Only for Guild Members » Angels first baseman/designated hitter Jefry Marte

The Minnesota Vikings found a new offensive coordinator this winter Bengals Billy Price Jersey , and they made one of the biggest splashes of the NFL offseason this week by giving quarterback Kirk Cousins a fully guaranteed $84 million contract.

There was one more pressing need: a new defensive tackle to play next to two-time Pro Bowl pick Linval Joseph.

Sheldon Richardson checked the last of those big boxes.

Richardson, the 13th pick in the 2013 draft out of Missouri by the New York Jets who was traded last year to the Seattle Seahawks, signed a one-year contract on Friday after visiting the team’s new training facility and deciding the Vikings gave him the best opportunity to chase a championship.

”They’re trying to win. Period. Point blank,” Richardson said at an introductory news conference, held in the same room roughly 24 hours after Cousins’, though with considerably less fanfare and fewer reporters.

He’s still filling an important role, given head coach Mike Zimmer’s desire for a stronger threat at that spot to both rush the passer and stand up to the run.

”Those guys can affect the quarterback as much as any position, along with our defensive ends, so it obviously takes some double-teams off our guys so they can continue to pressure the quarterback,” Zimmer said.

The deal includes an $8 million base salary and as much as $3 million available in incentives, NFL Media reported. A few hours after Richardson’s contract was finalized, the Vikings released wide receiver Jarius Wright to make more room under the salary cap.

Richardson played up to his first-round status by winning The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Then he recorded a career-high eight sacks and was picked for the Pro Bowl in 2014. He had some trouble off the field, though, serving a four-game suspension in 2015 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He also was suspended for the 2016 season opener for an arrest in his home state of Missouri for driving at high speeds and resisting arrest.

The Vikings Cheap Customized Oakland Raiders Jerseys , were satisfied with their extensive vetting of his background and character, general manager Rick Spielman said.

”Then after spending two days with him we felt very confident that him coming into this culture, this locker room, that he’ll fit right in,” Spielman said.

Richardson had only one sack last year for the Seahawks, his first season in a primarily 4-3 scheme after playing in a 3-4 system with the Jets. Zimmer’s philosophy doesn’t emphasize or maximize individual statistics, focusing more on overall disruption and pressure, so the sack dropoff was not a concern to the Vikings. They saw the high motor he displays and the havoc he can cause on the line during their video review of his performances with the Jets and Seahawks.

”You could see how powerful he is, but you could also see the athletic ability and the speed going from sideline to sideline,” Spielman said. ”I’m excited to see who’s going to get to the ball next year with the athletes we have up front.”

The lack of sacks was enough of a concern to Richardson that he apologized during his opening remarks to his agent, Ben Dogra, for making his job of selling him more difficult.

”I got back there a lot, disrupted as coach Zimmer said. Honestly, just not finishing for me Authentic Harold Landry Jersey , in my book, to my standards,” Richardson said. ”I’m very effective around the quarterback. I just don’t have the advantage of the numbers that people want to see.”

With Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter at defensive end backed up by Brian Robison and Joseph entrenched at the nose tackle spot, the insertion of Richardson at the under tackle, or 3-techinque, position should indeed improve a defense that led the NFL in several key categories last season.

Tom Johnson took over the position last year, but he became a free agent. Spielman said Richardson’s arrival means Johnson won’t return. Shamar Stephen, who has played both tackle spots, also became a free agent and will likely not be back. The position is open because of the knee injury to 2013 first-round draft pick Sharrif Floyd, whose promising career was likely ended by nerve damage. His contract expired this week.

The spot could be vacant again in a year, given the short-term deal that Richardson preferred, but the Vikings are clearly in win-now mode as evidenced by their commitment to Cousins. Richardson had lunch with his fellow new acquisitionon Thursday.

”Humble guy, laid back,” Richardson said. ”Cool Customized Green Bay Packers Jerseys , calm and collected like you want your quarterback.”

The Vikings are banking on the opposite from quarterbacks they’re facing this year, with Zimmer and defensive line coach Andre Patterson confident they’ll be able to maximize Richardson’s ability.

”If you put yourself in the right situation with the right team and the right coaches,” Spielman said, ”there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be in the Pro Bowl year in and year out.”

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The Los Angeles Angels were 4 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners when they opened a three-game series three weeks ago. When the Angels return to Seattle on Tuesday to begin another three-game set, they’ll be 11 games behind the Mariners for the second wild card from the American League.

The Mariners (54-31) swept the Angels the last time they were in town, and Seattle expanded that cushion by going 7-0 last week for their longest winning streak of the season.

The Angels (43-42) are 6-14 since pulling within 3 1/2 games of the Mariners on June 9. They lost to the Minnesota Twins the following day before getting swept June 11-13 in Seattle. Los Angeles has already played six games at Safeco Field this season but has yet to host the Mariners in Anaheim.

If the Angels drop the series opener, they’ll own a .500 record for the first time since the second game of the season.

The scheduled starting pitchers for Tuesday were also matched up on June 11.

Los Angeles left-hander Andrew Heaney (4-5, 3-95 ERA) gave up five runs and seven hits in three innings of the 5-3 loss.

Seattle left-hander Wade LeBlanc (3-0, 3.38) gave up two runs and four hits in five innings in his only career appearance against Seattle.

LeBlanc, who made 10 appearances for the Angels in 2014, including three starts, hasn’t experienced a defeat in 11 starts this season, and the Mariners are 8-3 in those games.

The Mariners have also found something special in closer Edwin Diaz, who became the second pitcher in major league history with at least 30 saves and 70 strikeouts before the All-Star break. The other is former Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne.

“We’ve had a lot of valuable players on our team Cheap Josh Allen Jersey ,” Seattle manager Scott Servais told reporters after a 1-0 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. “But winning the close games, it creates the type of atmosphere that’s going on at Safeco Field right now and the city and getting our fan base psyched again.”

Heaney also struggled in his most recent outing, allowing six runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of a 9-6 loss on Wednesday at the Boston Red Sox, but he did not absorb the loss.

He’s 1-2 in four career starts against the Mariners with a 4.42 ERA.

The Angels lost two more pitchers to injury on their current road trip.

Jake Jewell sustained a broken right fibula against the Red Sox on Wednesday. The rookie right-hander was making his third major-league appearance when he fell awkwardly while trying to cover home plate on a wild pitch. He had surgery on Friday in Los Angeles.

On Saturday, the Angels announced left-hander John Lamb would undergo Tommy John surgery, the fourth pitcher for Los Angeles to have the season-ending surgery this year.

Los Angeles could soon be adding some offensive punch, however.

Shohei Ohtani, the rookie two-way player who is also out with an elbow injury, has been taking live batting practice and running the bases recently, putting him on pace to resume designated hitter duties this week.

“He’s starting to do get through that progression,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told FOX Sports West on Sunday.

Angels first baseman/designated hitter Jefry Marte is also close to returning from a left wrist injury.

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