Adrian Peterson has retained high-powered attorney

Adrian Peterson has hired Houston attorney Rusty Hardin to represent him. In the case the name sounds familiar, Hardin represented Roger Clemens in his recent perjury case. Clemens was charged with lying to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. He was retried this year and found not guilty on all counts.

Professional athletes from Texas apparently have Hardin on speed-dial; for he has represented many of them over the years. 

Hardin's attorney profile notes that litigation -- whether it business or general -- makes up 80% of his caseload; whereas a mere 20% is dedicated to criminal law with an emphasis on white collar crimes. 

Hiring Hardin to defend against a misdemeanor seems a little like bringing a RPG-7 to a knife fight; and therefore, Peterson is obviously committed to being exonerated in such a way that might open the door to a defamation lawsuit down the road.

Hardin says Peterson was "the victim" in an early-morning incident involving off-duty law enforcement officers in a Houston nightclub early Saturday morning:

"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. 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."

Peterson was arrested and charged with resisting arrest. He was released from jail Saturday on a $1,000 bond. The charge is a misdemeanor, and Peterson is due in court on Friday.

"We have been investigating what happened since Saturday afternoon, and it is absolutely clear to me that the charges should not have been filed, and the Bayou Club owes Adrian an apology for having put out a totally false version of what happened," Hardin said. "Adrian Peterson does not act the way he has been described in the initial reports, and he did not act that way Saturday morning. He was only in that club for 30 to 40 minutes, was never objectionable to other patrons, and never physically resisted any police officer."

ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert wrote earlier today about Peterson's hiring of Hardin.