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Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson says he was disciplined as a child. Photo: USA Today Sports

'I’m not a child abuser,' says reinstated running back Adrian Peterson

Minnesota Vikings star facing charges of child abuse for injuries he caused when disciplining his son

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, reinstated by the NFL team on Monday, declared he was not a child abuser despite charges of injuring his four-year-old son with blows from a wooden switch.

Peterson, who was deactivated from the playing roster for Sunday’s 30-7 home loss to new England, is able to return to practice with plans to play this Sunday at New Orleans.

Regardless of what others think, however, I love my son very much and I will continue to try to become a better father and perso
Adrian Peterson

The Vikings sidelined Peterson last Friday after he was charged with reckless or negligent injury to a child after using a tree branch to spank his son with blows so hard he still bore the marks days later.

“I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser,” Peterson said in a statement released by the Vikings.

“I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury. No one can understand the hurt that I feel for my son and for the harm I caused him. My goal is always to teach my son right from wrong and that’s what I tried to do that day.”

Peterson surrendered himself to Texas authorities on Saturday morning and was released on bail with a trial not expected until next year, after the end of the season.

“I accept the fact that people feel very strongly about this issue and what they think about my conduct,” Peterson said. “Regardless of what others think, however, I love my son very much and I will continue to try to become a better father and person.”

Peterson said he was imposing the same discipline to his son that had been used upon him as a child.

“I have learned a lot and have had to re-evaluate how I discipline my son going forward,” Peterson said. “But deep in my heart I have always believed I could have been one of those kids that was lost in the streets without the discipline instilled in me by my parents and other relatives.

“I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man.

A fan wearing Adrian Peterson's jersey and carrying a switch before the Vikings' game against the New England Patriots at the weekend. Photo: AFP
Peterson said he has met with a psychologist over the matter.

“I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen,” Peterson said.

“I know that many people disagree with the way I disciplined my child. I also understand after meeting with a psychologist that there are other alternative ways of disciplining a child that may be more appropriate.”

Peterson said his attorney asked that he not discuss details of the case.

“I understand that it is not appropriate to talk about the facts in detail at this time, nevertheless, I want everyone to understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child,” Peterson said.

“I never imagined being in a position where the world is judging my parenting skills or calling me a child abuser because of the discipline I administered to my son.”

Adrian Peterson is the face of the Vikings. Photo: AP
Peterson said he told a grand jury and two different police interviews without a lawyer that it was never his intention to harm his son.

Before Peterson’s statement, Vikings’ owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, in a statement on the team’s website, defended their decision to let legal matters play out before making any more steps to bench the star rusher.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and support Adrian’s fulfilment of his legal responsibilities throughout this process,” the Wilfs said.

“We take very seriously any matter that involves the welfare of a child. At this time, however, we believe this is a matter of due process and we should allow the legal system to proceed so we can come to the most effective conclusions and then determine the appropriate course of action.”

Peterson’s scandal hit the world’s richest sports league the same week the league saw an uproar over star rusher Ray Rice, who was fired by the Baltimore Ravens and banned indefinitely by the NFL after a video was released showing him brutally punching the woman who is now his wife in a hotel elevator.

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