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$33 million contract with free agent Kendrys Morales,
MINNEAPOLIS -- Out of the doghouse and into the end zone, Cordarrelle Pattersons career renaissance kicked into overdrive on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.Patterson returned a kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown to put the Vikings in control of the game, and also had four catches for 53 yards in Minnesotas 30-24 victory that snapped a four-game losing streak.Once thought of as the dynamic playmaker who would take over as a focal point of the Vikings offense once Adrian Peterson was ready to retire, the 2013 first-round draft choice entered the season hanging on to a roster spot for dear life. He had two catches for 10 yards all of last season, then watched the Vikings spend a first-round draft choice on another receiver before declining to pick up the fifth-year option on Pattersons contract later in the summer.Over the span of 10 games in a contract year, Patterson has gone from an afterthought in the offense to a featured element. In addition to his return and receiving duties on Sunday, Patterson took a read-option handoff from Jerick McKinnon to get the defense focused on him, then flipped the ball to quarterback Sam Bradford in a play that drew a penalty downfield and set up a Vikings touchdown.When youre involved, you cant even sleep at night, Patterson said. Last night I couldnt even sleep because I was just so excited about today. I knew it was going to be a good game for me, man. Ive got a couple friends in town and I told them its going to be a good game for me.He also converted a third-and-1 with a 30-yard reception that set up another touchdown, and opened the second half with his fifth career kickoff return TD, which ties him with Percy Harvin for the most in Vikings history.When you look what he does on special teams, when the balls in his hands, you just feel like hes one of those guys if we can get him five, six, however many touches it is a game, you know that hes going to create something positive, Bradford said. Anytime the balls in his hands, hes got a chance to take it all the way.When the Vikings drafted Laquon Treadwell in April and declined Pattersons contract option, the writing appeared to be on the wall for a player whose physical tools were never questioned, but whose carefree personality led to doubts about him as a consistent threat on offense. Pattersons good friend Adam Thielen, an undrafted player out of Division II Minnesota State, Mankato, had surpassed him on the receiver depth chart. His future was uncertain.Nicknamed Flash both for his blazing speed and his colorful personality, Patterson first showed coaches that he was playing with a different attitude when he started covering punts as a gunner. Its one of the most thankless tasks on the field. He forced a key fumble against the Giants and gradually started earning more playing time on offense as well.The approach endeared him to no-nonsense coach Mike Zimmer, and Patterson has seen his role grow each week.Its been cool to see him have success because Ive seen what he does in the offseason, said Thielen, who had five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Ive seen how positive he is. Its easy for guys in his situation to not have that mindset and not work hard. But its good to see when guys deserve it and they go out and make it happen.The Vikings never needed Patterson more than Sunday, when they carried a four-game losing streak into a crucial home game. Patterson broke out some socks with his own likeness on them -- Last night I was packing my bag and said hey, I need to pack these, he said -- and broke the game open with a kick return that gave the Vikings a 27-17 lead.Tonight Im going to sleep like a baby, he said with a wide smile. Im going to sleep too good.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLJordan 12 For Sale Cheap .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Wholesale Jordan 11 . JOHNS, N. http://www.jordanshoescheapsale.com/ .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Wholesale Authentic Jordan Shoes . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Air Jordan 1 Wholesale .Y. -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wednesday that J. TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays have finalized a three-year, $33 million contract with free agent Kendrys Morales, and say the deal lowers the chances that slugger Edwin Encarnacion will return next season.Hours after the team announced the addition of Morales on Friday, general manager Ross Atkins said talks with Encarnacion are ongoing, theyre still continuing.Encarnacion and Jose Bautista both became free agents after helping Toronto reach the playoffs.We still feel that both are realistic for us, but again, when you sign someone like Kendrys Morales, that decreases the likelihood of Edwin coming baack to the Blue Jays, but by no means eliminates that possibility, Atkins said.ddddddddddddThe 33-year-old Morales hit 30 home runs with 93 RBI while batting .263 for Kansas City last season.Atkins said second baseman Devon Travis had surgery on his right knee and is expected to be fine. He was injured in the playoffs against Cleveland.Toronto also claimed right-hander Leonel Campos on waivers from San Diego. The 29-year-old pitched 25 times for the Padres over three seasons. ' ' '