Two months ago, Adrian Peterson was a child abuser and America was outraged the Minnesota Vikings would even think about allowing him on the football field. Now he is a “top-notch, first class” human being, according to Peterson’s coach, and it likely won’t be long before he’s again soaking in the adulation of thousands of purple-clad fans.
What gives? What changed? What the hell?
Welcome to the wacky world of the National Football League, where ethics are defined by victories and dollar signs while fans would forgive Jeffrey Dahmer if he could help their team win a Super Bowl.
What changed in Peterson’s case was verbiage and nothing else. Peterson’s actions didn’t change, the injuries to Peterson’s 4-year-old son didn’t change and the fact Peterson and his lawyer never once denied the allegations in the case didn’t change.
Here is what changed: Two months ago, Peterson was charged with a felony and last week his lawyer negotiated it down to a misdemeanor. Voila! Adrian Peterson, child abuser, is suddenly Adrian Peterson, beloved and humble football star again.
Let’s win some football games!
On Sept. 12, Peterson was indicted by a Texas grand jury for “reckless or negligent injury to a child.” He was accused of whipping his 4-year-old son with a switch (a light, whippy stick or branch), resulting in cuts, marks and bruises to the child’s thighs, back and a testicle. Reports also had marks on the boy’s hands, suggesting he tried to defend himself. It was a felony charge, punishable by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Peterson admitted to whacking his child, saying he didn’t intend harm and was disciplining the youngster the same way Peterson’s father disciplined him. The utterly tone-deaf Vikings deactivated Peterson for one game, but reinstated him the next week using the “he was just disciplining his son” defense.
This is when all hell broke loose. A national media outcry ensued. The governor of Minnesota said Peterson was “a public embarrassment.” Child-advocacy groups wailed. The team took no action. Then, Anheuser-Busch – multi-million dollar sponsor of the NFL – released a statement expressing concern about Peterson. Miraculously, the Vikings and the NFL soon reached an agreement that sidelined Peterson indefinitely. The consensus was Peterson would never play for the Vikings again.
We were, after all, outraged.
Not so much anymore.
With the news last week that Peterson and his lawyer reached a plea agreement to a severely reduced charge – the player pled no contest to misdemeanor charge of reckless assault – the outrage has turned to forgiveness and the invective to bouquets. Media reports have Vikings players, coaches and front office types ready and willing to welcome back Peterson. The players’ union is doing what it does and fighting for Peterson’s reinstatement. The NFL is looking for the best possible financial and public-relations outcome.
It’s almost like the legal maneuvering gave everybody an excuse to change the subject. “Oh, it’s only a misdemeanor? Then what’s the big deal?”
Nobody is willing to say what needs to be said: Adrian Peterson whipped his 4-year-old son with a switch and that is inexcusable, regardless of what plea agreement his lawyer reached. The legalese didn’t change the facts. It shouldn’t change the outrage.
Its likely Peterson will play again very soon in the NFL, after paying a fine or some other meaningless penalty that won’t matter. Peterson will make $14.4 million in 2014. He was paid during his absence. Money is not an issue.
It would be nice if the Vikings stood up and said they were going to suspend Peterson for the rest of the season, the team found his actions inexcusable and a lawyerly agreement won’t deter the franchise from its stated mantra of wanting to “get it right.”
We know that is wishful thinking. The only thing that talks in the NFL is money. One of Peterson’s major sponsors, Nike, dropped him late last week. If Anheuser-Busch or some other league sugar-daddy were to do something similar, it might force some action.
The outrage may have conveniently disappeared, but money talks. Peterson shouldn’t play. Sponsors need to pull their cash to make sure he doesn’t.
(Mike McFeely is a talk-show host on 790 KFGO-AM in Fargo-Moorhead. He can be heard 2-5 p.m. weekdays. Follow him on Twitter @MikeMcFeelyKFGO.)