Top 5 Minnesota Vikings Off-Field Distractions of 2014 (So Far)
By Adam Carlson
#1: Adrian Peterson‘s “Situation”
Sadly, this is the situation that the Minnesota Vikings will be remembered for during their 2014 season.
Adrian Peterson only got to play through the first regular season game before photos emerged of wounds left on Adrian Peterson’s 4 year old son from being physically disciplined. The hearts of many Vikings fans sunk and the media world exploded. It was so hard to imagine such a likeable player do that to a child that young that it forced the Minnesota Vikings to attempt to save face with their “face of the franchise”.
Sep 7, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) looks on during the second half against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Vikings defeated the Rams 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
The Vikings deactivated Peterson for week 2, but then reactivated him following that game. There was an outcry from sponsors of the Minnesota Vikings and Adrian Peterson himself. The team was criticized for only caring about trying to win games and not the events that led to their star player falling so far from grace.
Then, it was announced less than 2 days after Peterson’s activation that he would be placed on something called the Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission list. This takes the situation out of the Minnesota Vikings hands and allows the legal course to run until the NFL’s commissioner decides when (or if) the time is right for his return to professional football.
This situation is FAR from over and it is such a touchy subject that fans of the team are now walking on eggshells when attempting to discuss this with others.