The Minnesota Vikings are prepared to make a statement with Adrian Peterson, and will not suffer the same embarrassment that Baltimore experience.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports, via a Vikings source, that the length of Peterson’s deactivation could be longer than this week based on any new information the organization uncovers about Peterson’s child abuse charge.
Although the Vikings have heard Peterson’s side of the story, they are still in information-gathering mode after discovering Friday that the charges were indeed coming.
Pro Football Talk is reporting that Peterson and the Vikings are on the same page for now.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, it’s very hard on Peterson to not be with the team, but he wants to minimize any distraction arising from his present. He agrees completely with the decision that he not attend Sunday’s game.
The Vikings also wanted to be sure that Peterson would be able to take care of the legal side of the pending child abuse charges, which he did on Saturday by turning himself in and then posting bond.
“The Vikings support him because they know how much he means to the team and that he’s a good person,” the source said. While Peterson supports and accepts the decision that he shouldn’t attend the game, it’s eating at him to miss it — especially since a victory over the Patriots could mean that the Vikings will be a true contender in 2014.
I expect that this will be Peterson’s final seaso in Minnesota regardless of the outcome of this case. The Vikings were on the hook for three more years at about $14 million per season.
Peterson’s child abuse charges now make it easier for the Vikings to walk away from the star running back without taking a public relations hit from fans.