Vikings' Peterson Avoids Jail in Plea Agreement

CONROE, Texas (AP) - Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson will avoid jail time after reaching a plea agreement in his child abuse case.

A judge agreed to the plea deal during a hearing Tuesday in Conroe, 40 miles north of Houston.

Peterson was indicted in September for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son earlier this year in suburban Houston. The All-Pro running back was charged with felony injury to a child and had faced up to two years in prison if convicted.

Under the agreement, Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault.

Peterson says he never intended to harm his son and was disciplining him in the same way he had been as a child growing up in East Texas.

Adrian Peterson has been away from the Vikings for almost two months.

If he returns this season, teammates would welcome him without hesitation.

That was the consensus from players asked about Peterson, who avoided jail time and a trial on the child abuse charge against him with a plea agreement Tuesday in Texas.

Now the question is whether he will rejoin the Vikings this season. He has been on paid leave, via a special roster exemption issued by the NFL.

General manager Rick Spielman said prior to Peterson's court hearing the Vikings would not comment "until it's appropriate to speak." After the plea agreement was reached, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said there was no timetable for the determination of Peterson's status.

Filed Under: Adrian Peterson, charges, child abuse, court, Minnesota Vikings, Sports

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Vikings’ Peterson Avoids Jail in Plea Agreement