No Excuses for Adrian Peterson

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 22, 2011, 3:26 PM EDT

AP

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is supposedly missing the Adrian Peterson Football Camp because of a conflict with a taping of an NFL Network show. But that’s news to NFL Network.

The league-owned network says that Peterson’s taping is scheduled for July 3, and there’s no reason he’d need to miss a football camp that’s taking place June 23-24.

“Adrian Peterson will be live in-studio for NFL Network’s final Top 100: Players of 2011 – Reaction show on Sunday, July 3 to discuss the final episode unveiling the Top 10 players,” Dennis Johnson, the director of communications for NFL media, wrote in an e-mail to the Star Tribune. “There is no conflict with the camp.”

The Old Spice Adrian Peterson Football Camp has not replied to an e-mail from PFT seeking an explanation of why Peterson has to miss the camp for a TV taping that takes place nine days after the camp ends. But if Peterson can’t make it, it would be a nice gesture for him to offer to refund the $199 admission fee for any kids who signed up thinking they’d get to meet him.

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I am not big on young kids seeing stars and athletes as super heroes.  I think that the role models need to be in the family, in the class rooms, and in the community.  But the reality is that most young kids are fascinated with them.  So when these kids sign up for a camp where someone like an Adrian Peterson is supposed to be there, the kids expectations are off the charts.  Some of these kids families ponied up a hefty $200 simply because their child could meet some football player.   Not only the kids will be disappointed, but the parents have every right to be upset and wanting at least a partial refund.

Now life happens, and if in the end A.P. has a better reason to not make the appearance, then that is one thing.  But as it appears at this point, it looks like just another athlete getting paid for an appearance, and not showing up.  I hope Adrian has a better reason than this.