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 Peterson was held out of the Vikings' game on Sunday, a 30-7 loss
to the New England Patriots, following his indictment last week in
Texas for negligent injury to his 4-year-old son, the latest
domestic violence case to rock the NFL.
"Based on the extensive information we have right now, and what we
know about Adrian not only as a person but what he has also done for
this community, we believe he deserves to play while the legal
process plays out," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman told a
news conference.
"At the same time, we must defer to the legal system to determine
whether he went too far. But we cannot make that judgment."
Peterson, who was the NFL's most valuable player in 2012, is accused
of injuring his son last May by hitting him with a tree branch as
punishment. If convicted, Peterson, 29, could be sentenced to up to
two years in prison and fined $10,000.
 "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," Peterson said in a statement. "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, who will practice this week and play on Sunday when the
Vikings visit the New Orleans Saints, said he loved his son and was
not a child abuser.
"No one can understand the hurt that I feel for my son and for the
harm I caused him," he said.
In a new development, Houston television station KHOU reported on
Monday it obtained photos and text messages it said indicated the
player might have injured another young son.
KHOU reported that when the boy was visiting Peterson in the Houston
area, the football player sent the boy's mother a photo of the child
with bandages on his head. According to KHOU, Peterson said at first
the boy hit his head on a carseat, but when the mother texted that
she suspected he got "a whoopin in the car," Peterson responded:
"Yep."
Also on Monday, the Radisson hotel chain said it was suspending a
sponsorship deal with the Vikings as it monitors the case.
"Radisson takes this matter very seriously, particularly in light of
our long-standing commitment to the protection of children," it said
in a statement on its website. Details on the sponsorship were not
available.
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The report could not be confirmed by Reuters. A spokeswoman for
Houston police declined to comment, but Peterson's attorney, Rusty
Hardin, said in a statement the allegation was "unsubstantiated and
was shopped around to authorities in two states over a year ago and
nothing came of it."
"An adult witness adamantly insists Adrian did nothing inappropriate
with his son. There is no ongoing or new investigation," Hardin
added.
SPATE OF CASES
The NFL has been under scrutiny this season for its handling of
another star, former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was
indefinitely suspended after the release of a video showing him
knocking out his then-fiancee, whom he later married. Rice is
expected to appeal that suspension.
Two other players involved in domestic violence cases are also under
the league's microscope, Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers and Ray
McDonald of the San Francisco 49ers.
A Pro Bowl defensive end, Hardy was convicted of domestic violence
charges during the summer but has appealed. McDonald was arrested
Aug. 31 in San Jose, California, on suspicion of felony domestic
violence for allegedly beating up his pregnant fiancee.
Hardy was held out of Sunday's game, a 24-7 victory over Detroit,
while McDonald played in the 49ers' 28-20 loss to Chicago.
(Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis, Editing by Mary Milliken,
Bill Trott and Peter Cooney)
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