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Adrian Peterson

Legal Ramifications Of Adrian Peterson Case

September 13th, 2014 at 3:05pm CST by Rob DiRe

In light of the recent information surrounding the Adrian Peterson child abuse case, there will be a long and arduous legal process that will have to play itself out. It was already reported that the All-Pro running back was released on bond after turning himself in to Texas authorities this morning, but other details surrounding his legal situation were still surfacing at that time.

Master Tesfatsion and Matt Vensel put together an overview of the proceedings for the Star Tribune, noting that there are many layers to the case. They fed from Montgomery County first assistant district attorney Phil Grant’s press conference to cull information about Peterson’s potential trial.

Tesfatsion provided some of the key points through his Twitter account. According to Tesfatsion, Peterson is facing one charged count of injury to a child. If convicted, that crime calls for a maximum two-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000. Probation would be a possibility for someone with no prior criminal record (via Twitter).

No court date has been set, and Grant assumes that will not happen for a few weeks, and even longer before a trial date is set (via Twitter). He also noted that the grand jury in charge of the investigation was provided “lots of evidence over a significant number of weeks,” (via Twitter).

Grant expects the case to go to trial, and that likely will not occur until sometime in 2015.

In terms of his current status with the Vikings, the league released a brief-statement, saying that the incident will be reviewed under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The Vikings have decided to deactivate Peterson for this Sunday’s game against the Patriots on their own, and no decision has been made as to his status further than this Sunday’s game.

Latest On Adrian Peterson

September 13th, 2014 at 9:32am CST by Ben Levine

Yesterday, star running back Adrian Peterson was indicted in Texas for reckless or negligent injury to a child. The Vikings immediately deactivated the player for their game against the Patriots, and they also released a brief statement:

“The Vikings are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson. At this time, we will defer further questions to Adrian’s attorney Rusty Hardin.”

Hardin also commented on the indictment (via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press):

“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. He has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours. 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.”

There were also a couple of details that emerged overnight. Let’s take a look…

  • Peterson turned himself in to Texas authorities this morning at 2:06am ET, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The writer notes that he was expected to be released on a $15K bond.
  • However, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reports (via Twitter) that Peterson will be released on a $21K bond.
  • According to Nick Wright of CBS Houston, the incident happened in May following an argument between two of Peterson’s children. The running back admitted that he “whooped” his son, and was surprised by the police interest.
  • Sports Illustrated’s Michael McCann describes the legal punishment Peterson could face. If he is convicted of reckless injury to a child, a potential sentence could range anywhere from two to ten years. If convicted of negligent injury to a child, Peterson would face 180 days to two years in prison.

Adrian Peterson Indicted In Child Abuse Case

September 12th, 2014 at 5:46pm CST by Luke Adams

5:46pm: The Vikings have announced that Peterson will be deactivated for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

5:35pm: Several new details and statements have emerged since the initial report on Peterson. Here are a few of them:

  • Montgomery County Sheriff Tommy Gage sent out a release confirming that a warrant has been issued for Peterson’s arrest, per the Houston Chronicle.
  • Nick Wright of Sports Radio 610 in Houston has published a report with many specific details on the incident being investigated, which involved Peterson striking his four-year-old son with a tree branch. According to Wright, Peterson “admitted that he administered two different “whoopings” to his son” during his visit to Texas.
  • WCCO in Minnesota also has photos from the police report of the four-year-old’s injuries, which Wright says were taken “at least a week” after the incident (Twitter link).
  • Rusty Hardin, Peterson’s attorney, issued a statement which says that his client “used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas,” and that “Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury.”

4:26pm: Vikings star Adrian Peterson has been indicted in Montgomery County for reckless or negligent injury to a child, reports Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the indictment stems from Peterson disciplining his son with a switch. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s office tells ESPN that Peterson has not been arrested, while Montgomery County sheriff investigators say that the running back has been cooperative with them.

According to Rapoport (via Twitter), the investigation into the incident involving Peterson has been ongoing for some time — the longtime Viking testified in front of a grand jury weeks ago, a source tells the NFL.com scribe. It’s the latest bad piece of news in what has been a devastating week for the league, on the heels of all that has transpired with the Ray Rice suspension and the NFL’s apparent botched investigation into that incident.

While due process has yet to play out in Peterson’s case, the Vikings and the league will be under the microscope as they decide how to handle this news. As Jay Glazer of FOX Sports tweets, because Peterson was indicted, he’ll have to turn himself in and his status for this weekend’s game against the Patriots is unclear. The club is currently deciding on what to do with Peterson for Week 2, Glazer adds in a second tweet.

