Adrian Peterson Comments on His Son, Suspension and NFL Future

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has remained particularly quiet about the child abuse scandal involving him and his four-year-old son.

After NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Peterson for the remainder of the 2014 NFL season on Tuesday, the six-time Pro Bowler has opened up about the troubling off-field saga.

USA Today's Tom Pelissero conducted an exclusive interview with Peterson, whose previous silence regarding the case that's put his football career on hold seemed to cloak considerable regret over what he'd done:

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No one knows how I felt when I turned my child around after spanking him and seeing what I had left on his leg. No one knows that Dad sat there and apologized to him, hugged him and told him that I didn't mean to do this to you and how sorry I was.

I love my son. I love my kids, my family. Like I said after I took the misdemeanor plea, I take full responsibility for my actions. I regret the situation. I love my son more than any one of you could even imagine.

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Goodell said in part of his statement that he felt Peterson showed "no meaningful remorse" for his actions. That was something Peterson addressed directly in the interview:

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Ultimately, I know I'll have my opportunity to sit down with Roger face to face, and I'll be able to say a lot of the same things that I've said to you. Don't say that I'm not remorseful, because in my statement, I showed that I was remorseful. I regretted everything that took place. I love my child, more than anyone could ever imagine.

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After not attending a disciplinary hearing prior to his official suspension and stirring up controversy in doing so, Peterson issued a statement explaining his reasons for the no-show. He elaborated on this in his remarks to USA Today.

"[…] I didn't want to go into a situation blind," said Peterson. "I didn't know what to expect. Who's going to be there? Who will I be meeting with? What details are we going to get into?"

Peterson, who is appealing his suspension, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, also said that he would never use a switch again to punish his children, referencing alternative ways he could exact discipline.

Peterson was indicted on a felony charge on Sept. 11 and then pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor child-injury charge on Nov. 4.

Sports Illustrated's Peter Bukowski weighed in on Pelissero's incisive piece:

As for what his future on the gridiron holds, the 29-year-old veteran has a desire to test the waters in Minnesota before looking elsewhere.

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I would love to go back and play in Minnesota to get a feel and just see if my family still feels comfortable there. But if there's word out that hey, they might release me, then so be it. I would feel good knowing that I've given everything I had in me.

[…] I would have to get back in the community and get a feel. I know who loves me. The coaches and the players, it's not going to be a problem. I've felt so much support from those guys. The organization, I know there's people in the organization that support me and there's people that I know internally that has not been supporting me.

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There is no indication as to what lies ahead for Peterson as a Viking. The team supported the league's decision to suspend Peterson but didn't comment further. Minnesota, preparing for life without Peterson, recently acquired Ben Tate off waivers, adding him to a backfield that also features Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata.

Whether Peterson's interview truly changes that perception in the league office's eyes remains to be seen, but the public stance is contrary to what Goodell asserted. Until Peterson's appeal runs its course, it's difficult to determine just what his future will look like.