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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Mike Zimmer and Teddy Bridgewater will be forever linked with the Minnesota Vikings, regardless of how the team fares over the rest of their time together.This is the state of the NFL. For all the excess credit or blame that continually falls on the head coach and the quarterback, success or failure in this league is unavoidably linked to these two people.Despite the losing record produced by their first season with the Vikings (7-9), Zimmer and Bridgewater not only kept their reputation in tact but gave reasons to believe theyll be together in Minnesota for a while.Honestly, I never felt overwhelmed, from the day I walked in, Zimmer said Tuesday at his final news conference of 2014.He added: Are there some things that I would do differently? Sure. Did I make some mistakes? Sure. But I felt like each and every day I came into work that I gave this team, the fans and the organization the very best that I could give them. And I believe in my head that Ill be even better next year with everything that I do.Over the past 10 offseasons, the Vikings have changed coaches three times and searched for a quarterback a lot more than that.With Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers again on top of the NFC North with Green Bay, theres a long way to go for Minnesota to reach the conferences elite.Finally, though, the Vikings have entered a winter without any questions about wholl be running the team or wholl be taking the snaps.The Vikings finished 7-9, but their last five losses were by a combined 16 points. Bridgewater threw 12 interceptions against 14 touchdown passes, but he was at his best this month and posted a 64.4 completion rate that was the third-best rookie-year mark in NFL history. Bridgewater also gained the respect of teammates on both sides of the ball with a balance of humility and confidence.The guys around here, theyve allowed me to be more assertive with them. We have a great group of men here that they will take leadership, whether its from the coaching staff or from the youngest player on the team, Bridgewater said.Here are some other key themes to know about the Vikings as they enter the offseason:PETERSON PREFERENCERunning back Adrian Petersons absence from all but one game, the fallout from the child-abuse case that came up in Texas, was a major hurdle both Zimmer and Bridgewater had to overcome this year.The Matt Asiata-Jerick McKinnon tandem, though productive at times, likely wont be enough. Given Petersons age, contract and public image, his return in 2015 is hard to fathom. Hes suspended by NFL through at least April 15, and as Zimmer indicated Tuesday the Vikings prefer to settle his status as soon as possible so they can plan accordingly in free agency and the draft. But Zimmer said he would welcome Peterson back, if it works out that way and he gets his life in order.GREENWAY GONE?The Vikings were one of the youngest teams in the league this season, but Peterson isnt the only highly paid veteran who could be cut before his contract expires. Linebacker Chad Greenway, who missed three games with broken ribs and another because of a knee injury, said hed love to return for a 10th year but realizes the nature of the NFL for players over 30.Zimmer said he believes Greenway is still good enough to start at the weak side position, but to do so hed probably have to take another pay cut.It wont simply come down to money or business or anything. Itll come down to whats best for the family, Greenway said, hinting hed rather stay than sign elsewhere for a better deal.Fullback Jerome Felton and left guard Charlie Johnson are two other key players who could be let go for cap relief. Middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley will be a free agent.BRIDGEWATERS BUDDYBridgewater plans to return to the Miami area this winter and gather the wide receivers together at some point to work out and continue to develop their chemistry. He also revealed that hes relied on former Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb for advice.Hes a guy who had success in this league, and hes someone that I look toward as a mentor or for guidance, Bridgewater said.PATTERSON PLANOne of the most disappointing players was wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson, who scored only two touchdowns, none by kickoff return, and vanished from the offence down the stretch as Charles Johnson and Adam Thielen surpassed him. Zimmer said he has a mentor he declined to name in mind for Patterson.I think this will be good for him, and hopefully hell follow through and get to where he needs to get to, Zimmer said.KALIL CONFIDENCELeft tackle Matt Kalil also had a letdown year, but his blocking was better over the last several weeks. He said hell have his knee examined again. After surgery last off-season, it didnt feel right most of the year. But Kalil said hes confident in a bounce-back 2015.I know what Ive got to do. I dont know if this sounds bad or not, but Im not worried about it, Kalil said.