Twin Cities Lawyer Weighs In On Adrian Peterson Case
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – It's been a busy week at Winter Park as the Minnesota Vikings prepare to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
They'll be without their best player as running back Adrian Peterson was placed on the NFL's "exempt" list while he resolves legal issues off the field. Peterson has been charged in Texas with child abuse after he admitted to hitting his 4-year-old son with a switch. He was indicted in the case about a week ago.
Twin Cities criminal defense attorney Joe Tamburino stopped by the WCCO This Morning show on Thursday to give his take on the case and what's next for Peterson. He won't be stepping on a football field until the legal matter is resolved, and there's a chance he may never play for the Vikings again.
Peterson is scheduled to make an initial court appearance in early October. Tamburino said there's still a chance a plea deal could be worked out to resolve the matter in a more timely fashion.
"Absolutely it could be worked out. Right now what his attorney said in the present tense is that nothing is going on with plea negotiations. But this is going to go on for months," Tamburino said. "Technically he has the right to have this resolved within 180 days in Texas but that's still six months so certainly a plea negotiation could happen."
There had been discussion about the Vikings potentially releasing Peterson as a result of the case, much like the Baltimore Ravens did with Ray Rice after video was released of him assaulting his fiancée. Rice has appealed his indefinite suspension from the NFL with the NFL Players Association. Vikings officials have insisted they will not cut ties with Peterson.
Tamburino said if the Vikings were to cut him initially instead of what they did with deactivating him, re-activating him and then placing him on the "exempt" list, they could've been subject to litigation.
He said Peterson does have a defense in the argument of disciplining a child versus child abuse. Laws and regulations in Texas are more liberal than in other states, including Minnesota.
"In Texas they have more liberal laws to use physical force against kids if you're a parent or guardian. His defense from the beginning has been 'Look, I did the acts but I was doing it to discipline my child.' In Texas that's a statute that's called 'special relationship.' You're allowed to use corporal punishment as you deem in a reasonable setting to be one of correction of a child or for the child's welfare."
Tamburino said if Peterson wants to get back on the field and resume playing football, he'll work with his lawyer to work out a deal as quickly as possible.
Tamburino said if Peterson goes to trial, his case will depend on if a jury finds his acts against his son reasonable or excessive.