Briana KoenemanMinnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson turned himself in to authorities in Texas early Saturday after he was indicted Friday on charges of injury to a child.
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's office, Peterson was booked into the county jail around 1 a.m. and released about a half hour later after posting $15,000 bond.
Police released this mug shot of the running back shortly after his release.
Authorities didn't reveal details Friday about what led to the charge. But Peterson's attorney said in a statement the "charged conduct involves using a switch to spank his son" to discipline him.
According to several reports out of Houston, Peterson removed the leaves from a tree branch, which he referred to in a police report as "a switch," to spank the 4-year-old boy back in May. Authorities say the boy suffered cuts and bruises to his back, buttocks, ankles and legs, among other areas.
But ESPN quotes Peterson's lawyer as saying, "Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened."
Just last year, his two-year-old son died after allegedly being abused by a man who was dating the boy's mother.
After news of the indictment broke, the Vikings deactivated Peterson for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.
The team said in a statement Friday it is still in the process of gathering information about Peterson's legal situation. But analysts say Peterson's suspension could be a step in the right direction for the NFL.
RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN HOST: "This is a little bit of a step forward because, really, we've seen so many players just play after these incidents. He is being pulled off the field."
One of those players is Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy.
He was found guilty in July of assaulting and threatening his ex-girlfriend. But he appealed the verdict, and the Panthers will continue to let him play until his jury trial, which is set for Nov. 17. (Video via Charlotte Observer)
Still, some critics believe the NFL should deal Peterson an even harsher punishment while the legal system handles his case.
Forbes' Patrick Rishe recalls the case of Cleveland Browns star Josh Gordon, who was initially suspended for the entire 2014-2015 season because he was caught multiple times smoking marijuana.
He writes, "What’s worse? Smoking weed, or physically assaulting a defenseless 4-year old boy? Though I believe in second chances, the NFL must sit Mr. Peterson for the remainder of the 2014-15 season."
Peterson's indictment comes on the tail end of a distressing week for the NFL that began with graphic video surfacing of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee in the face in an elevator back in February.
Rice has been suspended indefinitely from the NFL and his contract with the Ravens has been terminated.
This video contains images from Getty Images, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
