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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. Orlando Cepeda Cardinals Jersey . -- The Minnesota Vikings figured to be as vulnerable to the effects of the NFL lockout as any other team, with a first-year head coach, a rookie quarterback and a new offence to install. They had a lot to lose during the four-month-plus work stoppage, and lose is exactly what they did once the season started -- 13 times, matching the most in the franchises 51-year history. The roster needs significant upgrades. Coach Leslie Fraziers staff could turn over. Big changes on offence and defence will be considered. For the players, who exchanged hugs, handshakes and cellphone numbers Monday morning in parting for a while, the focus is on working harder and getting better together. "Its an exciting day. It really is," defensive end Jared Allen said as he packed up his belongings. Several key players spoke of an urgency to use the next several months as the head start on 2012 they didnt have in 2011. "Were going to grind this off-season," said receiver Percy Harvin, who finished with a career-high 967 yards receiving, 345 yards rushing and nine total touchdowns, one of the true bright spots on another dark year for the Vikings along with Allens 22 sacks. "I think well be a different ballclub next year." Harvin is one of several important players who in the past have done much of their winter, spring and summer training away from Minnesota. Then came the lockout last year, and none of the Vikings were allowed to even enter the facilities at Winter Park. But Harvin said hes encouraged as many players as possible to show up for the off-season practices, known around the league as organized team activities. Only the annual weekend minicamp is contractually required, and its not unusual for veterans and higher-profile players to work out on their own the rest of the time until training camp begins, but theres an obvious drive here to improve on the embarrassment and the frustration of the third-worst record in the NFL. "There should be no excuse why nobody should be there, except for emergencies and stuff like that," Harvin said. Quarterback Christian Ponder expressed the same attitude. The first-round draft pick took over as the starter for an ineffective Donovan McNabb late in the sixth game of the season and showed plenty of poise, confidence and potential over his first few weeks on the job. But the turnovers piled up down the stretch, he didnt stay healthy and backup Joe Webb played better than Ponder in each of the three games he relieved him for injury or performance reasons. "We have to spend a lot of time this off-season, especially on the offensive side of the ball learning this offence and growing comfortable with it," Ponder said. He added: "Getting that rookie experience under the belt is huge. "It will be good to get a full off-season with the team and understand that part of it." Offensive co-ordinator Bill Musgraves playcalls and gameplans drew plenty of criticism, but the absence of off-season workouts and the midseason switch to a rookie quarterback prevented him from rolling out the whole scheme and maximizing the opportunities for creativity. Frazier tried after Sundays season-ending loss to Chicago to quell any uncertainty about Ponders status as the starter, but his hip pointer, his concussion and his interceptions at least complicated the situation because of how well Webb played in relief. Granted, defences didnt prepare their game plans to stop him, but the Vikings have an exceptional athlete who theyve otherwise struggled to use effectively. Time after time when Musgrave tried to put Webb in for special running plays -- they called it the "Blazer" package -- he was stopped for no gain or lost yardage. More action at receiver is a possibility, but he hasnt proven yet he can be a reliable route runner and pass catcher despite his speed. "Once we get the full off-season and get things together and see what we need to do to be successful in 2012, its going to be dangerous," Webb said. The healing ability and recovery power of running back Adrian Peterson, who had reconstructive surgery on his left knee last week, will be another critical factor toward improvement. So will the draft, when the Vikings will pick third in each round. But the defence might be the most vital area. Defensive co-ordinator Fred Pagacs status is tenuous. The Vikings must decide whether to bring back middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, who is a free agent who will be 33 years old before next season. Then there is the secondary, in dire need of an upgrade. The Vikings had only eight interceptions and gave up 34 touchdowns passing. Allen said hed "fight" to keep Pagac. "What decisions are going to be made are going to be made. I just know I appreciate our coaching staff and I appreciate everything theyve put into this season, especially with the injuries and the way things panned out. Its easy to disconnect, and no one did," Allen said. Indeed, there was a palpable sense from the players down the stretch despite all the losing that they genuinely enjoyed each other and were willing to keep working hard even when the playoffs became impossible. "It was tied for our worst season in our organizations history, but you look around the locker room and youve got a lot of friends and teammates you played with and played hard with. You cant look at somebody and say, You quit on us, " linebacker Chad Greenway said, adding: "Youve got to save that at least." Anibal Sanchez Tigers Jersey . Atletico built a provisional three-point advantage