Kritik und Anregungen » to progress, Watt is slowly returning to

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-NFL Running Shoes Clearance . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Running Shoes Clearance Online . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. http://www.runningshoesclearance.com/ . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Running Shoes Clearance Sale . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Discount Running Shoes Online . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. HOUSTON -- Jadeveon Clowney is ready to shine in prime time.The No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft failed to make an impact in his first two injury-plagued seasons . But now hes healthy, playing well and ready for a national audience Thursday when the Houston Texans visit a New England Patriots team that will likely start rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett.It will be just the second time Clowney has played in a nationally televised game after he sat out three of Houstons four night games in his first two years because of various injuries.When asked if hes ready to show what he can do, a big smile crept across his face and he let out a small laugh before gathering himself to provide an answer.Im very excited, he said. Im looking forward to it. Its going to be big for the team.A win would give the Texans a 3-0 start for the first time since they opened the 2012 season 5-0. Houston has been helped by an improved offense led by new quarterback Brock Osweiler and rookie receiver Will Fuller, but through the first two games the defense has been the strength of this team .Clowney has been a key to the units early success with seven tackles, including three for losses, a sack, five quarterback hits and a batted down pass. Hes doing a little bit of everything these days and the word coaches and teammates use most often to describe him is disruptive.In his first two seasons, Clowney lined up as an outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Romeo Crennels 3-4 scheme. Since Clowney was healthy throughout training camp, it has given the Texans more freedom to use the 6-foot-5, 266-pound player in different ways, and hes mostly played defensive end in the first two games.Regardless of where they put him, the Texans have been impressed with Clowneys hustle this year.I think hes playing really hard, coach Bill OBrien said. There are a few clips on there where he is rushing the passer, the pass gets off and hes chasing the ball carrier down. I think the guy is playing with tremendous effort and Ill say that about all the guys on defense.Clowney, who earned a reputation as a fierce pass rusher in a standout career at South Carolina, did not have a sack as a rookie but finished witth 4+ last year.dddddddddddd His first two seasons were full of disappointment for both him and the team as he played just four games in 2014 before having microfracture surgery, and missed three games and Houstons wild-card playoff loss to Kansas City last season due to a variety of other ailments.As he started to pile up more injuries than sacks, criticism that he wasnt living up to his draft status continued to grow. Clowney heard it all, but said he chose to ignore it. He knows that the injuries couldnt be helped and believes theres only one way to quiet his detractors.Im not saying nothing, he said. Im just going to keep letting my game speak and just keep getting better and better week by week.Clowneys improvement has added another dimension to a pass rush led by last years NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and one that also features Whitney Mercilus, who had two sacks in Houstons opener. Watt is excited about the possibilities for this defense full of playmakers.You never know where the play is going to come from, it could be a linebacker, it could be a (defensive back), it could be a guy up front getting a sack, he said. Its a lot of fun when you play like that. I think it makes it difficult for other teams and thats the goal.As Clowney continues to progress, Watt is slowly returning to form after missing all of training camp and the preseason after July surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back. He started to feel good on the field again last week after struggling in Houstons opener. And it showed as he finished with 1 + sacks and recovered a fumble.But he has a message those who think hes back to full strength.I say partially, he said. Im still working on some things and I think it may be some things that only I see. But there are definitely some things that I want to continue to improve upon. But I have to admit it did feel good on Sunday to ... have some glimpses of my old self back. So I just want to continue that.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '