The Big Gun

Adrian Peterson is in it to win it: Rusty Hardin hiring shows he's serious aboutclearing his name

Adrian Peterson
Rusty Hardin (far right) claps as Roger Clemens — another one of hishigh-profile sports clients — tears up after getting off.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

NFL superstar Adrian Peterson doesn't just want his bad night in Houston to go away.

The Minnesota Vikings running back made it clear on Monday that he plans to try and fight to clear his name. For Peterson has hired Houston's own super attorney Rusty Hardin to represent him in a misdemeanor resisting arrest charge stemming from his late Friday night/early Saturday morning arrest at Live!, a Bayou Place nightclub. (ESPN was first to report the Hardin hiring).

You don't hire Rusty Hardin to work out a simple fine. You hire Rusty Hardin to get your version of the story out there for the world.

If Peterson simply wanted to put the incident behind him, he likely could have paid a fine after his first court appearance this Friday and be done with it, according to legal observers.

Instead, Peterson appears to be standing behind his tweets (he tweeted the Winston Churchill quote: "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on" on Sunday). You don't hire Rusty Hardin to work out a simple fine. You hire Rusty Hardin to get your version of the story out there for the world (see Roger Clemens).

And Hardin wasted little time in taking the offensive.

"Adrian Peterson did not resist arrest this past Saturday morning and any suggestion that he pushed, struck or shoved a Houston Police Officer is a total fabrication," Hardin said in a statement. "He, in fact, was struck at least twice in the face for absolutely no legitimate reason, and when all the evidence is impartially reviewed, it will clearly show Adrian was the victim, not the aggressor."

Hardin went on to say that the nightclub owes Peterson an apology.

"Adrian is extremely upset about these false allegations," Hardin said. "These charges are totally at odds with the way he has conducted himself throughout his career, and he asks that his fans and the public at large reserve judgment until they hear all the facts. Adrian looks forward to his day in court."

Part of Peterson's story was already making the rounds. ProFootball Talk has an anonymous source on record saying that Peterson was already walking to the exit like the police asked when an officer jumped on him from behind and started an incident that eventually required three cops to take down the 6-foot-1, 217-pound football star.

That differs sharply with the official Houston Police Department (HPD) report of the incident, which details Peterson shoving an off-duty police officer working security at the club after the officer asked Peterson, his wife and his friends to leave the club after closing time. Live! general manager Daniel Maher also told TMZ that Peterson was extremely drunk, that he demanded another drink after closing time and that he made a threatening gesture toward the cops present.

With Hardin on the case, you can bet that the back-and-forth between Peterson's camp and the HPD — and the media attention — is only beginning.

A source tells CultureMap that ESPN's already reserved a live truck for Friday's hearing.

unspecified

Cougar Red and Houston Blue

UH expands 'Houston Blue' uniforms, despite NFL cease-and-desist

UH continues using Houston Blue uniforms despite NFL rebuke

Photo courtesy of Houston Athletics

Luv ya Blue running wild.

University of Houston Athletics are in a “Luv ya blue” mood and they don’t care who knows it — not even the NFL.

The university has announced that its football and volleyball teams will wear new Houston Blue jerseys, reminiscent of the classic colors of the Houston Oilers era. The volleyball team's uniform will debut theirs starting November 9 against Texas Tech, while the football team will debut theirs against Baylor on November 23. At the latter event, the first 20,000 fans will receive commemorative Houston Blue rally towels.

The resemblance of the new colors to the Oilers brand was not lost on the NFL. When UH Athletics started incorporating Houston Blue into their uniforms in September 2023, the NFL sent a cease-and-desist letter claiming the uniforms were an attempt to leech off the legacy of the Oilers and the intellectual property of the team now known as the Tennessee Titans. As if to prove the point, the Titans have occasionally worn Columbia blue throwback uniforms at certain games.

UH is unbothered according to vice president for intercollegiate athletics Eddie Nuñez.

“As a university deeply connected to the fabric of Houston, incorporating ‘Houston Blue’ into our uniforms is a powerful way to celebrate the city’s rich history,” he said. “From iconic blue street markers to the Houston Police Department’s signature blue police cars and helicopters, this color holds a special place in the hearts of Houstonians. We’re thrilled to share this tradition with our fans and offer them the chance to show their pride through exclusive merchandise, making it an exciting time for Cougar Nation to rally together.”

The accompanying press release for the uniforms came with a helpful history lesson showing that the Oilers adopted a color widely associated with Houston, not the other way around. The city has incorporated blue into public infrastructure, from street curbs to city vehicles, since the 1920s. The Oilers weren’t even the first Houston team to use blue in their uniforms. That honor belongs to the minor league baseball team, the Houston Buffs. In addition, the university made minor changes to the uniform in response to the NFL's concerns.

UH will be offering a wide range of merchandise to sell in the new Houston Blue colors in person and online through the University of Houston Bookstore as well as at select local retailers. These include shirts, hats, polos, jerseys, and hoodies. Get them before the NFL sends a more strongly-worded letter.

---

Fans of Houston sports and Houston food can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm November 11 at 8th Wonder. Find out more about it here.

university of houston houston blue