In what will surely be unwelcome news to the NFL, running back Adrian Peterson was charged and indicted by a grand jury on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child.
The child, which is Peterson's allegedly had open wounds from a switch Peterson used to discipline the four-year-old.
Rusty Hardin, a lawyer for Peterson, 29, confirmed the indictment in a statement, explaining that the case stemmed from his discipline of his son — spanking him with a tree branch. Peterson has cooperated with law enforcement in the case and testified before a grand jury for several hours, Hardin said.
“Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son,” said Hardin, adding that Peterson had experienced such discipline as a child himself in East Texas. “Adrian has never hidden from what happened.”
In response, the Minnesota Vikings have deactivated Peterson for Sunday's contest against the New England Patriots.
