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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. Nike Air Max 1 Sale . -- Your turn, Josh Freeman. Freeman was named the latest starting quarterback for the scuffling Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday. Freemans second week with the team will culminate on Monday night with him leading the offence against the New York Giants. "It really hasnt been that difficult. Any time you step into a situation where youre the new guy, theres always kind of an awkward getting-to-know-you phase," Freeman said. "But I think that goes back to the character of this organization just from top to bottom: a lot of quality people that are dedicated to winning first and foremost but also being quality human beings off the field. So its been a smooth adjustment." Coach Leslie Frazier also said that Christian Ponder will be the backup, not Matt Cassel, assuming Freeman makes it through the week without problems. "I like the things hes done in his career, along with what hes done since he arrived here with our football team, the time he put in, how well hes adapted to our system," Frazier said. "Hes done enough for us to say we want to give him this opportunity, which is something we had in mind when we acquired him. I think now is the time." Freeman will be the third starter in the last four games for the Vikings (1-4) and the 11th since Daunte Culpeppers season-ending knee injury in 2005. Freeman was cut by Tampa Bay on Oct. 3 and signed by Minnesota to a one-year contract five days later. "Were just going to make plays for whoevers in there and just make it as easy as possible," wide receiver Jerome Simpson said. Freeman started 59 games over four-plus seasons with the Buccaneers. The 25-year-old former first-round draft pick threw for 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions in 2010, his first full season as a starter, but has been up and down since. The Vikings were on the wrong end of one of his best games last year, a 36-17 victory at Minnesota when he passed for 262 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. "The underlying questions Ive been getting from a lot of people: Do I have a chip on my shoulder? Im sure I do," Freeman said. "But I think its more deeply rooted than just the past six months, 12 months." Frazier said he was impressed by Freemans first practice with the team. "From the moment he stepped in the building, he wanted to learn. And the way he handled himself in that practice, it changed my mindset about the possibilities," Frazier said. "We had a timeframe in mind originally but watching what he did from the day he arrived, that cemented it for me that sooner was a possibility." Frazier said he hasnt considered a scenario in which Ponder wouldnt still be on the roster for the rest of the season. Ponder said he wasnt sure about his future here. The trade deadline is Oct. 29. Hes under contract with the Vikings through at least 2014. "I have to figure out whats best for me and everything and for this team. I dont know if thats staying here and going somewhere else," Ponder said. Ponder started the first three games until he broke a rib. Cassel took over and led the Vikings to their only victory. Frazier said he preferred to keep the factors in his decision to put Ponder ahead of Cassel on the depth chart private. The coach also said he had full authority to make Freeman the starter. He acknowledged, though, that owners Zygi Wilf and Mark Wilf and general manager Rick Spielman were consulted. "When youre talking about the quarterback position, which affects your entire franchise, this is not a decision you make alone," Frazier said. Running back Adrian Peterson was missing from practice because of a personal matter. Frazier said he expected him back on Thursday. The coach declined to specify whether his absence was related to the situation in South Dakota regarding his 2-year-old son, who died last week by alleged abuse. A man is in custody in South Dakota. Safety Harrison Smith was also not present for the beginning of practice reporters were allowed to watch. With the game on Monday this week, the Vikings arent required to produce an injury report until Thursday. Smith suffered a turf toe injury to his left foot on Sunday. Frazier said hed provide an update on Thursday. Nike Air Max 90 Hyperfuse . Watch the Ducks vs. Kings live on TSN tonight at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt. The Kings, of course, were down 3-0 in the opening round against San Jose before becoming only the fourth team in NHL history to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first three meetings. Nike Air Max 90 Goedkoop . Wrights first stint with Milwaukee was on a 10-day contract from March 14-23. He played in two games, averaging six points and two rebounds in 16. Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Kevin Durant scored 26 points, Russell Westbrook had 23 and the Oklahoma City Thunder held on for a 97-94 victory over Denver to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the first-round playoff series. J.R. Smith hit back-to-back three-pointers in the final 23.3 seconds to pull the Nuggets within a point after they were down 10, but he airballed another long try at the buzzer with James Harden guarding him close. The Nuggets were hoping a change of scenery to their home court would sway momentum in their favor. Instead, they will be faced with an historically daunting task beginning with Mondays Game 4 in Denver. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series, and few have even been able to force a Game 7. Serge Ibaka had 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Thunder, who nearly squandered their 10-point lead in the final minute after a Denver surge that was sparked by Smith. He scored 15 points in under 15 minutes off the bench, none bigger than his two late 3s. The second one came after he inbounded the ball, rushed to the left corner and buried a shot over Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha to get the Nuggets within 95-94 with 14.6 seconds left. The Thunder responded with a quick basket -- Durant threw downcourt for a wide-open Ibaka, who dunked for a 97-94 lead -- and then held on at the other end as Denver looked again to its hot hand. Smith got the ball near the top of the arc and wiggled for room against Harden, who stood with his arms in the air and surrendered no ground. Smiths shot barely made it halfway to the basket as time ran out. I thought our guys did a good job of switching, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of the final play. James made him take a very difficult shot. He was an unlikely target as Denvers go-to shooter after being benched by head coach George Karl in Game 2. Nike Air Max 1 Dames. Smith was unhappy to play just six minutes and even hinted there was a strong possibility he would leave the Nuggets as a free agent. Arron Afflalo, who missed the first two games of the series with a left hamstring injury, scored 13 points and talked about squandered opportunities. The mental focus, I cant put enough emphasis on that from the makeup of our team, Afflalo said. Every time we miss a free throw, every time we turn the ball over, every time we dont take advantage of a break opportunity we should capitalize on, those are the things that catch up with you. Kenyon Martin and Nene matched Smith with 15 points apiece for Denver, while Nene pulled down 10 rebounds. Chris Anderson -- also benched by Karl in Game 2 -- scored 13 points in under 17 minutes. Denver led 73-71 after three quarters and neither team scored in the first 2:19 of the fourth until Andersons free throw made it 74-71. Oklahoma City took the lead for good with about eight minutes left and slowly built a cushion. Westbrook, who scored 13 in the fourth, hit a long jumper to make it 88-80 with 3:13 remaining. Durant was playing with five fouls, but was still enough of a presence that Raymond Felton missed a fast-break layup with the NBAs leading scorer on his tail. Soon after, Durant made a pair of free throws for the Thunders 10-point lead -- 94-84 with 49.3 seconds left. Denver ended the game on a 10-3 run, but couldnt get the final points it needed. The Nuggets held a 31-26 lead after the first quarter, but the Thunder ripped off a 30-18 second quarter to carry a 56-49 lead into halftime. GAME NOTES:Oklahoma City is seeded fourth in the Western Conference playoffs, while Denver is the No. 5 seed...The Nuggets finished in second place, five games behind Oklahoma City in the Northwest Division, during the regular season. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