Adrian Peterson Expressed Interest In Playing For Cowboys

August 28th, 2014 at 1:30pm CST by Luke Adams

1:30pm: Peterson and the Vikings have issued an official statement on the ESPN report. Peterson’s comments read, in full:

“This was a casual conversation between NFL colleagues in which I never indicated I wanted to leave the Vikings. I have always said I understand the NFL is a business but that I would love to retire as a Viking.”

1:00pm: Star running back Adrian Peterson told Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in a June telephone call that he’d have interest in joining the Cowboys after his tenure with the Vikings comes to an end, according to an ESPN.com Outside the Lines report by Don Van Natta Jr. Van Natta recounts Jones’ side of the conversation with the Vikings running back, writing that it’s “obvious” Peterson told Jones he’d like to play for Dallas.

“Well, I understand, Adrian,” Jones said during the conversation. “I’d like that, too … Well, I love your story. I love your daddy’s story. I’ve always respected what you’ve been about. I’ve always been a fan of yours.”

The NFL’s rules related to tampering dictate that if a team is contacted by a player who is under contract with another club, that team must immediately report the contact to the club which holds the player’s rights. Jones, confirming that Peterson told him he’d like to play for the Cowboys, said he didn’t contact the Vikings about the discussion, so it’s not clear whether he’ll be subject to a penalty from the league.

Van Natta’s story also includes details on Jones’ desire to draft Johnny Manziel back in May, rather than offensive lineman Zack Martin.

“If we had picked Manziel, he’d guarantee our relevance for 10 years,” Jones said. “When we were on the clock, I said, if we pick the other guy – any other guy – it would be a ticket to parity, more 8-8 seasons. The only way to break out is to gamble — take a chance with that first pick, if you wanna dramatically improve your team. That’s why I wanted Manziel, but I was the only guy who wanted him.”

Extra Points: Collins, Staley, McKinnon

July 7th, 2014 at 7:59pm CST by Matt Feminis

Let’s round up a few Monday odds and ends from around the NFL….

  • Patriots second-year linebacker Jamie Collins‘ arrow is pointing up following a terrific rookie season in which he showcased unique athleticism and versatility. In Collins, “Bill Belichick has found a new sort of prototype,” says NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal, who profiles Collins as a breakout player deserving of 900 snaps this season. For perspective, Dont’a Hightower‘s 870 snaps led Patriots linebackers in 2013.
  • Joe Staley has four years remaining on a six-year, $43.2MM contract with the 49ers, but many consider the outstanding left tackle underpaid, says ESPN’s Bill Williamson, who tweets the team could consider giving Staley a new deal. Either way, Staley isn’t expected to hold out. That’s not the case for Alex Boone, however, tweets Williamson.
  • The Steelers need second-year man Markus Wheaton to step up, says ESPN’s Scott Brown in his preview of the team’s receivers.
  • In a rundown of AFC South depth chart notes, Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuiness says he doesn’t expect Jaguars free-agent acquisition Toby Gerhart to be any better than average.
  • Meanwhile, Vikings rookie Jerick McKinnon is vying to replace Gerhart as Adrian Peterson‘s backup. A third-round pick out of Georgia Southern, McKinnon is making a strong first impression on Peterson: “He’s pretty impressive and there’s not too many guys who impress me like that, especially rookies coming in,” Peterson told Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune.
  • Despite a recent ESPN poll (Insider required) of league executives that ranked Jets quarterback Geno Smith the NFL’s worst starter, NewYorkJets.com editor-in-chief Randy Lange tries to make a case Smith’s rookie season was “better than some observers seem to think.”
  • If the season started today, the Raiders would be the worst team in football, according to Pro Football Talk.

NFC Links: Giants, Lions, Packers

June 30th, 2014 at 2:28pm CST by Ben Levine

Eli Manning was the most overpaid NFL player during the 2013 season, at least according to Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus (ESPN Insider subscription required). The Giants’ 57.5 accuracy percentage was the second-worst in the league (behind the Raiders‘ Matt McGloin), and his 27 interceptions were the most by a quarterback in nearly ten years. The writer utilized the “Jahnke Valuation Model” – a formula that measures a player’s potential salary based on production – and came to the conclusion that Manning deserved about $5.4MM. That’s a far cry from his 2013 cap hit of $20.8MM.

