Vikings' Adrian Peterson: 'I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser'

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson released a statement Monday morning regarding child abuse allegations after he was indicted on a felony charge of injury to a child. The charges stemmed from hitting his four-year old son with a tree branch as a method of discipline.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson released a statement Monday regarding recent child abuse allegations against him.

Peterson was indicted on a felony charge of injury to a child for hitting his four-year old son with a tree branch as a method of discipline.

Early Saturday morning, Peterson turned himself in. He was released after paying a $15,000 bail.

Peterson was deactivated by the Vikings before Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots.

On Monday, the Vikings released a statement saying Peterson will practice this week and is expected to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Peterson said he has not discussed the case publicly because he was told by his attorney not to talk about it.

An excerpt from Peterson's statement:

My attorney has asked me not to discuss the facts of my pending case. I hope you can respect that request and help me honor it. I very much want the public to hear from me but I understand that it is not appropriate to talk about the facts in detail at this time. Nevertheless, I want everyone to understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child.

I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen. I know that many people disagree with the way I disciplined my child. I also understand after meeting with a psychologist that there are other alternative ways of disciplining a child that may be more appropriate.

I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser. I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury.

- Sarah Barshop