#NFL: Vikings RB Adrian Peterson arrested for hitting his son with a switch

The NFL's image to the public has gone from bad to worse, as star Vikings running back Adrian Peterson facesindictmentforusingcorporal punishmentto his son.

It's a real shame, because a player of his caliber has seen his likeability ruined due to physically abusing his children. I used to like this player, but no more after these revelations have come to light.

Darin Gantt at ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com:

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the incident in question stems from “disciplining of a son with a switch.”

For those of you unfamiliar with the Southern vernacular, a switch is a flexible tree branch used to swat a child across the backsides.

How you view that — as an act of parental discipline or as child abuse — depends largely on your age and geographic location.

Barry Petchesky at Deadspin:

Fox Houston reports that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been indicted in Montgomery County, Texas, for reckless or negligent injury to a child.

According to Fox Houston's Isiah Carey, the charges stem from allegations that Peterson "beat his young son." Child Protective Services confirmed to TMZ that it has a case involving Peterson and an 11-year-old boy.

Joseph Stromberg at Vox:

Friday afternoon, Fox News Houston reported that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been indicted for reckless or negligent injury to a child.

The indictment is reportedly related to Peterson discipling his son with a switch. The investigation has apparently been going on for some time, with Peterson testifying before a grand jury weeks ago, an unusual step for a child abuse case.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) on Twitter:

Arrest of Adrian Peterson (reported by @MarkBermanFox26) stems from the disciplining of a son with a switch, source says. He’s been indicted

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2014

Per ESPN SportsCenter's Twitter account, the Vikings have released a statement on the matter:

The Vikings release a statement on Adrian Peterson's indictment. pic.twitter.com/Ogi6rZe79A

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 12, 2014

He is likely to be inactive this Sunday, and will likely be suspended.

Other Peterson controversies: he has opposed marriage equality, but doesn't have much of a problem with having a gay teammate on the roster.