Adrian Peterson says he has learned his lesson and will never use a switch again to discipline one of his children.
The Minnesota Vikings running back pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault committed against one of his sons in a widely publicized case. Peterson has been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list and has not played since Week 1 of the season. He says he has changed his way as a parent.
“I won’t ever use a switch again,” Peterson told USA Today’s Tom Pelissero in an interview. “There’s different situations where a child needs to be disciplined as far as timeout, taking their toys away, making them take a nap. There’s so many different ways to discipline your kids.”
Though Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter to Peterson that the running back was not remorseful, Peterson says his remorse was real and that he even felt badly after injuring his child with the switch.
“No one knows how I felt when I turned my child around after spanking him and seeing what I had left on his leg,” Peterson told Pelissero. “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.”
According to the article, Peterson has been seeing a therapist and pastor for guidance since the incident. He is also aware that the views of his form of discipline vary depending on one’s cultural, ethnic and geographic backgrounds. For instance, he grew up in an area where he was paddled in school. Despite his background, Peterson says he won’t get physical with a tree branch again.
And for those concerned about Peterson’s football future, the running back is eager to return to the NFL, but is open to playing elsewhere.
“Maybe it’s best for me to get a fresh start somewhere else.”
