A very sad update, the little 2-year-old has died...

[joeybee12]

A 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson died on Friday in a Sioux Falls, S.D., hospital, the victim of alleged abuse by a man dating the boy's mother, police confirmed.

Peterson's father Nelson confirmed Friday afternoon that the child is Adrian Peterson's. Peterson met with the media Friday, hours before the boy passed away, and said at the time he still planned to play in Sunday's game against Carolina, but declined to get into details about the case.

Peterson posted a statement on his Twitter account after news of the child's death.

"Thank you to my family, my fans and fans of other teams for their support. The NFL is a fraternity of brothers and I am thankful for the tweets, phone calls and text messages from my fellow players. God Bless everyone and thank u so much," Peterson wrote.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/vikings/2013/10/11/adrian-peterson-son-critical-condition/2966015/

[octoberlib]

1. This is so awful. nt

[Heather MC]

2. There should be a brutal punishment for anyone who would hurt a baby

And I don't care what any one thinks about me saying this
I hope he suffers daily in prison for his crime if he is found guilty

[Brickbat]

3. I think it's sad that AP says he's focused on the game and will play on Sunday.

[Journeyman]

6. We all deal with grief in our own way . . .

I can't measure my pain against another's bereavement. He could be burying his sorrow in his work. I've done that.

[Logical]

13. I agree. Maybe helps him not think about it. I would be the same way. n-t

[cali]

22. he never met the child.

[Sunlei]

4. How very sad. The man has a family violence record! The Mom should have never moved to his home.

[YarnAddict]

8. This happens a lot

The new boyfriend has no vested interest in the last guy's kid. A relationship dissolves, and the mom moves on, thinking she can make a nice new family with her kid and the next guy to come along, but it doesn't always work out that way.

[dflprincess]

15. According to the local news this guy has a prior record for abusing another woman and her child.

It also said the mother had "recently" begun a relationship with the jerk and had moved in with him.

I cannot understand why any woman would let her child anywhere near a man with that kind of record. She should be charged as an accessory.

[YarnAddict]

18. When it comes to men,

some women can be just plain stupid. My niece was in one abusive relationship after another. She has a little boy now, and fortunately she realized they are both better off if she doesn't get into another relationship.

[dflprincess]

19. Having a child is often what helps a woman get out of a relationship or break the cycle.

It's pretty common that an abused woman will end a relationship with an abuser when she fears he is about to (or has already) turned on the kids. That's why I can't understand someone with a child getting involved with some oaf who has already pled guilty to abusing another girlfriend's child.

[YarnAddict]

21. "I can change him"

I think that's at the heart of a lot of these situations, especially when women are young and naive. "All he needs is the RIGHT woman, to turn his life around." Doesn't make sense, but lots of us can look back and see a relationship in our past that was more of a project than a relationship.

[Wait Wut]

5. Why.

Not a question, a statement. The question has been asked for centuries without an answer.

It's time to make a statement. There is no answer this monster could give that would give reason.

Stop the damned circle. Report suspected abuse/neglect. If you are a victim of childhood abuse/neglect, heal yourself or find someone that can help you heal.

Damn it. That poor baby. Imagine the fear.

[vt_native]

7. Poor Child, Condolences to A.P.

very sad.

[Rex]

9. .

[LittleBlue]

10. That poor kid. I can't believe he's still going to play on Sunday

He must be very strong emotionally, I'd be a wreck.

RIP

[awoke_in_2003]

11. My mother died on thanksgiving day, 1981...

I was 13. I buried it for so long, trying to be brave for my younger sisters. In my mind i had to live up to the ridiculous ideal we place on men via movies, media, etc. In my case, at least, I wouldn't call it strength- in the long run the suppression was a weakness on my part. You just can't see that when you are in the middle of it.

[JI7]

17. or anything to distract from that horrible feeling

[roguevalley]

12. I heard that. Babies that age are wonderful. :(

[Barack_America]

14. My son is 2 years old.

I can't even imagine. There's a local story here about a man beating his little 5 month daughter to death.

The violence we see against children these days is just crushing. It just seems to worsen as income inequality does. So much fear, anger and hatred these days.

[Liberal_in_LA]

16. sad,

[tillikum]

20. It's both sad and common for a boyfriend to abuse

another mans children. Often with compliance from the mother.

We aren't that far out of the cave after all.

[cali]

23. Peterson didn't know the child was his until recently and had never met him.

[PassingFair]

24. Let the poster's have their fantasy about the strong father and the evil mother who is to blame...

for it all.

The cycle of violence is HER fault.

Not the non-present father or the monstrous "boyfriend" SHE subjected him to.

Stop repeating the truth about this story.