In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY Sports’ Tom Pelissero, Adrian Peterson opened up about his future, his son and his relationship with Roger Goodell. Peterson is currently appealing his suspension handed down by Goodell earlier this week, but said when he does come back, he’s not sure what team he will be coming back to.

He also said his mother had noticed his heart had become hardened by the experience. That, he told Pelissero, changed when he spoke to his son this week.

“I made a mistake,” Peterson said. “People have painted this picture because they feel like, ‘OK, this has happened and this is what has to take place.’ But they don’t know the love that my kids have for me. It was a good feeling inside.

“It made me realize that hey, the world can paint you to be this type of person, but ultimately, the child that they are making all these assumptions about – how you treated him and what you’ve done to him – he loves you unconditionally. He wants to be around you. So, let the world paint you out to be whatever they want.”

Read the rest of the exclusive USA TODAY Sports story here.