Bears defensive end Jared Allen thinks in-limbo Vikings running back Adrian Peterson deserves to play again.
He’d prefer, however, that it start next week.
Allen said he hopes Peterson is able to continue his career after a plea deal on child abuse charges. Peterson’s reinstatement hearing with the league will be Monday, the day after the former Vikings pass-rusher plays against his old team.
“The Adrian I know was always a kind-hearted, gentle, very generous human being,” Allen said, via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Obviously he made a mistake. I just pray that him and his family and his son and everybody that’s going through it, I hope everybody learns it, they can heal their wounds.
“He’s obviously had to deal with the punishment. Do I think his football career should be ended over it? No. Do I hope he learned a valuable lesson and do I think he did? Yeah. Obviously you go through stuff, you face the consequences.
“If he happens to come back the week after we play him — awesome.”
We’ll see if the league shares the same view of Allen’s testimonial to Peterson’s character, or whether an already ugly chapter takes another sordid turn.
