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Earlier today,  Adrian Peterson was reinstated by the Minnesota Vikings. He’ll be on the field next Sunday when the team goes up against the New Orleans Saints. Not long after Minnesota made that announcement, the star running back – who has been arrested on charges of reckless/negligent injury to a child – issued a lengthy statement in which he addressed his controversial actions as a parent. Adrian Peterson: Returning to NFL Action “I never wanted to be a distraction to the Vikings organization, the Minnesota community or to my teammates,” Peterson says. “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.” Peterson has admitted to whooping his son with a switch after the four-year old acted out during a visit over the summer. The beating resulted in wounds all over the child’s body and a grand jury being summoned soon after to gather evidence against Peterson. “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,” he added. “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 was deactivated by the Vikings for yesterday’s loss to the Patriots, and some in the sports community (including Charles Barkley) are sticking up for the star. They may think he went overboard in this instance, but they have all shared stories of beating physically punished by their parents as children – and of how it made them stronger individuals. Concluded Peterson: “I have learned a lot and have had to reevaluate how I discipline my son going forward. 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. I love my son and I will continue to become a better parent and learn from any mistakes I ever make.” “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. 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.” “I accept the fact that people feel very strongly about this issue and what they think about my conduct. 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.”

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Adrian Peterson Issues Lengthy Statement, Vows to Become “Better Father and Person”