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Jon Stewart criticizes NFL for actions against Adrian Peterson

"Here's a tip for any pro football players out there curious as to whether or not they may be child abusers. You can't do something to a 4-year-old that you are not allowed to do to 300-pound lineman in a helmet and pads," said Stewart.

By Aileen Graef

NEW YORK, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Jon Stewart continued to mock the NFL's "bastion of personal responsibility" for the league's lack of punishment of Adrian Peterson for the alleged abuse of his son.

Stewart, who has repeatedly criticized the NFL for its handling of the punishment of Ray Rice after he was caught on tape punching his then-fiancee, Janay. On the heels of that controversy, Peterson was arrested for hitting his 4-year-old son with tree branch. Peterson has denied that he is a child abuser.

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"Here's a tip for any pro football players out there curious as to whether or not they may be child abusers. You can't do something to a 4-year-old that you are not allowed to do to 300-pound lineman in a helmet and pads," Stewart said.

Peterson was deactivated for last Sunday's game against the New England Patriots -- a decision many think is understated given the charges. After the Patriots beat the Vikings, the team reinstated Peterson. The Vikings then reversed their original stance and deactivated Peterson again until the charges are cleared. It was only after Anheuser-Busch, one of the main sponsors of the NFL, spoke out against the recent record of not disciplining alleged domestic abusers, saying it did not meet the beer giant's "moral code."

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"How crazy is this? A company that sells alcohol is the moral touchstone of the NFL. Alcohol. Maybe one of the only substances that is proven scientifically to increase the likelihood of domestic abuse. That company is saying to the NFL, 'Ah, you guys got a real problem here,'" said Stewart.

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