needs to be fully understood and discussed, but I don't think the stink would have been anywhere near as big had this not surfaced mere days after the sickening Rice video.

[dilby]

87. It's this crazy thing we have in the US I think they call it the Justice System.

I personally like the North Korean system where you just lock people up till they have their day in court, would be so much nicer here if we did the same. Heck this place would be paradise if there were guards on every street corners with a sub-machine gun and everyone was guilty till proven innocent.

[hifiguy]

98. He made bail?

No trial yet?
No plea deal?



He did make bail and complied with the requirements of the justice system that have been imposed on him so far.

Don't be silly. And I nearly used a much stronger word.

[Rhinodawg]

84. Here's an idea...How about a little forgiveness and understanding?

hes apologized...he confessed his actions...hes getting professional help.

you know its easy to kick a guy when hes down.

[cali]

86. he has not. Even after issuing a lawer directed statement

he beat his toddler bloody. he left a scar on another of his sons.

This isn't about kicking a guy. It's a bigger issue than that. The NFL has a huge audience. it sends a terrible message, minimizing what he did, to allow this guy to continue playing. they may have done it for the most craven of reasons, but it's a good thing that he's off the roster.

Adrian Peterson tweets "I am not a child abuser"

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/adrian-peterson-i-am-not-a-child-abuser/

and the tweets he sent to the mothers immediately after each incident are deeply creepy.

[dballance]

93. Good Idea.

If he is sincerely getting help then I'm all for it.

[Warren Stupidity]

95. So far he is getting a timeout. Perhaps he will learn something from that.

[MFM008]

92. they are only interested

In collecting those million dollars in salaries. Period. Then they turn around and sell themselves to the public. No, no sympathy from me. I got the hard end of the switch as a kid. No.

[aikoaiko]

96. Even if it were true that he was getting paid, that is a weak reason for the Vikings to change

Even if he loses ,money over this it's a shame for the kids but I'm all for the Vikings finally doing the right thing.

.