Our view: Don’t waste useful week of dialogue on NFL and domestic violence

They did the right thing at first - and seemingly for the right reasons.
The Minnesota Vikings deactivated running back Adrian Peterson, even though he’s the best player on the team, in the wake of a grand jury indictment accusing him of disciplining his 4-year-old son with a tree-branch whipping to the backside, a beating that left bloody welts and, no doubt, emotional scars.
But then the Vikings did the wrong thing - and for the wrong reasons.
The team reinstated Peterson in the wake of an ugly loss. Winning games and making money suddenly became more important, apparently, than giving the legal process a chance to play out and Peterson the time and space he needs to deal with the mess. Winning and making money became more important than the health and well-being of a defenseless little boy. Embarrassing to Minnesotans, the reinstatement of Peterson sent a message that hey, around these parts, domestic violence doesn’t have to be taken all that seriously.
Finally, the Vikings did the right thing - even if still for the wrong reasons.
The team reversed course again, deciding one more time not to let Peterson play. But they only did that after sponsors, including the Radisson hotel chain and Nike, started distancing themselves and their mega dollars from the team and its disgraced player. Money won again.
What a week. What a sad, heart-wrenching, we-gotta-talk-about-this week. The situation did spark a national dialogue about disciplining children, corporal punishment and how far is too far. That was good. Columnists and editorial pages from Duluth to the Coasts helped lead the important community conversations.
It’s a debate that continues today on this website - and can continue on upcoming News Tribune Opinion pages. Be part of it. Weigh in. Send your letter to the editor to letters@duluthnews.com .