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adrenaline, it was important to win and to do so in this way is more heroic and thrilling," said Es
Topic Started: May 1 2014, 06:23 AM (5 Views)
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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- While most of the Minnesota Vikings held an optional practice at the teams headquarters, Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson could only watch from the sidelines while they work their way back from injuries. The two friends ran up and down hills for conditioning and worked on balance in a sand pit, challenging each other to recover as quickly as possible and get back to the business of turning this proud franchise around after two straight last-place finishes in the NFC North. Harvins shoulder injury is considered minor, especially in comparison to the torn knee ligaments Peterson suffered in December. In fact, if Harvin had his way, he would have been on the field on Wednesday. "I feel great. No limitations. Got all my strength back. Its just precaution," said Harvin, who had surgery in April. "They dont want me to fall or do anything crazy right now during these drills. Hopefully next week I should be back out here." One of the most dynamic slot receivers in the game, Harvin caught 87 passes for 967 yards and six touchdowns last season. He also finished third on the team with 345 yards rushing and returned a kick for a touchdown, one of the lone bright spots during a miserable 3-13 season. When the season came to an end, Harvin vowed to be a leader this off-season in arranging workouts and making sure teammates showed up to Minnesota when the coaches asked. His efforts seemed to have hit home, with only veterans Jared Allen, Chad Greenway and John Sullivan not at camp on Wednesday. Greenway was tending to a family situation and Allen has preferred to work out on his own in the off-season in an Arizona program that helped him get 22 sacks last year. To see Harvin on the sideline even though he could not practice meant a lot to coach Leslie Frazier. "I gave him a big hug when he showed up," Frazier said with a smile. "He texted me Monday night, Memorial Day, because I wasnt sure what his flight schedule was going to be. He said, Im in town, what doctors do I have to see tomorrow morning? "I texted him back, Is this the Percy Harvin? The real Percy Harvin? So just great for our meetings, great for our coaches to see him around." The former first-round draft pick is entering his fourth NFL season, and hes been working with second-year quarterback Christian Ponder and a host of new faces in the Vikings receiver corps in the classroom to get everyone on the same page. "It means a lot for sure," Ponder said. "Obviously hes not able to play right now, but hes in the meetings, hes in rehab and doing as much as he can. Hes hanging around the guys. Hes helping out the younger receivers. Hes being vocal. We love having him here. I think it shows a lot that hes such a great team player and hes such a great guy that hes spending his time up here when he doesnt have to be." Harvin said he was injured in Week 6 or 7 last season, and the pain would cause him to miss a play or two in games and sit out some practices during the year. He tried to let it heal on its own in the off-season, but opted for surgery after he felt more discomfort while lifting weights. "I didnt know exactly to what extent it was so they looked at it and decided to go in there and scope it out," he said. "So I feel great, Im kind of glad I got it done so now I have no restrictions as far as on the field. So Im real positive." Harvin said he hopes to convince the coaches that hes OK and join practices as early as next week. "I cant wait until he gets back so I can see some of that speed everybodys been talking about," new receiver Jerome Simpson said. Simpson has already seen what kind of speed Peterson has. The star running back is ahead of schedule in his rehab, and hes already been racing some of his teammates at the Vikings practice facility. "I got to run against Adrian and hes looking good," said Simpson, who beat Peterson in the race. "It was neck-and-neck there. Were always talking a little trash back and forth to each other, but it was a great competition." Peterson beat a few of his other teammates, an impressive feat given that he is only about six months removed from major knee surgery. He beat Harvin in their runs up a steep hill twice on Wednesday, as well. "Hes amazing. I told him the other day I dont think hes human," Harvin said. "Two weeks ago he beat a couple guys in a race. When I got here yesterday, I told them guys they should be embarrassed." Cheap Ray Ban Sunglasses . -- Miguel Cabrera had two hits, drove in two runs and pressed ever closer to the first Triple Crown in 45 years Tuesday night. officialraybansunglassesoutlet . Paul Millsap scored 24 points and Mo Williams added 22 in Utahs third straight victory, 117-110 on Sunday night. http://www.officialraybansunglassesoutlet.com/ . - Offensive lineman Joel Reinders and the Toronto Argonauts agreed to a contract on Tuesday, the CFL club announced. Ray Ban Outlet Mall . The accident occurred when driver Justin Wilson struck the back of Bourdais car Friday morning during the first of two practice sessions. Chuck Homan, a member of Bourdais Dragon Racing team, has leg injury. Ray Ban Aviators Sunglasses . Ronaldo, returning to the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time since saying he felt "sad" at the club, scored with a dipping shot that slipped past goalkeeper Joe Hart as Madrid showed the grit and determination that coach Jose Mourinho had said was missing from the team to start the season. BARCELONA, Spain -- Radamel Falcao struck a free kick in the 90th minute to give unbeaten Atletico Madrid a 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad on Sunday, extending its winning run to seven games to remain level with Barcelona at the top of the Spanish standings. After being held in check until the very end, Falcao curled a perfect right-footed shot over the defensive wall to take his league scoring tally to nine goals, two behind leader Lionel Messi of Barcelona. "Falcao pleaded to take the free kick," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. "He has been practicing to improve his free kicks and today we saw the payoff. It was an exquisite strike." Atletico has won 11 of 12 games in all competitions as Simeone continues to forge Spains best chance of a side capable of mounting a challenge to Barcelona and Real Madrids recent domestic dominance. While Falcao was initially unable to get going in attack, he proved critical in Atleticos defence just before halftime when he blocked Antoine Griezmanns goal-bound shot with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois caught off his line. The teams looked set to split the points when substitute Cristian Rodriguez earned a foul just outside the box, and Falcao made sure not to waste the games last chance with a strike that left goalkeeper Enaut Zubikarai diving in vain. Also on Sunday, Espanyol won its first game after eight rounds thanks to Christian Stuanis injury-time winner to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2, while Miguel "Michel" Alfonso struck from long range three minutes from time to give Levante a 1-0 victory at Getafe. Espanyol midfielder Joan Verdu made up for his early error that led to Leonardo Carrilhos 11th-minute opener by scoring from a long pass by Victor Sanchez in the 37th before adding a second goal threee minutes after halftime.dddddddddddd Rayo appeared it would earn a draw when Carrilho scored for his own double in the 63rd. But fellow substitute Sergio Garcia, making his debut after returning from injury, picked out Stuani with a cross for the striker to head home and grab the much-needed win for Espanyol. "We deserved this shot of adrenaline, it was important to win and to do so in this way is more heroic and thrilling," said Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino, who had been under growing pressure to turn things around for the Barcelona-based club. Getafe had shown more scoring intent at Alfonso Perez coliseum, but Levantes defence held firm until Michel went on as a substitute in the 73rd and hit a looping effort from 25 metres out over the goalkeeper to grab the three points. It was Levantes first away win after losing its first three outings on the road. "I saw the ball and wanted to shoot right away because I hadnt had a shot in the entire game," said Michel. "A draw would have been fair, but the game was decided with that one shot." Elsewhere, Zaragoza won 2-1 at Granada to break a two-game losing streak, while Osasuna fell past Espanyol into last place after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Real Betis. On Saturday, Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to lead Barcelona to a 5-4 win at Deportivo La Coruna. Real Madrid eased to a 2-0 home victory over Celta Vigo. Valencia rallied to beat 10-man Athletic Bilbao 3-2, and Malaga came from behind to down Real Valladolid 2-1 to remain in third place, five points behind Barcelona and Atletico. Sevilla hosts Mallorca on Monday in a matchup of two teams in need of a win to stay near the top of the table after losing two straight games following undefeated starts. ' ' '
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