Second on the list also came from the NFC, albeit on the defensive side of the ball. Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis earned this honor, even though he compiled 116 tackles last season. Jahnke points to the player’s 13 missed tackles and estimates he should have earned about $1.3MM – a more than $11MM difference from his $12.4MM cap hit.

Three other NFC players – Falcons wideout Roddy White, Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson and Vikings running back Adrian Peterson – made this list. For the AFC, Jets linebacker David Harris led the way, followed by Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub, Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph, Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor and Bills defensive end Mario Williams.

Let’s see what else is going on around the NFC…

  • Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. and Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson were previously represented by the Morgan Advisory Group’s Ryan Morgan & Zeke Sandhu. However, as Sports Business Journal’s Liz Mullen points out (via Twitter), the two players are now unaffiliated with MAG and are only represented by Sandhu.
  • History suggests that Lions head coach Jim Caldwell will only carry two quarterbacks, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.com. In his ten seasons with the Colts, Caldwell carried a trio of quarterbacks four times, including the 2011 season when he held on to an injured Peyton Manning. The competition is likely between veterans Dan Orlovsky and Kellen Moore, as well as rookie James Franklin. As Rogers notes, Franklin could stick around on the practice squad.
  • 12 linebackers were taken ahead of Packers rookie Carl Bradford, and Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel writes that the player won’t forget about those taken in front of him. “I keep track of it, man,” Bradford said. “And I use that as motivation…We’ll see where I land at the end of all this.”

NFC Notes: Gabbert, Cromartie, Peterson

June 21st, 2014 at 4:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

The 49ers acquired Blaine Gabbert from the Jaguars earlier this offseason, with the hopes that he could become the backup to Colin Kaepernick. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman had good early impressions of Gabbert, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “(I’m) excited about Blaine,” said Roman. “He asks all the right questions.”

Gabbert appears humbled in his time with Jacksonville, and is ready to make a new start. “I just came in here and tried to put my best foot forward every day and really enjoy the process and get better on a consistent basis,” Gabbert said. “That’s what you look for in the spring — just consistent improvement and getting comfortable in the offense and with the new surroundings and the new guys you’re working with.”

Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • While Cardinals‘ superstar Patrick Peterson has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, but his new teammate Antonio Cromartie is not sold on his skills, writes Nate Davis of USAToday.com. “You got three young guys that are up and coming, but right now it’s either me or (Revis) when we’re healthy. … We have zero help at all; we tell the safety to roll up to the other side. So we know what we can do,” said Cromartie. “I want these guys (Sherman, Peterson and Haden) to be on an island by themselves and play zero coverage (no safety help) – they (haven’t done) it yet. They haven’t done anything that me and Revis have done in a Rex Ryan defense.”
  • As new offensive coordinator Norv Turner implements his offense on the Vikings, one key aspect he would like is increasing Adrian Peterson‘s role in the passing game, writes Derek Wetmore of 1500ESPN.com. “A big part of that is finding ways for Adrian to not have to run in such crowded areas all the time. He’s going to have to do that, that’s part of his job, he’s the best in the league at it.,” said Turner. “But if we can get him more space we can take advantage of his great abilities.”
  • The Packers have an open starting job at tight end with Jermichael Finley not re-signed, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Andrew Quarless filled in well for Finley last season, but has not reported for OTAs this season as he looks for a new contract. In his absence, rookie Richard Rogers has emerged as a possible frontrunner for the starting job.
  • T.J. Yates, who was traded from the Texans to the Falcons on Wednesday night, tells D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he couldn’t be happier with his change of scenery.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Adrian Peterson Talks Vikings, Role, Future

June 19th, 2014 at 9:02am CST by Luke Adams

While running backs struggled to find big-money offers on the free agent market this offseason, Vikings star Adrian Peterson remains the highest-paid player at the position as he enters the third season of a long-term deal that will pay him $12MM this year. Tom Pelissero of USA Today spoke to Peterson about a variety of topics, including the new coaching staff in Minnesota and his goals for the upcoming season, but many of the running back’s most interesting comments related to his role with the Vikings and his future in the NFL. While the entire Q&A is worth checking out, we’ll round up a few of Peterson’s more notable quotes below….

