Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden settled a paternity case earlier this month with the mother of his 16-month-old son. McFadden agreed to pay Kerri Williams $8,000 a month in child support and will receive standard visitation rights with little Diesel Graylon McFadden (these baby names keep getting worse…).

McFadden, a former University of Arkansas star, lives in Little Rock in the off-season. The custody agreement anticipates that McFadden and Williams will work out a more liberal visitation schedule during the off-season. McFadden also agreed to establish a $50,000 trust fund for the child’s education.

Apparently, McFadden never denied that the child was his, and has been voluntarily paying child support since Diesel was born. His attorney said that he also supplied Williams with a vehicle and has been seeing the baby on a regular basis.

McFadden, who is getting ready to start his second season in the NFL, was in court in another paternity case last year. He denied that he was the father of that child and paternity tests proved that he was not, in fact, the father.

I don’t want to jump the gun here – but this guy (based on statements of his attorney and Williams’ attorney) seems like he has really stepped up and accepted his parental responsibilities here. He’s paying support and seeing his child and appears to be working as a co-parent with the child’s mother. Good for him (and for baby Diesel – the name still kills me…).

Also See:

Paternity Suits and Pro Athletes: The List