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Wholesale Custom Jerseys . After just two league games in June, Toronto (6-4-1) will go on to play seven in July plus a friendly against Tottenham. Five of those contests are against Eastern Conference opposition, meaning valuable points in the playoff race are on the line. Clearance Custom Jerseys Shop . As the schedule flipped from November to December, they would go on to drop five straight, falling six games below the .500 mark before a franchise-altering trade turned them into an unrecognizable team. http://www.customjerseyschina.com/ . The team sent out a press release on Friday stating Poile was resting and recovering and that he will remain in hospital for further observation. The Predators were preparing for the game against the Wild when Poile was hit by a puck that flew off the ice at him where he was standing in a tunnel behind the bench. Cheap Custom Jerseys From China . The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists detailed in a report how Russian and international journalists have been harassed and prevented from covering sensitive stories in Sochi such as the abuse of migrant workers and environmental issues. Sale Custom Jerseys . INJURIES - Reds RF Jay Bruce is facing knee surgery for a torn meniscus and it could cost him a month of playing time. Chris Heisey, who has shown some pop (43 home runs, . ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Texas Rangers know they have their work cut out for themselves if they want to wrestle the AL West title away from the defending division champion Oakland Athletics. And the Los Angeles Angels arent making it any easier for them. Garrett Richards pitched seven effective innings, and the Angels parlayed three errors and another mammoth home run by Mark Trumbo into five early runs against Derek Holland to beat Texas 8-3 Saturday night. The Rangers fifth loss in six games, coupled with Oaklands 2-1 victory against Houston, put them 1 1-2 games behind the Athletics with 21 remaining. "Their job is to try to spoil us from getting to the playoffs," Holland said. "But no matter who we play, its going to be tough. I dont care if its the Angels or whoever you want to throw out there. Theres not going to be an easy game from here on out, whether theyre a first-place team or a last-place team. Were all competing to get somewhere, and other teams are trying to knock us out." The Angels are 14 1-2 games out of first place despite winning 12 of their last 15 games. And despite the fact that they will miss the post-season for the fourth straight year, they will definitely have a say in the outcome of the division race. The final week of their schedule includes a three-game series at home against Oakland, followed by a four-game set at Texas. "Theyre a good team over there, but were playing good ball right now and every day is a new opportunity to get another W, get some momentum for next year and knock some teams out," Mike Trout said. "If we were playing this kind of ball in April, it would have been a different story now and down the road. But its been one of those years. If you look at our lineup now compared to April, its two different teams. Guys have come up from the minors and are getting an opportunity to play. Were playing together, pitching great and having some fun." Richards (6-6) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and six hits while striking out five and walking one. The right-hander, who finished his night by fanning the side, is 4-0 with a 3.25 ERA in seven starts at home this season. Holland (9-8) was charged with eight runs -- four earned -- and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. He strucck out four and walked one in his sixth attempt to join Kenny Rogers as the only left-handers in the history of the Rangers/Washington Senators franchise with double-digit victories in three consecutive seasons.dddddddddddd. "I didnt pitch very well, and Im very disappointed at the way that I performed," Holland said. "I know Im a better pitcher than I have been performing like for the last two or three outings. Im very frustrated with the way things turned out." Holland, whose last victory was Aug. 4 at Oakland, gave up unearned runs in the first two innings. The Angels took a 3-1 lead in the first after Holland fielded a dribbler toward the first base line by leadoff man J.B. Shuck and committed a two-base throwing error. Shuck advanced on Erick Aybars sacrifice bunt and scored when four-time Gold Glove third baseman Adrian Beltre misplayed Trouts slow bouncer for his 13th error. Trumbo drove the next pitch to centre field for his 31st homer and second in two nights, following a drought of 57 at-bats without one. "Hes having an awesome year," Trout said. "Hes learning a lot of new things this year and making adjustments at the plate. He went through a couple of stretches where he was pressing a little bit, but hes back to being Trumbo and every at bat you look at him and hes got a chance to launch one. So its fun to watch." The Angels blew the game open in the sixth with three more runs that chased Holland. Texas catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who ended the scoring with a leadoff homer in the ninth against Cory Rasmus. NOTES: Trumbo is batting .235 with 20 games remaining. The lowest average by any Angels player who hit at least 30 homers in a season was by 3B Troy Glaus, who batted .250 with 41 homers in 2001 and .250 with 30 homers in 2002. ... Trumbos homer was the 17th allowed by Holland, who set a Rangers club record for lefties last season by giving up 32. ... Rangers manager Ron Washington flip-flopped Leonys Martin and rookie Jurickson Profar in the batting order, putting Profar in the leadoff spot and batting the struggling Martin ninth to take some pressure off him. The move produced a run in the second inning as Martin singled with two out, stole second and scored on Profars single. 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