Whenever anyone claims that they were roughed up by someone else, the question becomes whether the injuries required medical attention.
In the case of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the answer is yes.
Attorney Rusty Hardin, whose media tour began on Tuesday (and hopefully it will last into Wednesday, when yours truly guest-hosts The Dan Patrick Show), Peterson received treatment from a physician on Tuesday for facial injuries suffered during his Saturday arrest.
Hardin said on ESPN’s NFL Live and separately on KFAN radio that Peterson has bruises “from where he was hit” several times, and that his shoulders were “wrenched.” Peterson’s father, Nelson, has said that Adrian suffered a black eye.
On KFAN, Hardin claimed that Peterson “didn’t push, touch, or shove any police officer.” Hardin also said that the police “jumped” Peterson while he was “calmly leaving” the club in Houston.
Hardin also claimed that multiple witnesses will corroborate Peterson’s version of the events.
That said, Hardin said that the case has no racial component, and that all of the officers involved were African-American or Hispanic. Hardin acknowledged that Peterson had been drinking, but not enough to justify the treatment Peterson received.
Though the surveillance video (which has yet to be released) could go a long way toward demonstrating what did, or didn’t, happen, if there’s anything other than clear video evidence of Peterson touching, pushing, or shoving a cop, it will be impossible to prove that Peterson is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, especially if those witnesses testify in court that Peterson didn’t do anything wrong.
Hardin said that he plans to present information to prosecutors on Friday, in the hopes of persuading the powers-that-be to drop the case.
If they won’t drop the charges, Hardin says there will be a trial.
"[Peterson] is angry, [and] he does intend to fight it,” Hardin said.
Here’s the reality. The Houston district attorney’s office has real crimes to prosecute. If Hardin plans a dream-team style assault, and if the evidence is anything other than obvious, the prudent move for the prosecutors would be to punt on first down.