As I am sitting down here to write one of the most difficult posts I have ever written, its absolutely crazy how much things can change in an instant. Adrian Peterson has been my favorite player and collecting target since 2007, when he was drafted by the Vikings in the first round. After meeting him three times and seeing his public persona, I never thought I would EVER be in the situation I am in right now. As really the last running back in the hobby to have value, this indictment and arrest could be the end of an era
.
Peterson’s cards have already taken a rock bottom tumble over the last few days:
2013 Topps Five Star Adrian Peterson Auto Relic Booklet
2007 Contenders Adrian Peterson Auto Ticket RC
2007 SP Authentic Adrian Peterson Rookie Auto Patch
2007 Exquisite Adrian Peterson / Marshawn Lynch Dual Relic Auto
Peterson has always been a class act, consistently going above and beyond to be an integral part of the Vikings team and Minneapolis community. His enormous success and MVP season in 2012 earned him a ton of collectability in the hobby, including a legion of fans. Despite an arrest last year on charges eventually dismissed, he has had zero problems during the course of his seven year career with the Vikings. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he is charged with one of the worst possible things anyone can be charged with – hurting his son in an act of discipline.
As a father myself, I cannot fathom how anyone could put their child through this kind of torture, and I use that word purposefully. This was an act that no child should ever have to endure, despite how common it may happen across the nation. Peterson cites that it was the way he was raised, which is not unsurprising, but not an excuse. I do completely understand how difficult it can be to break from the way you were raised, but this is a bit different.
Peterson will no doubt have his course changed in the NFL and with the Vikings, and it may mean his time in Purple has come to an end. As a player collector, whose office is filled with memorabilia from his run as the team’s greatest player, I am literally between a rock and a hard place. Thousands of dollars could potentially be down the drain
, and I am not even kidding.
Although there have been other players in the league to do similarly awful things, including some that have come back to have a successful finish to their career, none of them were the elite player that Peterson is and was. He may not be the face of the NFL like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning
, but he is the best running back there is, period. Its rare that someone of his talent level goes through a situation like this, unless you look at the way Alex Rodriguez has been changed in the eyes of baseball collectors
. Rodriguez only hurt himself, which is his choice, but Peterson hurt a four year old – much more deplorable.
Scary thing is, players like Aaron Hernandez and Michael Vick still have value in the hobby despite their horrific transgressions, and Peterson does have a lot to his credit regardless of this situation. Funny how this works:
2012 Topps Five Star Aaron Hernandez Auto Patch
2012 Topps Five Star Michael Vick / Robert Griffin III Dual Auto
I have already come to the decision to not buy new Adrian Peterson cards and memorabilia from this point forward. Depending on how this all plays out, I might need to liquidate my collection. If I werent so much into already, this would already be happening. Its just too much money right now. There are people still bidding, but not many. The fact that so many people dont see this as a huge deal may also preserve some of his value.
As mentioned above, there is a redemption story that could come of this, and it is likely not going to happen with the Vikings. It may happen with Dallas or another team that will give Peterson a chance despite the situation, and that might be a time where I can recoup some of my enormous investment.
The lesson to be learned is that we should love the game, and not the players. Its too much of a risk to do what I have done over the last few years, and its likely the last time I dive in head first. I thought I was safe with Peterson almost guaranteed a place in the HOF, but you just cant see what goes on behind closed doors. Right now, Im about as shocked as I have ever been in this hobby.
No idea where to go from here, hopefully there will be some silver lining that has yet to be determined. At this point, it looks like its going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
Thanks for the Heart felt post.
If it It’s tough when tragic off field events overshadow what is supposed to be an escape from our everyday life. My wife and I were huge Thrashers fans when the Dany Heatley – Dan Snyder incident took place, I’ve still got ton of his stuff. Don’t know what to do with it.
Your going to stop following your favorite player because of this? Really? Good lord what has happened to our society when you can’t discipline your children for fear melodramatic social workers will “know” better than parents what should be done? I haven’t heard any details, but I’ll wait for those to come out before I jump overboard.
I used to follow your website and the hobby closely for years, but haven’t in some time. Mostly due to what the hobby has turned into. But I remembered how much of Peterson’s cards and memorabilia you had collected, so I was curious what your take was as a huge AD fan and collector. If someone with literally thousands of dollars on the line can see this for what it is, nobody else has an excuse. I’m not one of those people who doesn’t believe in spanking to discipline their children. With some kids, that’s all they seem to understand. I never did with my own kids, but I can see where he is coming from. But the kid was 4! And this wasn’t discipline, it was abuse. How many people caught abusing their kids hide behind the “discipline” excuse? If people had only seen the pics of this beaten up 4 year old and didn’t know who’s kid he was, people would be calling for his head. Do people think this is the first time this has happened? If his kid gets beaten like this for interrupting another kids video game, what happens when he does something real bad?
I don’t condone abuse at all. My point is that the vast majority of us in this situation haven’t seen any pictures yet that would show how bad it was, nor have we been given any detailed information about ANY of it. If they’re as bad as some people have indicated then AP should be punished just like any other person.
Thanks for the post, and good luck. Don’t give up yet.
I finally looked at the pictures of the child’s wounds and Peterson definitely over-stepped the line of discipline. The amount and depth of those marks is beyond mere discipline.
Now, to label him a child abuser I believe would require a pattern of consistently losing his temper and beating and inflicting pain on his children. Without that knowledge I’m slow to pass judgement on AP and would be slow to make a quick move with my AP fanhood and a collection of your size.
AP made an awful choice in the heat of the moment, but has an opportunity to become a better man.
My condolences to a super collector who’s hobby and fun escape gets blasted with an event like this.
It must be a very difficult time for you – both as a Peterson fan and as somebody who has spent thousands of dollars on his memorabilia. From a hobby perspective, sadly this adds to the argument that collecting the memorabilia of single players is potentially a mistake. This, coupled with the the way the card industry is going, really makes me want to move away from cards altogether and focus instead on equipment, programmes, and other team oriented memorabilia. Very sad times though because I grew up collecting cards and still love the ‘concept’ of them if not the reality.
Thanks for the post. I think you feel how a lot of us are feeling – so very disappointed and saddened and as usual, you put it very well.
This is a huge blow for fans and collectors. I wish the best for your collection and while I totally believe that Adrian did the absolute wrong thing, I am still hopeful as a fan that he can make the changes necessary to finish his career.