New child abuse allegation against Adrian Peterson

A second accusation of child abuse has surfaced against star Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, dating back more than a year.

The new allegation was first reported by CBS Houston affiliate KHOU-TV and, notes CBS News correspondent Vladimir Duthiers, there are several parallels to the first case.

Both alleged victims are Peterson's own sons. The abuse allegedly happened while they were visiting his home. And in both cases, text messages have been recovered.

There are purported photos of the victim -- a 4-year-old boy -- who was left scarred by the alleged incident last June.

In text messages obtained by KHOU, the mother reportedly asked Peterson, "What happened to his head?" Peterson responded, "Hit his head on the car seat."

But when the mother asked, "How does this happen? He got a whoopin' in the car?" Peterson allegedly answered, "Yep," adding that, while he felt bad, his son did it to himself.

According to KHOU, in other text messages, Peterson said he disciplined his son for cussing to a sibling. The mother is said to have reported the incident to Child Protective Services, but no charges were filed.

Monday night, the Vikings said they were aware of the other allegation and referred questions to Peterson's attorney, Rusty Hardin.

Hardin told CBS News, "The allegation of another investigation into Adrian Peterson is simply not true. The allegation is more than one year old and authorities took no action. An adult witness admittedly insists Adrian did nothing inappropriate with his son."

CBS News legal analyst Rikki Klieman told "CBS This Morning" Tuesday that the latest allegations against Peterson are "certainly damaging in the court of public opinion" but they were not substantiated and won't have any impact on the current criminal case.

Klieman said that 19 states allow corporal punishment outside the home - but the legal line is hazy.

"The line is really a gray blur," she said. "The law is not meant for the state to interfere in that precious relationship of a parent and a child unless the disciplining of that child crosses that line."

Hours before KHOU's broadcast, the Vikings said Peterson would practice this week and play on Sunday.

He had been deactivated following his indictment for allegedly whipping another 4-year-old son with a tree branch.

Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said, "We have seen everything that's in the file. I will not get into any detail because I hope you respect that the legal process has to take its course. And everything, all the information that we have been able to gather as of today, this is the decision that we felt was best."

In a statement, Peterson expressed remorse for that incident, insisting he was not a child abuser. "No one can understand the hurt that I feel for my son and for the harm I caused him. My goal is always to teach my son right from wrong and that's what I tried to do that day ... I love my son very much and I will continue to try to become a better father and person."

Also on Monday, the whirlwind surrounding Peterson resulted in Radisson Hotels suspending its sponsorship of the Vikings. The chain said in a statement it "takes this matter very seriously, particularly in light of our long-standing commitment to the protection of children. We are closely following the situation and effective immediately, Radisson is suspending its limited sponsorship of the Minnesota Vikings while we evaluate the facts and circumstances."