Pittsburgh Steelers Kelvin Beachum Defends Adrian Peterson

Sep 7, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Kelvin Beachum (68) blocks at the line of scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum is sticking his neck out, and may be ill advised in doing so.

The NFL was rocked once again on Friday when news surface of the indictment of Minnesota Vikings Adrian Peterson for child abuse.  Pictures surfaced immediately of Peterson’s son.  You won’t see those pictures here – they are far too graphic, and they make my stomach churn to the point of nausea.  Go ahead and Google it if you need visual reference.  Whether you want to look down that rabbit hole or not, take it from me – it’s awful.

There’s been no word yet as to what will happen to Peterson in the long run.  He is out for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.  He posted bond and is currently not in jail.  Who knows the way that the Wilf family and the NFL will react to this news.  After everything with the Ray Rice scandal, who knows what Goodell will do.  He’s had no time to perform any damage control (aka coverup).  It’s hard to imagine that Peterson won’t get the same treatment as Rice received the second time around since there is visual evidence that has gone public of what happened to Peterson’s son.

Of course, Peterson has his defenders.  The pro corporal punishment camp will say that Peterson was well within his bounds.  You’ll hear things like “my parents whooped me, and I turned out just fine,” or “that’s what’s wrong with the world today, not enough harsh punishments.”  Any sane person will say that Peterson is a monster, deserves to have his ass thrown in jail, and never see that kid. Ever. Again.

Some NFL players have come out to speak about Ray Rice and now Adrian Peterson.  The Steelers Kelvin Beachum weighed in on Friday shortly after the news went public.

I’d like to ask Beachum to pause for just a second and think about at what age and under what circumstances did his parents “whoop” him?  10?  8?  4?  I’d also like to tell Beachum to just kindly sit down and stay quiet.  Saying things like this, and then trying to defend that position ad nauseam after so many tell you you are blatantly wrong, is only asking someone for a bigger shovel to dig an even bigger hole.

Beachum did indeed have many followers disagree with this very simplistic (or is it simpleton) view of disciplining children.  The “non-dad expert” Beachum merely felt Peterson was within his bounds.  And, Beachum would be completely wrong.  One follower in particular called him out on his short sighted and flat out wrong viewpoint, to which he was then blocked by Beachum.  Pi Chad has this clever tweet once discovering he was blocked.

Kidding aside, what Peterson did was absolutely undeniably wrong.  There is no innocent before proven guilty bull crap to be said here.  The man is guilty.  He beat his child to the point of lacerations.  That is not discipline.  That is abuse.  In response to Beachum’s “whooping” point, I can say that I was physically punished as a child – a spanking, a wooden spoon to the hands, a foot to my rear.  But guess what?  I was old enough to understand what those physical punishments meant.  And at no point did my parents to those things that left me bruised or bleeding.

There’s a difference, Mr. Beachum.  You fail to see that difference.  As far as I know, you don’t have children.  My hope is that if and when you do, you are much wiser than you are today when it comes time to punish your children.

Until then, concentrate on your blocking in games.