MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings have been looking for a tough, play-making defensive back to cover slot receivers ever since they parted ways with beloved veteran Antoine Winfield before last season. Captain Munnerlyn is ready to fill those shoes. The Vikings agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the free agent cornerback on Thursday, continuing the teams aggressive pursuit of defensive help in free agency. Munnerlyn played the first five seasons of his career for the Carolina Panthers, where he returned five of his seven interceptions for touchdowns. "We have a new coaching staff in Minnesota and Im excited to get to work with these guys," Munnerlyn told The Associated Press. After signing a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Panthers last year, Munnerlyn posted career highs with 74 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks. He also returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns and parlayed that into a deal that could be worth as much as $15 million with the Vikings. Munnerlyn, who will turn 26 next month, has scored four defensive TDs in the last two years. He was a seventh-round draft choice after leaving South Carolina after his junior season, and the 5-foot-8, 165-pound Munnerlyn has been proving that he belongs ever since. "Everybody looks at my size and says, Oh man, he cant play. Hes too short to play outside corner, or hes too short to do this," Munnerlyn said in a conference call later Thursday. "Thats the biggest key with me, man. I was just trying to go out there and prove I can be an every-down corner, that I can make plays and bring toughness to a team." Winfield knows a thing or two about that. The diminutive cornerback spent nine seasons with the Vikings, establishing himself as one of the hardest-hitting defensive backs in the league. Munnerlyn said early in his career his coaches showed him game tape of Winfield. "I kind of stole some of his game and brought it to my game," Munnerlyn said. "I dont hit as hard as he does. He can really bring it when he tackles. But I try to go out there and make the tackles and make plays just like him." The Vikings desperately needed another veteran cornerback to add to a young, thin defensive backfield. After cutting Winfield last summer, the Vikings moved Josh Robinson from outside to the slot cornerback. Robinson struggled mightily in the role and former second-round draft choice Chris Cook proved unreliable and unremarkable on the outside. Cook is a free agent. Munnerlyn said Vikings coaches plan to start him on the outside opposite promising youngster Xavier Rhodes, then move him inside in nickel packages on passing downs. He was a part of the second-ranked defence in the league last season under Ron Rivera. He said he saw similarities to the system new Vikings coach Mike Zimmer will employ in Minnesota. "Hes a gritty, tough player and he can play all over the place -- cornerback, nickel or inside," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said last season. "Hes good in pressure and you can tell hes a headsy, smart player. Anytime you are playing against those guys its kind of like the Ronde Barbers of the world where you know there is a level of intelligence. You want to know where he is on the field." The Vikings wanted to do a longer-term deal with Munnerlyn, but Munnerlyn pressed for a three-year contract to give him one more shot at a big payday. "To get another contract before Im 30, that was the key," Munnerlyn said. "Just to go out here for three years and see if I can win them over a little bit more, get an extension after year two or something. Just try to go out here and make plays and win games." Munnerlyn is the latest big move in a series of them to kick off free agency for the Vikings. They re-signed defensive end Everson Griffen with $20 million in guaranteed money and signed defensive tackle Linval Joseph away from the New York Giants with a five-year deal that could be worth $31.5 million. They also made two smaller deals on Thursday, bringing back reserve defensive tackle Fred Evans and signing former Chargers cornerback Derek Cox to one-year deals. All the moves are aimed at bolstering a defence that was 31st in the league last year. "Im sure with these signings and with these people they (brought) in well ranked in the top 10," Munnerlyn said. Marvin Jones Jr Jersey . -- The road to the Masters got off to a bumpy start Sunday for Tiger Woods when he withdrew from the Honda Classic with what he said was a lower back injury. Glover Quin Jersey . James Jones got his turn Sunday. And the lift he brought, combined with the expected playoff showings from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, have the Heat off and running in these playoffs. http://www.authenticnfllionslockroom.co ... te-Jersey/. The 26-year-old Regina native teamed up with Denny Morrison and Mathieu Giroux to win gold in 2010. Makowsky also was 13th in the 5,000 metres and 19th in the 1,500m in Vancouver. 