EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Mike Zimmer and Teddy Bridgewater will be forever linked with the Minnesota Vikings, regardless of how the team fares over the rest of their time together.This is the state of the NFL. For all the excess credit or blame that continually falls on the head coach and the quarterback, success or failure in this league is unavoidably linked to these two people.Despite the losing record produced by their first season with the Vikings (7-9), Zimmer and Bridgewater not only kept their reputation in tact but gave reasons to believe theyll be together in Minnesota for a while.Honestly, I never felt overwhelmed, from the day I walked in, Zimmer said Tuesday at his final news conference of 2014.He added: Are there some things that I would do differently? Sure. Did I make some mistakes? Sure. But I felt like each and every day I came into work that I gave this team, the fans and the organization the very best that I could give them. And I believe in my head that Ill be even better next year with everything that I do.Over the past 10 offseasons, the Vikings have changed coaches three times and searched for a quarterback a lot more than that.With Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers again on top of the NFC North with Green Bay, theres a long way to go for Minnesota to reach the conferences elite.Finally, though, the Vikings have entered a winter without any questions about wholl be running the team or wholl be taking the snaps.The Vikings finished 7-9, but their last five losses were by a combined 16 points. Bridgewater threw 12 interceptions against 14 touchdown passes, but he was at his best this month and posted a 64.4 completion rate that was the third-best rookie-year mark in NFL history. Bridgewater also gained the respect of teammates on both sides of the ball with a balance of humility and confidence.The guys around here, theyve allowed me to be more assertive with them. We have a great group of men here that they will take leadership, whether its from the coaching staff or from the youngest player on the team, Bridgewater said.Here are some other key themes to know about the Vikings as they enter the offseason:PETERSON PREFERENCERunning back Adrian Petersons absence from all but one game, the fallout from the child-abuse case that came up in Texas, was a major hurdle both Zimmer and Bridgewater had to overcome this year.The Matt Asiata-Jerick McKinnon tandem, though productive at times, likely wont be enough. Given Petersons age, contract and public image, his return in 2015 is hard to fathom. Hes suspended by NFL through at least April 15, and as Zimmer indicated Tuesday the Vikings prefer to settle his status as soon as possible so they can plan accordingly in free agency and the draft. But Zimmer said he would welcome Peterson back, if it works out that way and he gets his life in order.GREENWAY GONE?The Vikings were one of the youngest teams in the league this season, but Peterson isnt the only highly paid veteran who could be cut before his contract expires. Linebacker Chad Greenway, who missed three games with broken ribs and another because of a knee injury, said hed love to return for a 10th year but realizes the nature of the NFL for players over 30.Zimmer said he believes Greenway is still good enough to start at the weak side position, but to do so hed probably have to take another pay cut.It wont simply come down to money or business or anything. Itll come down to whats best for the family, Greenway said, hinting hed rather stay than sign elsewhere for a better deal.Fullback Jerome Felton and left guard Charlie Johnson are two other key players who could be let go for cap relief. Middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley will be a free agent.BRIDGEWATERS BUDDYBridgewater plans to return to the Miami area this winter and gather the wide receivers together at some point to work out and continue to develop their chemistry. He also revealed that hes relied on former Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb for advice.Hes a guy who had success in this league, and hes someone that I look toward as a mentor or for guidance, Bridgewater said.PATTERSON PLANOne of the most disappointing players was wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson, who scored only two touchdowns, none by kickoff return, and vanished from the offence down the stretch as Charles Johnson and Adam Thielen surpassed him. Zimmer said he has a mentor he declined to name in mind for Patterson.I think this will be good for him, and hopefully hell follow through and get to where he needs to get to, Zimmer said.KALIL CONFIDENCELeft tackle Matt Kalil also had a letdown year, but his blocking was better over the last several weeks. He said hell have his knee examined again. After surgery last off-season, it didnt feel right most of the year. But Kalil said hes confident in a bounce-back 2015.I know what Ive got to do. I dont know if this sounds bad or not, but Im not worried about it, Kalil said.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Vapormax China .com) - Brad Stuart has yet to play a regular-season game for the Colorado Avalanche, but that didnt deter the club from signing the veteran defenseman to a two-year contract extension on Monday. 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PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Roenis Elias came through with another positive start to follow up his first complete game. Elias won his second consecutive start, Dustin Ackley drove in three runs, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Saturday. Elias (5-4), coming off a three-hit shutout over Detroit last Sunday, was chased after giving up a two-run homer in the eighth to Evan Longoria that cut the Mariners lead to 7-4. The left-hander allowed four runs and five hits over 7 2-3 innings. "I felt really good out there," Elias said through an interpreter. "Im doing what Im capable of doing. Im working hard to keep that going." Elias struck out five and walked two. "I really liked what I saw today," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "Probably left him in a little bit too long." Ackley hit a three-run double off Alex Cobb (1-4) during a four-run fifth that put the Mariners ahead 7-2. Willie Bloomquist added an RBI double in the inning. "Thats huge," Ackley said of getting Elias the five-run lead. "At point hes throwing the ball well anyway. To have that kind of insurance definitely helps him." Fernando Rodney, the former Rays closer, pitched the ninth to get his 17th save in his first appearance at Tropicana Field since joining the Mariners as a free agent in February. James Loney homered for the Rays, who had a stopped a 10-game losing streak by beating Seattle 4-0 Friday night. The Rays celebrated the life of senior adviser Don Zimmer before the game. Zimmer died Wednesday night at 83. Joe Torre, Jim Leyland and Tommy Lasorda, along with more than 20 family members were present. "It was very emootional," said McClendon, who played for Zimmer on the 1989 NL East champion Chicago Cubs.dddddddddddd"I thought it was very on." Bloomquist had an RBI single and Endy Chavez hit a sacrifice fly during the fourth. Cole Gillespie hit his first homer of the season, a solo shot in the second. It was Gillespies first homer since Sept. 28, 2011, while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Seattle has won five of six. Cobb gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 0-3 in four starts since returning from a strained left oblique. "They had some really good at bats working and they just beat us up," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Just not Cobbs day." Loney had a solo shot and Ali Solis drove in a run with a sacrifce bunt as the Rays went ahead 2-1 in the second. NOTES: Ackley had two RBIs in his previous 16 games. ... Seattle 1B Justin Smoak (sore left leg) and OF Michael Saunders (sore right shoulder) were both out of the lineup. Smoak entered as a defensive replacement in the ninth. ... The Rays designated reliever Josh Lueke for assignment and recalled RHP Kirby Yates from Triple-A Durham. Yates entered in the seventh and threw 1 1-3 shutout innings in his big league debut. ... Seattle 2B Robinson Cano singled in the fifth and has a 16-game road hitting streak. ... Rays RHP Jeremy Hellckson (elbow) and C Ryan Hanigan (hamstring) started minor league rehab assignments with Single-A Charlotte. Hellickson gave up two hits in three shutout innings and Hanigan hit a two-run homer against Tampa. ... Seattle RHP Felix Hernandez (8-1) and Tampa Bay RHP Chris Archer (3-3) are Sundays scheduled starters. ' ' '