Adrian Peterson: NFL Like 'Modern Day Slavery'

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson made some controversial comments about the NFL labor situation in an interview with Doug Farrar of Yahoo's Shutdown Corner. The interview was conducted just before the NFLPA decertified.

"It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money," Peterson continued. "The owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money."

Farrar took out the quote shortly after publishing. He tweeted that he wanted to give Peterson an opportunity to explain. Farrar described the comment as "a real misstep."

When asked about the owners not showing their financial information, Peterson suggested that they are hiding something.

"Well, show us.' We want more information, and they want to bull****, going around, saying this and that, just open it up and give us the information we want. If they have nothing to hide, just give us the information," the 25-year-old said. "Why not? Obviously, there's a lot to hide -- these guys are professionals, and they're maximizing what they do."

You can read the entire interview here.

Comments

[AnnoymousII]

05:33 PM on 03/23/2011

For someone making $10.72 million dollars for working 8 months out of the year and having endorsement of around $600K annually; I love to be a slave too! Plus, everything is paid for too. Food, lodging, transportation, etc.... I guess Adrian really has it rough! Plus, he gets a very nice pension too! Where can I become a NFL slave?

[Kid Notorious]

06:21 PM on 03/17/2011

Peterson really dropped the ball on that analogy...

GET IT??? Because... He,,,,

[slb83]

01:22 PM on 03/17/2011

When you force a people to live in a certain section of a country, deprive them access to basic human resources and the ability to generate significant wealth, THAT IS ECONOMIC SLAVERY!! All slavery is NOT THE SAME so all of you who think a slave is automatically black and lived in 1776, you need to CHECK YOUR FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED ASSUMPTIONS AT THE DOOR!! The truth is that he said slave, he was black, and certain people automatically got defensive and they shut down regardless of the context that it was used!! You may not agree with him, that's fine. The reality is that he is not the only player that feels that way. Once again, WHOEVER SAYS THAT THEY LEARNED ABOUT SLAVERY, GUESS WHAT, YOU LEARNED ABOUT SLAVERY IN THE U.S. NOT THE ARAB SLAVE TRADE, AND YOU MOST CERTAINLY DID NOT LEARN ABOUT SEX SLAVERY. BLACK PEOPLE DO NOT OWN SLAVERY OR THE EXPERIENCE OF SLAVERY.

[Patrick Buelna]

08:03 PM on 03/19/2011

Personally, I didnt shutdown. In fact, I sent him an email asking how to sign up for the slavery - oops, I meant ECONOMIC SLAVERY! Anyhow, I'm still waiting for his response. I think he's slaving away drinking mojitos in the offseason laying on the piles of money he makes...

[PuertoRico]

01:19 PM on 03/17/2011

Larry Johnson, with about a 10 mil salary, used the same argument against the NBA during a similar tussle with owners. If you can use racism in this context it simply doesn't exist. Hooray! We have overcome!

[slb83]

01:12 PM on 03/17/2011

News flash: Slavery isn't totally illegal in the U.S.: 13th Amendment: Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, EXCEPT AS A PUNISHMENT FOR CRIME WHEREOF THE PART SHALL HAVE BEEN DULY CONVICTED, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Prison labor can be slave labor.

[Edogg62]

12:35 PM on 03/17/2011

He's right on one level... we're ALL "slaves" to our jobs and employers... what do you think is one of the biggest reasons we DON'T have universal health care? The COST?! Child please... we spend 650 billion on "defense." No, it's about enslaving people to their jobs as they continue to watch layoffs and paycuts for the workers. And we continue to let it happen... dummies.

[dbcooperisalive]

02:42 PM on 03/17/2011

Meanwhile people get more obese as we speak.

[crowsnest]

11:17 AM on 03/17/2011

He needs to go back to school I dont think he paid attention in his history class.

[docyclist]

10:02 AM on 03/17/2011

Please show me one slave who was paid 10 millions dollars a year to play a game! Please!

[dgoshilla]

09:47 AM on 03/17/2011

Meat Market is a better description.

[dbcooperisalive]

09:44 AM on 03/17/2011

I am behind the owners in wanting to cut back but I just wish they would reciprocate by lowering ticket prices.

[jaredbrain]

09:15 AM on 03/17/2011

If as a slave I can suddenly make millions of dollars for waving a stick at a ball, or throwing a ball through a hoop, or running into other people...I would like to sell myself into slavery. It must not have been that bad after all.

[CLSayles]

09:07 AM on 03/17/2011

As bad as the CBA might be for the players, it was nothing like slavery. Peterson can stop playing at any time and go do something else. Shut the "duck" up and take a more professional attitude toward this labor dispute...

[ApprxAm]

12:51 AM on 03/17/2011

a completely ridiculous statement made by a thoughtless rich guy.

[DanSc]

12:21 AM on 03/17/2011

Somewhere real slaves are disappointed in Mr. Peterson.

[Junaid M Afeef]

10:39 PM on 03/16/2011

Slavery, huh? Get a clue Peterson! You've got every right to collective bargaining and so on, but please don't be so so so stupid and out of touch with reality. You make millions while regular people raise families on $25,000/year. Pathetic.