over Barcelona before the defending champion hosts Elche on Sunday. Barcelona then visits Atletico in the following round. "We will have to wait and see if Barcelona wins tomorrow to stay leader, as it is accustomed to doing," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.Yadier Molina Cardinals Jersey . -- U.S. captain Tom Watson said Monday that Tiger Woods latest back injury "doesnt bode well right now" for Woods playing in the Ryder Cup. It was a night for NHL teams to even up their respective playoff series, as the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks all won to get their series to 2-2. Scott Cullen has notes on Brandon Dubinsky, Jack Johnson, Shawn Horcoff, Alex Goligoski, Patrick Kane, Ben Smith and more. MY MORNING JACKETS The Pittsburgh Penguins coughed up a 3-0 lead and lost 4-3 in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets, leaving the series tied at two games apiece. To this point in the series, the most valuable Blue Jacket has been C Brandon Dubinsky who, in addition to spending his time matched up against Penguins star C Sidney Crosby, Dubinsky contributed a goal and an assist, giving him a team-leading six points in the series. Dubinsky has earned a reputation as a solid two-way forward who can play tough minutes, facing top-tier opposition but, in this series, hes been more assertive offensively and thats the kind of performance that the Blue Jackets need to knock off the higher-seeded Penguins. Crosby was held off the scoresheet, and had a negative Corsi, for the first time in the series in Game Four. Blue Jackets C Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist, giving him five points in four games, and his line -- with rookie LW Boone Jenner and journeyman RW Jack Skille -- got the better of Pittsburghs second line of Evgeni Malkin, Jussi Jokinen and James Neal. Penguins G Marc-Andre Fleury was having a decent game, but turned the puck over leading to Dubinskys tying goal, then the winning goal was a 65-foot wrist shot from Blue Jackets LW Nick Foligno. Considering Fleurys dubious playoff history, he and the Penguins cant afford to have those kinds of gaffes appear with the game on the line. Blue Jackets D Jack Johnson played a game-high 31:12, mostly against Crosby, and, for the first time in the series, was break-even in terms of shot attempts for and against during 5-on-5 play. Score effects or not, given that they were chasing for much of the game, the Blue Jackets will take it. For the fourth consecutive game, Penguins D Paul Martin recorded a pair of assists. He has eight points to lead all playoff scorers. Blue Jackets D James Wisniewski also had a pair of assists and had nine unblocked shot attempts, his first points of the series, and had a game-high plus-15 Corsi. With the series even, the Blue Jackets arent carrying play, but theyre not getting dominated either. If G Sergei Bobrovsky can give them a few solid games, they can put pressure on Fleury and the Penguins. SHOOTING STARS The Dallas Stars evened their series with the Anaheim Ducks, taking Game Four by a 4--2 score, rallying to score four unanswered goals after falling behind 2-0. Keith Hernandez Cardinals Jersey. Anaheim came into the game with some lineup changes, making veteran RW Teemu Selanne a healthy scratch, and then missing C Ryan Getzlaf due to an upper-body injury. As a result, C Rickard Rakell and RW Emerson Etem were inserted into the lineup. Dallas line of Shawn Horcoff, Vernon Fiddler and Colton Sceviour was particularly effective. Horcoff and Fiddler each had two points and the trio was on for more than two-thirds of even strength shot attempts. Ducks D Francois Beauchemin, who played a team-high 27:14, got eaten up in terms of puck possession, finishing minus-14 (29.4% Corsi%) On the other hand, Stars D Alex Goligoski logged 32:48, scored a goal and, through the first four games, is running a 56.7% Corsi%. Needless to say, if the Ducks dont have Getzlaf back in the lineup, in a hurry, then they are really vulnerable to be upset. KANE COMES THROUGH Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane scored his second goal of the game, 11:17 into overtime, giving Chicago a 4-3 win in Game Four, tying the series at two games apiece. In the third period, the Blackhawks shifted Ben Smith into the middle on the line with Kane and Patrick Sharp, and that unit created several scoring chances before connecting on the winner. Smith had the best Corsi differential (+13), and percentage (74.1%), among Blackhawks forwards. Blackhawks defencemen Nick Leddy and Michal Roszival had a tremendous game, carrying possession against weaker competition. They matched up most frequently against the Blues line of Maxim Lapierre, Steve Ott and Chris Porter. While Lapierre scored St. Louis second goal late in the second period, that line was dominated possession-wise. Leddy was on for 26 shot attempts for and five shot attempts against (83.9%). When Leddy was off the ice, the Blackhawks were virtually even (50.6%) in possession terms. Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews added two assists, giving him five points through the first four games of the series. Blues RW Vladimir Tarasenko continued to find the net, scoring a pair of goals to give him four goals in four games for the series. Having tied the series, the Blackhawks are likely in a slightly better position going forward, particularly as long as St. Louis C David Backes remains out of the lineup, but this is an even series. Literally, both teams have a 50.0% Fenwick Close (unblocked shot attempts) for the series. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
