Nike terminates contract with Adrian Peterson
Nike has terminated its contract with Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, a Nike spokesperson told Bloomberg's Scott Soshnick. ESPN's Darren Rovell first reported the news.
The company had previously suspended its deal with Peterson on Sept. 17, less than a week after the running back was indicted on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child after authorities said he hit his 4-year-old son with a switch.
"Adrian Peterson is no longer a Nike athlete," spokesman KeJuan Wilkins told Soshnick.
Nike cutting its ties with Peterson comes on the same day that the NFL announced it has informed Peterson his case will be reviewed for potential discipline under the personal conduct policy.
• Mother of Peterson's son: NFL shouldn't further punish RB
On Tuesday, Peterson pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and perform 80 hours of community service.
Nike has now terminated the contracts of four different athletes since September. Peterson joins UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who was involved in an on-stage brawl, sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who was recently found guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to five years in prison, and former Ravens running back Ray Rice, who video showed punching his then-fiancée, as athletes who've been dropped by Nike.
- Molly Geary