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Cano doubled and drove in two runs to help the Seattle Mariners beat the New York Yankees 4-2 Thursday night behind an impressive pitching performance from rookie Roenis Elias. Michael Saunders had three hits, including an RBI double, and Elias struck out 10 in seven innings as the Mariners won their fifth in six games following an eight-game skid. Seattle took both games in a rain-shortened series that marked Canos first trip back to New York after leaving for a $240 million, 10-year contract last off-season. "Both days felt good because both days we won, so it has to feel good," Cano said. The All-Star second baseman was booed again and finished the series 2 for 9 with three RBIs. Seattle has won four straight at Yankee Stadium dating to last season. "There werent any expectations from the crowd today. I just wanted to go out and take care of business," Cano said. "You have to understand the fans, but it is not going to be a distraction for me." Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda (2-3) gave up four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits in six innings, lowering his ERA slightly to 5.14. It was an improvement over his previous outing Friday night, when the 39-year-old right-hander was hammered in a 13-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. "I think its a step in the right direction," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "A lot of nights thats going to be good enough to win." Elias (2-2) gave up a leadoff homer to Jacoby Ellsbury but not much else in his first appearance against the Yankees. The left-hander from Cuba threw 73 of 110 pitches for strikes, starting 75 per cent of his 28 batters with a strike. He allowed six hits and one earned run while walking two. Yoervis Medina worked a perfect eighth, and Fernando Rodney got three outs for his sixth save. "The adrenaline comes from the spotlight," Elias said through a translator. "Ive never been to the stadium so it was good to come here and beat the Yankees. Ive seen it on TV but never been here." Ellsbury, who sat out Tuesday with a sore left hand, sent Elias fourth pitch to right field for his first home run with the Yankees. It was New Yorks first leadoff shot since Derek Jeter connected at the Chicago Whhite Sox on Aug.dddddddddddd 21, 2012. Elias, who skipped Triple-A, struck out the next three batters and settled in from there. Showing good command of a sharp curve, he induced two double-play grounders and struck out the side in the fifth. "He was hitting his spots. He was getting ahead. He pitched a good game. Hes got a good arm," Jeter said. "Sometimes pitchers are going to be better than you. He threw really well. Hes not a typical lefty who tries to trick you. He gets it up there pretty good." Cano hit an RBI double in the first and a run-scoring groundout in the third after Jeter made an error at shortstop. Brad Miller dumped a two-out RBI single in front of hesitant left fielder Brett Gardner in the fourth. Saunders followed with a ground-rule double that made it 4-1. New York cut it to 4-2 in the sixth on Brian McCanns run-scoring single with two outs after Cano was charged with an error. Elias retired Yangervis Solarte with two on to end the inning. The Yankees did not get another baserunner until a two-out single by pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki in the ninth. "The young man threw a tremendous game. We thought hed be OK in this environment," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said about Elias. "The young man is tough." NOTES: After the rainout Wednesday, the Mariners pushed back ace Felix Hernandez one day to Friday night in Houston. Elias had been scheduled to start Wednesday, followed by Hernandez on Thursday. "Give him an extra day and it also gives Elias an extra day. It just made sense," McClendon said. "Felix has been taxed quite a bit and hes pitched on regular rest for quite a while. Its an opportunity to get him where we need him to be. His last two outings have not been sterling outings, I think we would agree. So it gives us a chance to freshen him up and get him back on the right track." ... Seattle has not announced a starter for Saturday or Sunday. McClendon said its possible All-Star RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (finger) will come off the disabled list to make his season debut this weekend. ... McClendon sat struggling CF Abraham Almonte, who was replaced by Saunders in the leadoff spot. Almonte entered on defence in the eighth. ... Many players on the Mariners received autographed Jeter jerseys -- but not Cano. ... Ellsbury has 11 career leadoff homers. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys ' ' '