w-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets b

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. Paul DeJong . -- Here he is again, Marcus Sherels, beginning his seventh season in the NFL without assurance of a roster spot with the Minnesota Vikings.Sherels long ago proved his worth as a sure-handed, soft-spoken punt returner, whose self-made career has become one of the best stories in franchise history after starting out in 2010 as an undrafted local invited to rookie camp only on a tryout basis.The depth chart at cornerback is even more crowded now, though, and Sherels isnt in the top six there. Kickoff returner Cordarelle Patterson isnt a significant contributor as a wide receiver, either.So the Vikings could be challenged next week to either keep a pair of limited-role players and hinder their depth at another position, or let go of a valuable returner such as Sherels or Patterson.Not that Sherels would acknowledge any worry about this.Thats the coaches job, he said. We just try to come in and compete.As for the pride the 5-foot-10, 175-pound product of John Marshall High School in Rochester and the University of Minnesota surely takes in lasting this long in a league with an average career thats about half of his, Sherels keeps that quiet, too.Im just taking it year by year, he said.The smile widens, and the lilt in his voice accelerates when the subject of the four former Gophers currently in camp is broached.Wide receiver Troy Stoudermire was signed this summer after three years in the Canadian Football League, and hes getting a look as a punt and kickoff returner. Sherels, naturally, has taken to a mentoring role for a player he spent two seasons with at Minnesota.Hes really talented, and hes been playing well. Im happy for him, and its fun watching him, Sherels said. I remember in college, he did everything.The smile comes freely for Sherels, too, when asked about his interception return for a touchdown last week at Seattle. This came during a trying month for him and his family, following a serious medical issue that popped up recently for his older brother, Mike Sherels, and required two surgeries.There couldnt be a better guy for that to happen to, said wide receiver Adam Thielen, another one of the seven Minnesota natives currently in camp. He works hard for it. He deserves it. Hes a heck of a football player. Obviously, good guys, good things happen to them.Game notes The Vikings will practice on Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium, their new $1.1 billion home set to debut on Sunday for the preseason game against San Diego. ... Coach Mike Zimmer said QB Taylor Heinicke, who wouldve been in line to challenge Shaun Hill for the primary backup role to Teddy Bridgewater, will probably be out another six to eight weeks. Heinicke, whos on the non-football injury list after an off-the-field accident before training camp, had surgery to repair a severed tendon in his left foot. The second-year player from Old Dominion had his walking boot removed this week.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Ted Simmons . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Edmundo Sosa . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/...large-971q.html . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. TEMPE, Ariz. --?Arizona State?running back Kalen Ballage tied the 26-year-old NCAA record for touchdowns in a game in the Sun Devils 68-55?win over Texas Tech on Saturday.Ballage equaled the mark of Howard Griffith, who scored eight times for Illinois in a 1990 win over Southern Illinois.Ballage, a junior from Peyton, Colorado,?rushed for seven touchdowns on 13 attempts, gaining 137 yards. His 75-yard run (a career long) with 9:11 to play in the fourth quarter allowed him to match the record.He also caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Manny Wilkins in the second quarter and finished wwith 185 all-purpose yards. Bobby Tolan. ?It wasnt me -- it was God and my offensive linemen, Ballage said in an on-field interview after the game.He later brought?his entire offensive line with him to the postgame news conference.These guys right here, every single one of them, they go to work, Ballage said.Ballage had scored nine touchdowns in his career before Saturday, including one on the ground in the Sun Devils season-opening win over?Northern Arizona. ' ' '