NBA analyst Charles Barkley defended Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on Sunday during an appearance on CBS’ “NFL Today.” Peterson turned himself in on Saturday after being indicted by a grand jury for reckless or negligent injury to a child for a May incident in which he struck his four-year-old son.
The Vikings announced that he was deactivated for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.
The CBS host Jim Rome asked Barkley if it’s okay to hit a child.
“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,” said the retired NBA Hall of Famer.
But Rome shot back, “It doesn’t matter where you’re from: Right is right and wrong is wrong.”
“I don’t believe that because, listen, we spank kids in the south. I think the question about whether Adrian Peterson went overboard — 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,” Barkley replied.
The Vikings, without Peterson, lost 30-7 against the New England Patriots during the team’s home opener on Sunday.
New York Post’s Bart Hubbuch reports that “trading Peterson” may be on the table for the Vikings.
But source says Vikings haven’t ruled out trading Peterson if more ugly details emerge. Depends on recommendation of the GM. (2/4)
— Bart Hubbuch (@HubbuchNYP) September 14, 2014