Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson text-messaged New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. a word of encouragement in the aftermath of his on-field confrontation last Sunday with Carolina cornerback Josh Norman.
Peterson reaches out to Beckham, says suspension not warranted
Adrian Peterson said the incident was unfortunate, but in his opinion not worth a one-game suspension for Odell Beckham Jr. that is scheduled to fall on Sunday when the Giants travel to TCF Bank Stadium.
December 23, 2015 at 7:48PM
"I had the opportunity to reach out to the young guy, Odell, and tell him, 'Hey, just learn from it and just keep your head up,' " Peterson said on Wednesday at Winter Park.
Peterson said the incident was unfortunate, but in his opinion not worth a one-game suspension for Beckham that is scheduled to fall on Sunday when the Giants travel to TCF Bank Stadium.
Norman was fined $26,044 for his part in the controversy.
"I like both of those guys. Both of those guys are great football players in my eyes," Peterson said. "It got physical out there and to me, the way I play, I like that. Both of them, did it kind of get out of hand maybe on one play each? Yeah. But my personal opinion, I don't think it warranted a suspension. But that's my one opinion."
The loss of Beckham's 13 touchdowns and 1,396 reception yards will undoubtedly hurt the Giants offense.
"Outside of [quarterback] Eli Manning, [Beckham] is their best player," Peterson said. "So it hurts them."
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
