Minnesota governor: Adrian Peterson should still be suspended

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says that Vikings running back Adrian Peterson should be suspended until his case runs its course through the legal system

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton says Vikings running back Adrian Peterson should be suspended until his case runs its course through the legal system.

Peterson was indicted in Texas on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child after authorities said he hit his four-year-old son with a switch.

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Peterson was deactivated for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots but is expected to be in the lineup for the Week 3 contest against the New Orleans Saints. 

Dayton said Peterson's actions were "a public embarrassment" to the team and the state of Minnesota, but says Peterson is innocent until proven guilty.

"Whipping a child to the extend of visible wounds, as has been alleged, should not be tolerated in our state," Dayton said in a statement to the Associated Press. "Therefore, I believe the team should suspend Mr. Peterson, until the accusations of child abuse have been resolved by the criminal justice system."

United States Senator Al Franken also weighed in on the situation, saying the Vikings should continue to bench Peterson.

“This is just wrong, and I think the Vikings made the wrong decision here. This is in the hands of law enforcement now, and it must go through the judicial process, but I don’t believe Adrian Peterson should be allowed to play until that happens. A lot of kids look up to these players, and it’s not OK for the Vikings to send the signal that what happened is acceptable. This is bigger than a football game.”

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