Vikings’ Adrian Peterson avoids jail in plea agreement

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson avoided jail Tuesday by reaching a deal with Texas prosecutors to resolve a child abuse case that revived a national debate about corporal punishment. Peterson was sentenced in Conroe, Texas to a form of probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. It was not immediately clear how the plea deal would affect his playing status or whether he might be subject to a new NFL policy that calls for a six-game suspension without pay for a first domestic violence offense. The All-Pro was indicted in September on a felony charge of injury to a child. He has been on paid leave under a special exemption from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. – AP