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MINNEAPOLIS -- Kyle Rudolph hasnt put up the biggest numbers over the first three years of his career, which is due as much to the Minnesota Vikings revolving door at quarterback as anything else. Earl Campbell Womens Jersey . The Vikings have known all along what they have in Rudolph, a big, field-stretching tight end who can be a difference-maker in the right offence with the right quarterback. So now theyre paying him like one. Rudolph signed a five-year contract extension with the Vikings on Sunday night, a sign that the team has big plans for Rudolph in new offensive co-ordinator Norv Turners offence. The deal, which was first reported by Fox Sports, is worth $36.5 million with $19.4 million guaranteed. Incentives can push the deal to $40 million. "Im very excited to get this extension done with Kyle," Vikings GM Rick Spielman said. "We drafted him, hes done a tremendous job since hes been here. Our whole focus on moving forward in this organization is to draft our players, develop them and keep them here. Hes one of our young guys who is going to be a building block as we go forward in the future and just very excited to get this behind us so we can look forward to seeing him produce over the coming years." Rudolph missed eight games because of a broken left foot last season. He caught 30 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns last year, but was still named to the Pro Bowl and earned MVP honours in the game. His best season came in 2012, when he caught Rudolph was entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Vikings know what he can do when he is healthy. In 2012, he 53 passes for 493 yards and nine touchdowns, just the kind of production the Vikings envisioned when they drafted him in 2011. Spielman took a little bit of a risk when he made that selection because Rudolph missed the final seven games of his last season at Notre Dame after having surgery to repair a severe hamstring injury. But Rudolph played 31 of 32 games in his first two seasons in the NFL before missing half the season a year ago with his broken foot. "Ive said all along I wanted to stay in Minnesota," Rudolph said. "I love the fans, the community and, most importantly, Im excited about where this team is going. Im looking forward to the 2014 season and helping this organization reach our ultimate goal." Rudolphs production to this point has been somewhat hindered by the Vikings inability to find a consistent quarterback. Rudolphs friend and draft classmate Christian Ponder has failed to live up to expectations and previous offensive co-ordinator Bill Musgrave struggled at times to get Rudolph involved in the passing game. New head coach Mike Zimmer brought in Turner, considered one of the best offensive co-ordinators of his generation, to run the offence. Turner has had success in the past with great tight ends like Jay Novacek in Dallas and Antonio Gates in San Diego, and he has been impressed early in training camp by Rudolph. The Vikings also hope to have a much more stable quarterback situation with veteran Matt Cassel and rookie Teddy Bridgewater competing for the job. "The thing Kyle has done is get up the field and he is running better than he has been in the past," Turner said. "I think he is understanding that we are trying to change his style of running in terms of routes and he is taking to it. I expect him to be a big part of what we do offensively." DeMarco Murray Authentic Jersey .C. -- North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said his team had a "golden" opportunity to help its NCAA tournament chances. Earl Campbell Authentic Jersey . -- Jerry Rice Jr. www.footballtitansfanatic.com/authentic-marcus-mariota-titans-jersey/ . Joakim Nordstrom and Garret Ross also scored for Chicago and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Tomas Tatar scored twice for Red Wings (2-3-0), Jonathan Ericsson added a goal and Gustav Nyquist had three assists.TORONTO -- Rudy Gay launched a long lob to a soaring DeMar DeRozan, who finished with huge one-handed dunk early in the third quarter Wednesday. The Toronto Raptors dropped a 101-89 pre-season decision to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the highlight-reel connection between the two athletic Raptors was perhaps a promise of more to come for the two whove now had the benefit of some time playing together. "Its going good, I know where his sweet spots are, and vice versa," said DeRozan, who topped Toronto (1-1) with 17 points. "Were just trying to put it together, especially when we need to get a bucket, and be aggressive, and get other teams in the penalty. Thats one thing were trying to do." Gay finished with 11 points. "Were trying to get in the rhythm of the offence, being aggressive, trying to create for others, trying to get that down pat," DeRozan said. New Raptor Tyler Hansbrough had nine points and seven rebounds, while Jonas Valanciunas had nine points and five boards and Kyle Lowry had eight points to go with four assists. Kevin Love led the Timberwolves with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Nikola Pekovic had 12 points and eight boards and J.J. Barea added 12 points. Its a new season under a new general manager in Masai Ujiri, but there is stability in the Raptors starting five that didnt exist at this time last year. All five are returnees compared to a year ago when three of the starting five were newcomers. Added to that, Gay was acquired during the mid-season trade that sent Jose Calderon to Detroit, and had to learn on the job without the benefit of training camp or pre-season. Together, DeRozan and Gay can open up space for each other, and pose a huge threat to opponents defences, who have to decide whos the more important player to focus on. Apart from the alley-oop, Wednesdays game at the Air Canada Centre was typical pre-season, not a pretty performance for either team, featuring mis-timed alley--oops and sloppy turnovers. Warren Moon Authentic Jersey. "Its pre-season," coach Dwane Casey said. "I dont think you can talk to a coach in the NBA now that is where they want to be. We are definitely not where we want to be defensively." Valanciunas said it was a "bad effort on defence tonight." "We still have time and a lot of things to fix and were going to start tomorrow," he said. The Raptors sophomore centre, who was beaten up by the leagues top centres early in his rookie campaign, had some trouble with Minnesotas centre Pekovic on Wednesday. "Hes a really good player, and its not easy to go up against him," Valanciunas said. "Its easier than last year, but I still have to fix a lot of things." The Raptors, who won their pre-season opener 97-89 over the Celtics in Boston on Monday, trailed the Timberwolves 29-22 after a sloppy first quarter. New Raptor Steve Novak drained three three-pointers in the second to help Toronto take a 59-55 lead into the dressing room at halftime. Ronny Turiaf led the TWolves with seven points in a third quarter that saw the visitors regain the lead, up 83-75 with a quarter left. Casey went with mostly newcomers down the stretch as he continues to get a feel for what they have to offer. Toronto next hosts former Raptors No. 1 draft pick Andrea Bargnani and the New York Knicks on Friday. They open the regular season at home against the Celtics on Oct. 30. Notably absent on the night was The Raptor, the teams much-beloved mascot, whos out for the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon. Casey said he called The Raptor after hearing of his injury, which required surgery. "I was disappointed, my daughter cried, she was upset," Casey said. "(The Raptor) is a good man, but hell bounce back, hes in good hands with the physicians. The Raptor will be back." The Raptors will hire a replacement for the man under the costume, whos been with the team since Day 1. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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