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zake201
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May 14 2014, 10:39 AM
Post #1
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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Playing in the season opener has been at the forefront of Adrian Petersons mind almost since he went down with a torn left ACL in the second-to-last game of the 2011 season. How long it has taken other running backs to return from the injury doesnt concern Peterson. The Minnesota Vikings star running back has always seen himself as different from everyone else, and he has made it abundantly clear that he expects to play against Jacksonville on Sunday. He has one more week to make his case to Vikings coach Leslie Frazier and his staff. Frazier said on Monday that the Vikings would not make a decision on Petersons status until game day, and he cautioned that even if Peterson does return, he shouldnt expect the workload he carried before he was injured just yet. "We recognize if hes able to get in this first ballgame, itll be with limited exposure," Frazier said. "Well talk about it as the week goes on and see how hes doing and if its even a viable option to let him play." That means fewer carries than Peterson is used to getting as the workhorse and focal point of the Vikings offence, and likely more work for backup Toby Gerhart. Perhaps the biggest obstacle the Vikings have in handling the situation is Petersons state of mind. He has worked tirelessly to get himself prepared to help his team, throwing himself into the rehab process from the moment he came out of surgery. With his team coming off a disastrous 3-13 season, Peterson knows they need him in the backfield to have any chance, and the coaches know it, too. "You really have to take the emotion out of it," Frazier said. "You have to really hone in on whats best for him, whats best for our team. Adrian is not just another guy on our team. He is in so many ways the face of what we try to do. We have to be able to see the big picture when it comes to him and thats the way well approach it." On a rebuilding team coming off of a last-place finish in one of the strongest divisions in the league, the Vikings may not need to rush him back. He felt like he was ready to play in the preseason, but coaches and the teams training staff preferred to take a more gradual approach. "Id love to have him out there, that goes without saying for our entire team," centre John Sullivan said. "But at the same time its out of our hands. I hope he is. But if not, weve got to go forward with the guys that are ready to go." Peterson wasnt available for comment Monday, but he did participate in practice. Coaches will be especially interested to see how he handles himself in Thursdays padded practice. "We have to see him get through some things and see how he handles certain things from a mental and physical standpoint," Frazier said. "Its different when there is no endpoint, in his case he knew a few weeks ago he wasnt going to play in the preseason. Now the mindset changes a little bit and we have to see how he handles that." Gerhart emerged as a capable fill-in for Peterson after the injury, the kind of physical runner who gets better as the game goes on and the carries increase. Gerhart had just 24 carries in the first 10 games last season, but his work load increased over the final six games as the Vikings faded from contention. As the carries increased, Gerharts production did as well. He rushed for 91 yards on 21 carries and caught eight passes for another 42 yards against Denver on Dec. 4, then picked up another 90 yards on 19 carries the following week against Detroit. Peterson went down two weeks later in Washington and Gerhart came through with 11 carries for 109 yards, the first time hes topped 100 yards in a game in his two NFL seasons, and showed that he is up to the task in the NFL. "With Toby we can run our offence even if Adrian isnt in there," Frazier said. "We feel like we dont have to change any of our plays. Were very confident and comfortable with Toby being our lead back if thats the case. The same runs that Adrian would have would be the same runs that Toby would have." NOTES: CB Josh Robinson (concussion) and S Mistral Raymond (back) returned to practice after missing the preseason finale. Frazier said they should be ready to play on Sunday. The only player whose chances are questionable right now appears to be backup LB Marvin Mitchell, who has a high ankle sprain. ... The Vikings signed OL Kevin Murphy, DL Ernest Owusu, WR Tori Gurley and WR Chris Summers to the practice squad. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/Vince-Coleman-Jersey/ . But, these days ... not so much. While the Pittsburgh Steelers stayed in the thick of the conferences muddled playoff chase last week, the San Diego Chargers have done nearly everything to ensure theyll not be playing next month. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/Matt-Holliday-Jersey/ . Mike McCoy never knows how much hell need, or for how long hell be gone. The life of a utility player doesnt allow for much certainty. He understands his role and knows the Toronto Blue Jays will use him as they see fit. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/ . MacTavish, 53, was head coach of the Oilers for eight seasons from 2000 and 2009, including Edmontons run to the Stanley Cup final in 2006 when they lost in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/Adam-Wainwright-Jersey/ . -- Ichiro Suzuki homered and scored three times, Kyle Seager drove in four runs and the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-6 on Wednesday night. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/Willie-Mcgee-Jersey/ . But its evident heading into Fridays NHL draft at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh that Brian Burke and the Leafs can veer in a number of different directions with card in hand, each aimed at bolstering an organization yearning for its first playoff berth post-lockout. TOKYO -- Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus overcame a dizzy spell to beat Italys Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday and advance to the quarterfinals of the Pan Pacific Open. Azarenka, playing in her first tournament since losing in the U.S. Open final to Serena Williams, had her blood pressure checked after going down 4-3 in the first set but bounced back to win the next three games. "I felt dizzy on the court and my head was spinning in between points which made it difficult to focus," Azarenka said. "What exactly it is, I dont know. I am still trying to figure it out. Hopefully, Ill know as soon as possible and get rid of it." Azarenka improved to 3-0 in head-to-head matches against the 14th-seeded Vinci and will meet fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber in Thursdays quarterfinals. Kerber defeated Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-1, 6-1. Two-time champion Maria Sharapova defeated Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 7-6 (5) to set up a quarterfinal meeting with eighth-seeded Sam Stosur of Australia, a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Slovakias Dominika Cibulkova. The second-seeded Sharapova was coming off a tough, three-hour win over British qualifier Heather Watson on Tuesday, while Safarova advanced to the third round on a walkovver.dddddddddddd Sharapova coasted through the first set and led 3-0 before Safarova mounted a comeback, breaking Sharapova three times to take a 6-5 lead. Sharapova broke Safarova in the final game to force a tiebreaker, which she won with an ace. "After a long match yesterday I was really happy to win in two sets," Sharapova said. "I had a bit of a letdown in the second set but was really happy that I could close it out in the tiebreaker." In other matches, Sara Errani of Italy beat Marion Bartoli 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal showdown with Nadia Petrova of Russia, who beat Petra Martic of Croatia 7-6 (2), 6-7 (1), 6-4. After struggling in the first set, the sixth-seeded Errani broke Bartoli in the second game of the second set and never looked back. "It was a tough match on this fast court," said Errani, who has won three titles this year. "I didnt start off well but neither did she. She got a little tired in the second set and thats when I started to play better." Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, seeded 10th, beat Chinas Li Na 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and will face third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals. Radwanska beat American player Jamie Hampton 6-4, 6-3. ' ' '
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