Former NFL running back Adrian Peterson enjoys playing poker and even appeared on the Celebrity Poker Tour last year. But this time, the former first-round pick found himself in the middle of a controversy due to the 52-card deck.
One Dallas Cowboys legend was not pleased with the way the media reacted to the situation after Peterson’s clip went viral.
Dallas Cowboys Legend Rips Media Coverage of Adrian Peterson’s Poker Incident
Peterson was playing poker at JokerStars in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday, May 27 when he got into a heated argument with a fellow player after a disagreement. TMZ reported that the situation escalated quickly, and the former Minnesota Vikings star got into a fistfight with the other player.
The media outlet also shared a clip of the incident via their X handle on Thursday. Peterson and the fellow player could be seen initially arguing with a staff member, keeping them apart.
However, once the two of them got the chance, a fistfight broke out, and they exchanged multiple blows.
Former #NFL superstar #AdrianPeterson got into a fistfight with a poker player following a dispute over a hand … and #TMZSports has obtained video of the tussle. pic.twitter.com/WdhcZFHwBt
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) June 19, 2025
Three-time Pro Bowler Dez Bryant addressed the situation via his X handle.
“No disrespect to AP, but I want to point something out,” Bryant wrote. “Every time there’s a bad situation with an athlete, it gets blasted. Every time an athlete does something cool, it doesn’t mean anything. I’m letting the world know I’m building something cool, and whenever it’s time, I need the love spread as if you got caught in a fight with a random poker player.”
Bryant wasn’t wrong with his words, and athletes and celebrities often receive excessive criticism and unwarranted attention for every negative situation.
The outlet reported that both men left the place with bloody wounds on their faces. However, Peterson claimed that his injuries were a result of falling into a chair.
The 2012 NFL MVP revealed to TMZ that he knew the guy, and they sorted things out after the incident.
“Me and the guy, we’re cool,” Peterson told TMZ. “We’ve known each other. It was literally like a brother situation. We agreed to disagree, we had our words, and we threw blows, and that was it. I felt really bad. It’s a situation where I kind of regret it.”
The venue has reportedly not punished either of the men or called cops to investigate or take any action on the matter.