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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. OBrien Schofield Jersey Seattle Seahawks . -- Matt Cassel will start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings against Carolina on Sunday, a seemingly inevitable decision finally confirmed by coach Leslie Frazier. Cassel helped the Vikings get their first victory of the season with a solid performance in London against Pittsburgh Sept. 29, a game Christian Ponder sat out of because of a broken rib. Ponder was cleared to play this week, though. Despite Fraziers earlier statement that Ponder was still the starter when healthy, the Vikings decided to make the former first-round draft pick their backup. Frazier said his mind was made up a couple of days ago. "I think its always tough when you make a change at quarterback," he said. "You have to take a lot of factors into it when youre doing that. You dont make those decisions lightly, and we didnt. Well see how it plays out." The Vikings signed ex-Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman this week, further muddling the position. Frazier wasnt ready to declare Freeman an option for the next game, Oct. 21 on the road against the New York Giants, but he said hed re-evaluate the situation Monday. Cassel is 30-33 in 63 career starts, most of them with Kansas City. He said he didnt find out until Friday. "Ive been focusing on it without really knowing but at the same time anticipating maybe this would happen," Cassel said. "You know what? You never know in this league. I wouldnt have guessed on Monday wed have another quarterback in the room as well." After practice Thursday, Ponder acknowledged the mental challenge of the last few weeks. "I would be lying if I didnt say its a little disappointing and frustrating," he said. "But Im not going to get too discouraged about it. Im a man of faith and I know God is in control." Ponder said a trade "would be difficult to deal with" but that he was trying not to worry about the future of his career. Picked 12th overall in the 2011 draft, Ponder is 12-17 as a starter with 39 turnovers. "Its a waste of energy and thought to think about what could happen and what might not happen," he said. "Im just trying to enjoy these moments because life in the NFL doesnt last long." The Vikings also listed kicker Blair Walsh as questionable for Sunday due to tightness in his hamstring that kept him out of practice the last two days. Punter Jeff Locke would be the emergency replacement, but Frazier said hes anticipating Walsh will play against the Panthers. Cornerback Chris Cook (groin) and safety Jamarca Sanford (hamstring) are expected back in the starting lineup after missing the Steelers game with injuries. Max Unger Jersey Seattle Seahawks .C. -- If this was Jabari Parkers last home game at Duke, what a farewell it was. Christine Michael Jersey Seattle Seahawks . Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points, Tony Parker had 16 points and 10 assists, and San Antonio rolled to a 114-97 victory over the Trail Blazers on Thursday night for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.HALIFAX - Halifax was named the host city for the 2015 world mens curling championship Tuesday. It will mark the 22nd time the tournament has been held in this country and fourth in Atlanta Canada but will make its first appearance ever in played Nova Scotia. The games will be played at the 10,500-seat Halifax Metro Centre. Kam Chancellor. Canada has captured 34 world championships since the mens event began in 1959, the latest coming in 2012 when Glenn Howard of Midland, Ont., won gold in Basel, Switzerland. cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' ' |
