Watch: Charles Barkley Defends Peterson, Hopes Rice Gets Second Chance
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- On Friday afternoon, Viking star and one of the NFL's best players Adrian Peterson, was indicted on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child to cap off a horrendous week for the league.
Charles Barkley was a guest on CBS' "The NFL Today" on Sunday and the former NBA star, now popular TV analyst, defended Peterson.
"I'm from the south," Barkley told Jim Rome. "I understand Boomer's [Esiason] rage and anger. He's a white guy and I'm a black guy. I don't know where he's from. I'm from the south. Whipping — we do that all the time. Every black parent in the south is going to be in jail under those circumstances. We spank kids in the south."
"I think the question about did Adrian Peterson go overboard," Barkley said. "Listen, Jim, we all grow up in different environments. Every black parent in my neighborhood in the south would be in trouble or in jail under those circumstances. We called it spanking or whipping our kids."
Barkley did admit the times are changing.
"Maybe we need to rethink it," Barkley admitted. "But I think we have to really be careful trying to teach other parents how to discipline their kids. That's a very fine line."
Barley also talked about Ray Rice, who was released and suspended indefinitely early last week when new footage of him assaulting his wife was released.
"The NFL obviously fumbled the entire Ray Rice situation, but we are bringing awareness to domestic abuse," Barkley explained. "That's a good thing. Most men, would not ever try to get any type of mental help if they felt like they needed it. So those are two positives that can come out of this. Listen, you can't hit a woman. I feel bad that tape was ever shown. Ray Rice made a tragic mistake and he has to live with that, but I do hope some owner has the courage---and it's going to take tremendous courage---to give Ray Rice another chance."
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