MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings have taken another one of their priority free agents off the market before it opens, agreeing to terms on a five-year contract with defensive end Everson Griffen that features $20 million guaranteed and a maximum value of $42.
[b]Authentic Paul George Jersey[/b] .5 million. A person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed the details to The Associated Press on Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Vikings havent announced the deal. The NFL free-agent signing period starts Tuesday. The Vikings also agreed to terms on a one-year contract with middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, according to another person with direct knowledge of that deal who spoke to the AP on Sunday on condition of anonymity because the Vikings havent confirmed the agreement. Brinkley played for the Arizona Cardinals last season. Two days ago, the Vikings reached a two-year deal with quarterback Matt Cassel worth as much as $10 million. The 26-year-old Griffen, a fourth-round draft pick from USC in 2010, has an opening to become a full-time player with the departure of four-time All-Pro Jared Allen, who will officially become a free agent on Tuesday and wont be re-signed. Allen and Brian Robison have been the starting defensive ends for almost Griffens entire NFL career, though he has seen extensive action as a situational pass rusher and on special teams. Griffen is getting paid more for his potential at a critical position in this pass-driven league than for actual production. He had 5 1/2 sacks last season, down from eight in 2012. But he has the speed and athleticism to become a force if he can continue to develop, after making major strides in maturity in overcoming some off-the-field struggles including the sudden death of his mother in 2012. Brinkley rebounded from a serious knee injury in 2007 at South Carolina to be drafted in the fifth round by the Vikings in 2009. After missing the entire 2011 season following major hip surgery, Brinkley bounced back again to become a first-time NFL starter in 2012. He hit free agency the next year and signed with the Cardinals. Brinkley played in 15 games last season and started when Pro Bowl pick Darryl Washington served a suspension for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy, but the Cardinals cut him last month to create more space under their salary cap. So hes used to playing under this type of prove-it circumstance. "They let me know the jobs wide open and its not going to be handed to anybody," Brinkley said. "Everybody has an equal opportunity to earn that spot." As the depth chart currently stands, prior to the actual opening of the free agent market and of course the draft, Brinkley will be in competition with Audie Cole for the starting middle linebacker spot. In the "Tampa Two" defence the Vikings used to use, linebackers had deep drops in zone pass coverage and Brinkley was sometimes exploited. Brinkleys skill set ought to better fit the scheme under new coach Mike Zimmer. "Minnesota has always been home for me. It has a significant place in my heart. I was raised on the frozen tundra," Brinkley said in a phone interview with the AP, foreshadowing the wintry conditions the Vikings could experience late this year at the University of Minnesotas outdoor stadium while their replacement for the Metrodome is under construction. From former Cincinnati cornerback Johnathan Joseph, a fellow South Carolina alumnus, Brinkley received a favourable report of Zimmer, who was Josephs defensive co-ordinator with the Bengals. "Hes a defensive guy. Hes a straight shooter. Hes going to tell you how it is. He does magical things with his defensive guys," Brinkley said.
[b]Authentic Devon Hall Jersey[/b] . Hes the same player he always was, only now his efforts are being rewarded. The rookie manager has made a habit of heaping praise on others when things are going well, and accepting criticism when they arent. But in the case of Hurtado, its what the coach is NOT saying that may be the secret to a superb run of form.
[b]Authentic Steven Adams Jersey[/b] . Globo TV and other news outlets said early Monday that Scolari will not remain as coach after the national teams failure to win the World Cup at home.PERIGUEUX, France -- Vincenzo Nibali confirmed he will win the Tour de France and two Frenchmen will join him on the podium after a dramatic penultimate stage on Saturday. After his remarkable deeds in the mountains, Nibali finished the individual time trial in an impressive fourth place behind winner and German speedster Tony Martin, and padded his overall lead by more than 40 seconds to nearly eight minutes. Its mainly a ceremonial ride on Sunday to the Champs-Elysees, where Nibali is set to become the first Italian winner of the Tour since Marco Pantani in 1998. Nibali reduced the drama on Stage 20 to who would join him on the podium on Sunday. Jean-Christophe Peraud and Thibaut Pinot, will, the first Frenchmen on the podium since Richard Virenque in 1997. They did enough to leave behind an unlucky Alejandro Valverde of Spain in their three-man race for the final podium. Only 15 seconds separated them when the stage began in Bergerac, but it became more than two minutes when the time trial finished in Perigueux. Peraud, a 37-year-old former mountain bike racer, became tearful at the finish after learning he would be on the final podium: "Its beautiful." Because Valverde had a bad day, Peraud -- who even blew a flat and had to change bikes, losing about 20 seconds -- and Pinot were able to eclipse him. Among other changes, American Tejay van Garderen climbed a spot from sixth to fifth overall by overcoming a deficit of 2 minutes, 7 seconds to Romain Bardet -- by just two seconds. The young French rider lost key seconds after blowing a flat at the end of the stage. Because the llast stage is flat, and the teams of Nibali, Peraud and Pinot will be hawking over any breakaway attempts, the final stage, after more than 86 hours of racing, is a cruise which often features Champagne bottles popping during the ride.
[b]Discount Thunder Jerseys[/b]. Martin, the world time trial champion, clobbered the field over the 54-kilometre (34-mile) leg. Pedaling with his body curled up in a tight ball, with the aerodynamic rear disk wheel bearing the rainbow-colored stripes earned by the world champion, Martin maintained a steady pace on the flats, hugged the edge of the road on curves, and squatted down on his bikes top tube to reduce wind drag on the descents. Sweat trickled down his nose and off his chin. The German overtook the rider who started two minutes before him by about the 15-kilometre point. Four kilometres later, Martin, who began 115th in the stage, already had a 35-second lead on the fastest man up to that point: Czech time trial champion Jan Barta. At the end, he finished 1:39 faster than Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin in second, and Barta was third, eight seconds slower. Nibali was fourth, 1:58 behind the German, Van Garderen was sixth, 2:08 behind, and Peraud was seventh, 2:27 adrift. Overall, the Italian has a lead of 7:52 over Peraud, and 8:24 over Pinot. Valverde, in fourth, was 9:55 back. To understand the difficulty of overcoming a seven-minute margin, only 12 1/2 minutes separated Martin from the rider who finished last. Because Nibali was far from the worst time-trial rider -- in fact hes among the best -- it was nearly impossible for his longshot rivals to catch him.
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