We know there are a number of players in the NFL who feel Adrian Peterson should be able to discipline his children however he sees fit, but those players would be wise to keep their opinions to themselves. Minnesota Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn couldn’t help himself on Wednesday.
Munnerlyn, who is in his first season with the Vikings, told reporters that he feels Peterson is being treated unfairly.
“I really didn’t see the big deal of it, and people are blowing it out of proportion with all this and all that,” Munneryln said, per Dane Mizutani of The Pioneer Press. “If Adrian wasn’t in the limelight I don’t think this would be coming up at all because you raise your kids how you raise your kids. I think Adrian is a great guy, great dude, great father, great football player, and I just think the way he’s been treated is unfair.”
The main reason Munnerlyn doesn’t think the injuries Peterson allegedly left on his 4-year-old son are a big deal is because Munnerlyn says he was raised the same way.
“Growing up, that was nothing,” he said. “My mom … always whipped me up and things like that. In my culture, that’s how I was raised … and look at me now. I’m in the NFL, and I’m doing great.”
Munnerlyn isn’t the only NFL player to come forward and say he was disciplined the same way, but that doesn’t make it right. Times have changed. Hockey players weren’t required to wear helmets 35 years ago. Does that mean it was a good idea?
Munnerlyn also argued that Peterson should be able to play football because he has not been convicted of anything. What he seemed to overlook is that the Vikings are still paying Peterson while he is on the exempt list. His contract requires the team to pay him, not play him.
