Peterson says he regrets 'situation' with his son, addresses future

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, in his first interview since NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for at least the rest of the season, expressed remorse for harming his 4-year-old son last May and said he will never use a switch again to discipline his children.

"No one knows how I felt when I turned my child around after spanking him and seeing what I had left on his leg," Peterson said in an interview with USA Today. "No one knows that Dad sat there and apologized to him, hugged him and told him that I didn't mean to do this to you and how sorry I was.

"I love my son. I love my kids, my family. Like I said after I took the misdemeanor plea, I take full responsibility for my actions. I regret the situation. I love my son more than any one of you could even imagine."

Peterson, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault earlier this month, said that he has learned that there are other ways to discipline his children. He has six children by six women; he and his wife, Ashley, have one child together.

"I won't ever use a switch again," Peterson told USA Today. "There's different situations where a child needs to be disciplined as far as timeout, taking their toys away, making them take a nap. There's so many different ways to discipline your kids."

Peterson said he has been getting counseling to work through the issue, and said he spoke by telephone last week to the son who was injured after being out of communication with him for five months.

As for Peterson's future in Minnesota, which is up in the air beyond this season in large part because of the large salary cap hit he is scheduled to carry next season, he said he would "love" to remain with the Vikings.

"I would love to go back and play in Minnesota to get a feel and just see if my family still feels comfortable there," Peterson said. "But if there's word out that hey, they might release me, then so be it. I would feel good knowing that I've given everything I had in me."

Peterson also said he has given thought to the idea that "maybe it's best for me to get a fresh start somewhere else."

The NFL Players Association has appealed Peterson's suspension, which came after he refused to meet with the league last week. He has been on the commissioner's exempt list, and the league does not consider the fact that he missed nine games while being paid a suspension.

"Ultimately, I know I'll have my opportunity to sit down with Roger face to face," Peterson said. He did not attend the hearing last week because "I didn't want to go into a situation blind."

The appeal will be heard on Dec. 2 by Goodell, although the NFLPA has asked for a neutral arbitrator. Peterson said reports that he stuffed leaves in his son's mouth before the beating and that his son had defensive wounds on his hands were false. He said he didn't realize he was leaving marks around his son's thighs.

Peterson said he hoped to be a better father.

"You can look down on me and say, 'You have six kids. You should not be at this, you should not be at that,' " Peterson said. "This is the cards I've been dealt based off my decisions. I make the best of it by spending time with my kids, any and every opportunity that I have."