On being one of the few longtime Vikings standouts still in Minnesota after the offseason departures of Jared Allen and Kevin Williams:

“We’re just kind of going through that phase. They say the NFL is a revolving door. … Ultimately, the organization is going to do what they feel is best for their team. If that’s going younger or trying to save money, that’s what it boils down to, no matter what type of talent you are. It’s really the unfortunate part of the business, but I’m blessed to still be around, and hopefully, it doesn’t happen to me one day. If it does, then, oh well. I’ll go on and do something different with my career.”

On whether durability is becoming a concern as Peterson approaches age 30:

“I feel I have longevity. There’s things that I know personally I could’ve done better to try to prevent some of the injuries that occurred the last two years — especially last year, because towards the end of the season, that’s when it really started to break down. I’ve been able to kind of focus on those areas as far as the healing process this year and kind of like backdoor-ing what I missed out on last year as far as strengthening the area that kind of triggered the surgery I had to have, the adductor release. But I feel like I’m going to play this game as long as I can. I came back from my ACL injury and won MVP. So, what’s a groin? What’s an adductor? That’s how I look at things. I feel like if you just continue to take care of your body, working out, making sure you’re in shape and you stay on top of your game, you can play as long as you want.”

On whether he thinks he’ll be with the Vikings long enough for the team to become a Super Bowl caliber club:

“I don’t see why not. But then again, I know it’s a business at the end of the day. I won’t ever be blinded by that, when I hear different talks of this trade or that trade. Would you have ever traded Percy Harvin? … I wouldn’t have. I would have been like, ‘You’re just going to sit here and I’ll pay you, but you’re not going nowhere else.’ But he got traded. So, you never know. I’m always looking at things in different lights — not saying that I would want that. But if it was to happen, I’ve had a good time here. People will know that this guy gave his heart for this organization. I think the organization would take a heavy hit – for real – more so from the fan base. I don’t think it would be like a LeBron (James) situation where they’re burning my jersey, this, that and the other. They might be doing (the opposite) and not buying some season tickets.

NFC Links: Foles, Lions, Vikings

June 7th, 2014 at 6:23pm CST by Ben Levine

Following Colin Kaepernick‘s recent extension, many young quarterbacks are likely counting down the days until their new contract. One signal caller who isn’t thinking that far ahead is Eagles field general Nick Foles.

As Jeff McLane of Philly.com writes, Foles has never been financially motivated to play the sport. It certainly helps that his father sold a chain of Texas-based restaurants for $59MM, but as the writer says, Foles “is his own man and will want to forge his own path.”

Besides the lack of desire for a large payout, there may be many factors that stands in Foles’ way. One could be the lingering belief that a more mobile quarterback would fit better into coach Chip Kelly‘s system. Another is the hesitance to buy into Foles completely until he’s proven that he can sustain his success.

Regardless, the entire thing isn’t bothering the 25-year-old.

“If you try to think about all that, it’s hard to play,” Foles said.

If the quarterback continues with that focused mindset, he may be in line for his own large contract soon enough.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NFC…

Vikings Rumors: Rookies, Peterson, Ponder

May 11th, 2014 at 8:12pm CST by Ben Levine

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman was very aggressive during the draft, pulling off four trades over three days. The team started with eight picks but ended up with ten selections, including first-rounders Anthony Barr and Teddy Bridgewater. As Matt Vensel of The Minneapolis Star Tribune points out, the team only picked in three of their original draft spots. It sounds like this was all part of Spielman’s strategy:

“We thought that if we accumulated more picks, there was enough depth there to add to our roster and create competition,” said Spielman.

The team wasn’t finished adding rookies. Yesterday, the Vikings announced the signings of 15 undrafted free agents.

Let’s take a look at some more notes out of Minnesota…

  • Neither of the team’s first-round picks are guaranteed to start, but Barr is expected to be on the field for the team’s first defensive snap next season, Vensel mentions in another article . The writer adds that the team plans to use Barr as a strong-side linebacker in their 4-3 base defense.
  • Offensive coordinator Norv Turner regards Bridgewater as the most impressive rookie quarterbacks and compares him to former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion Trent Green, writes Sid Hartman of The Star Tribune.
  • The Vikings are looking to trade star running back Adrian Peterson sooner than later, writes Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report. “This (coming) season will be Peterson’s last with the Vikings,” an AFC general manager told Freeman. “Despite the cap hit, they’ll make some sort of move to get him off the roster.”
  • In regards to Christian Ponder‘s future with the team, Vensel tweets that the team wants to keep a third quarterback. The writer also adds that a trade probably isn’t an option because Ponder doesn’t have much trade value.
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