Adrian Peterson took to the podium Tuesday for the first time since returning to practice with the Minnesota Vikings. The running back discussed why he returned to the team and gave his thoughts on the coaching staff. Perhaps most revealingly, he explained his evolution as a father.
Adrian Peterson says he apologized to son, ‘would run through brick wall’ for kids
Adrian Peterson spoke about how he has reconciled with his son and the Vikings after a saga sparked by child abuse charges last September.
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Peterson: "The first person that I apologized to was my son. That was right after the situation took place. ... It wasn't my intention."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 2, 2015 Adrian Peterson said he actually learned in therapy he's "been doing a pretty good job.'' Has learned about timeouts, taking snacks away
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) June 2, 2015 Peterson: "The relationship is good. It's love. I made a mistake. My son knows that. He knows I love him. My other kids, they know the same"
— Brian Murphy (@murphPPress) June 2, 2015 Peterson in closing: "I love all my kids with all my heart. I'd run through a brickwall for them. I'd step in front of a car for them."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 2, 2015 The press conference seemingly closed a saga that has lasted nearly a year. Last September, Peterson was indicted for reckless or negligent injury to a child after he hit his 4-year-old son with a switch in Texas. He was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, which amounted to an indefinite suspension with pay after he played just one game of the 2014 season.
Peterson was handed a suspension in November, which resulted in contentious appeals that have led the NFL Players Association to file a motion to hold commissioner Roger Goodell in contempt of federal court. Since being reinstated in April, Peterson has seemingly lashed out at the Vikings, suggesting that the franchise did little to support him against the NFL’s disciplinary actions. In a Twitter rant last week, Peterson decried the NFL’s contract system, which may soon work against him when the Vikings are finished paying his guaranteed salary this season.
On Tuesday, however, there seemed to be no bad blood between Peterson and the Vikings, at least on the surface. Head coach Mike Zimmer spoke about his love for the running back, and Peterson claimed to be happy just to be back in Minnesota’s facilities.
Peterson on returning, "I just wanted to. I had a long time to really think about things. ... It came down to being back in the building."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 2, 2015 Why did Mike Zimmer back Peterson? "I know what kind of person he is." Zimmer says AD "volunteered" to come back to work.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 2, 2015 Mike Zimmer: "I love this kid. I've said this all along.'' Zimmer said he wouldn't have gone to Houston if he didn't.
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) June 2, 2015 Other notes:
Peterson says he never played the victim:
AD" "I’m definitely not the victim, I haven’t tried to play the victim. … But it was tough to sit back and take all these blows."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 2, 2015 "We have so many people in this world with their opinions...I'm comfortable with knowing my intentions." - Peterson #Vikings
— Master Tesfatsion (@MasterStrib) June 2, 2015 Peterson’s agent, Ben Dogra, did nothing wrong:
Peterson on comments made by Ben Dogra: "My agent, he has a job to do. He was doing his job…. I didn’t know what I wanted."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 2, 2015 The Vikings never held trade talks about Peterson:
Mike Zimmer said the Vikings never had any thoughts of trading Adrian Peterson.
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) June 2, 2015 Vikings coach Mike Zimmer to the podium first. "It's great to have Adrian back here. ... We welcome him with open arms."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 2, 2015 See More:
