Vikings Bar Adrian Peterson From Team Activities

The Minnesota Vikings put Adrian Peterson on the NFL's exempt/commissioner's permission list on Wednesday, a move which bars the six-time Pro Bowler from all teams activities until his child-abuse case is resolved.

The 29-year old Peterson, who won the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award in 2008,  was indicted last week in Montgomery County, Texas, on a felony count of reckless or negligent injury to a child, following a whipping incident that reportedly left bruises and wounds on the body of his 4-year-old son.

Peterson said that his intent wasn't to harm the child, but only that he was trying to discipline the child in much the same way that he, himself, was disciplined by his father when he was growing up in Texas.

The Vikings deactivated Peterson prior to last Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, before reinstating him on Monday, and then reversing course early on Wednesday morning.

Zygi and Mark Wilf, owners of the Vikings, released a statement regarding the team's decision to put Peterson on the NFL's exempt/commissioner's permission list:

"After giving the situation additional thought, we have decided this is the appropriate course of action for the organization and for Adrian," Vikings owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf said in the statement. "We are always focused on trying to make the right decision as an organization.

"We embrace our role -- and the responsibilities that go with it -- as a leader in the community, as a business partner and as an organization that can build bridges with our fans and positively impact this great region. We appreciate and value the input we have received from our fans, our partners and the community."

 

Peterson, who has played eight season in the NFL, all with the Vikings, has accumulated 10,180 rushing yards, along with 86 touchdowns, in 104 career games.