My Letter to Adrian Peterson

  Yo Adrian, When I torched your jersey the other day, after having read about the details of your case, I woke up today glad that I had done it. I want to be clear though that I did it more as a statement against child abuse, than as a personal gesture against you. It was kind of like the ice bucket challenge thing if you know what I mean. What you did to your own four year old son is absolutely unexcuseable regardless of how you came up in east Texas. I go somewhere between firm disciplinarian to pushover daddy with my three sons, depending on how much I think they are understanding me. I can pretty much guarantee though that the only thing your boy obtained from the "whupping" you put on him, was scars.
  I'm too old to be overly disappointed in your actions, i've seen too much to have held you to a higher standard. As I stated in my previous post, I especially detest when anyone tries to tell me how to raise my kids. Also, we both reside in states that border Mexico where, if you watch the news, kids are dying in the desert everyday just trying to get in this country. So we both know there are a lot worse things in life. What i'm trying to say is that it takes a lot for me to go this far but, I just want you to know in case you didn't, that beating your kid doesn't make him tough. It didn't make you tough when your folks did it. You were already tough, it just made him scared. I'm sure it made you scared too. I have no idea what your childhood was like, I just know that once you grow up there are a few things you should live your life by in order to help make the world a little better place. I would consider you a tougher man if you made the effort to protect your children from the abuse you experienced, instead of repeat the cycle.
  When I was growing up in Minnesota in the eighties, I was a huge Walter Payton fan. He was an idol, a beast on the field, tough as nails, never quit on a run. Sound familiar? When you came back from the knee injury and rushed for 2,000, I was so happy for you. You proved me right too, when all my homies where saying you were done, I knew that you had that toughness that Payton had ingrained into my football loving heart as a kid. Now that i'm all grown up though and we all saw what happened to Walter, I just feel bad for him and his family. I read the book and learned what all that abuse on the field was doing to him. The handfuls of pain killers he was swallowing by the hour and the way his body looked toward the end, it's sad and haunting. One day the game will pass you by and your body will have taken too much abuse to allow you to put the pads on and lace em' up. When that time comes and your days aren't spent in the locker room or the practice field, all that will be left is your family. You're gonna need them, the numbers won't mean a thing anymore compared to having a family that's been waiting for you the whole time.
  Moving forward, I'm still first and foremost a Vikings fan. You will probably suit up and play for them again, and when you do i'll still cheer for purple and gold and yell at the tv when Cassel throws another pick. As far as when #28 busts off another thirty yard run and lays a Packers safety on his ass, the only thing i'll really think about is your son. According to your statements, you are a loving father, and knowing young children, i'm sure he will forgive you. I just hope for both of your sakes you can find a better way to make a man out of him. It'll make both of you feel a lot better after the fact. When your playing days are done, the man waiting for you to hang out with his dad, will have that much more love and respect, instead of fear and scars. Peace out "All Day".
                                                                                                                        -Vikes Fan