Nike suspends endorsement contract with Adrian Peterson
Nike has suspended its endorsement contract with Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the company announced Wednesday
The news comes a day after Nike pulled all of its Peterson merchandise off the shelves in its stores in the Twin Cities. Nike said it doesn't condone "child abuse or domestic violence of any kind." The world's largest shoe and apparel company also said it has shared its concerns with the NFL.
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On Monday, Radisson, a Minnesota-based hotel chain, suspended its sponsorship of the Vikings, and Wheaties pulled all of the Peterson-related content off of its website.
On Tuesday, Peterson's charitable foundation announced it was on hiatus and Castrol motor oil ended its sponsorship of Peterson. Also on Tuesday, NFL sponsor Anheuser-Busch, who has a six-year, $1.2 billion contract with the NFL, said it was "disappointed and increasingly concerned by the recent incidents that have overshadowed this NFL season."
Peterson, 29, faces up to two years in prison after being indicted last week in Texas on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child after authorities said he hit his 4-year-old son with a switch. He is due in court on Oct. 8 for arraignment.
The Vikings placed Peterson on the NFL's exempt/commissioner's permission list on Wednesday, effectively deactivating him with pay until his case is resolved. Minnesota said it supports Peterson and that the running back did not want to become a distraction to the team.
- Scooby Axson
