s Singapore.ddddddddddddTo be honest there was quite a lot of pressure because I knew that was the only place

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Sam Bradford immediately immersed himself in video study of his new team after the Minnesota Vikings made the emergency trade to acquire him the week before the regular season began.The starring role of this film, for Bradford, was adeptly played by Stefon Diggs.He just kind of popped, Bradford said. You just kind of notice him. Hes always getting separation. He seems to always be finding a way to get open.The live proof quickly followed.In Bradfords debut, a 17-14 victory over rival Green Bay last Sunday, Diggs had nine receptions for 182 yards . Diggs received the NFC offensive player of the week award for the performance. That included a slick third-quarter touchdown catch in which he ran to the inside of Packers cornerback Damarious Randall, veered outside as if he were going to run a corner route, then curled behind Randall to run back inside to complete the post pattern.He just throws a good ball, Diggs said. I just try to make the plays I can for him.Through two games, Diggs leads the NFL with 285 yards receiving. Diggs has been targeted on 20 of Minnesotas 64 passes , and with 16 receptions he has the fourth-best catch percentage in the league among wide receivers whove been thrown to more than 12 times. Diggs became the third player in Vikings history with two 100-yard games to start a season, the first since Cris Carter in 1997.I definitely know hes got all the tools, said Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, who often covers Diggs in practice. Great hands. Great route runner. I said when he first got here that he reminded me a little of Antonio Brown. When he was a rookie I said that. This guy, man, hes just been phenomenal for this team.Thats particularly true considering that Diggs became the first rookie in franchise history to lead the team in receptions (52) last year, with Teddy Bridgewater as the quarterback. Bradford arrived after Bridgewater went down with a massive injury to his left knee on Aug. 30, but Shaun Hill started the opener at Tennessee. Diggs thrived with him throwing the passes, too.If a puppy bites when hes young, when he gets to be big hes going to really bite you, wide receivers coach George Stewart said. He had some bite in him as a young puppy. You saw what he did when he came in last year and started to play. It wasnt a mistake he played well. He prepared himself to be a good player in our league, and hes continuing to do that.The swift rise for Diggs is remarkable considering he fell to the fifth round of the 2015 draft coming out of college one year early. Hes on the smaller side at his position at 6-foot and 190 pounds, for one. The unstable quarterback situation at Maryland during his career there didnt help productivity, even though his 1,896 all-purpose yards as a freshman in 2012 was the second-highest total in program history.Then there was the broken leg and subsequent related leg muscle injuries that kept him out for almost half of his sophomore season. A lacerated kidney cost him three games as a junior.Hes a relentless worker, though, with footwork as crisp and instinct as sharp as any of his peers around the league. His unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Packers notwithstanding -- a product in coach Mike Zimmers view of his desire to protect a teammate -- Diggs possesses a polish on the field and carries himself off of it in a way that transcends his age.Diggs was only 14 when his father died. Hes become a father-like figure to his younger brothers, especially Trevon Diggs, a freshman wide receiver at Alabama.Hes looking at me as far as like a role model. I want to be the first example, Diggs said. I want him to have to look nowhere else, as far as like somebody that works hard or does what theyre supposed to do.The Vikings (2-0) will be relying on Diggs more than ever now, with Bridgewater, running back Adrian Peterson and left tackle Matt Kalil all likely out for the rest of the season with injuries.Ive just got to do what Ive got to do, and at the end of the day if that happens, Diggs said with a sly smile, Ill be all right.--Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAPShane Doan Jersey . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Antti Raanta Coyotes Jersey .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. http://www.officialcoyotesfanstore.com/authentic-christian-fischer-coyotes-jersey/ . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Alex Goligoski Jersey .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Vinnie Hinostroza Coyotes Jersey . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football.Daniil Kvyat says he feared he would lose his Formula One seat at Toro Rosso for 2017 heading into this years summer break.On Saturday it was confirmed that Kvyat would remain with Toro Rosso for next season. The Russian was replaced at Red Bull by Max Verstappen after just four races this year and endured a difficult mid-season, admitting at the German Grand Prix that his struggles felt never ending.I had a bit of a drop down on my performance in the middle of the year, obviously for various reasons, Kvyat explained. At that point it looked like I wouldnt be in [Toro Rosso] really if I continued like that.Then I managed to get everything together after the summer break and it was a very important few races because in Red Bull, if you have a trust from them you can be sure its because you are a very good driver.Following the August break, and rumours that he could be replaced by Red Bull young driver Pierre Gasly at Toro Rosso for next year, Kvyat enjoyed a revitalised run of form, highlighted in Singapore with a gutsy drive to ninth place. Kvyat reckons his performances in recent races was the catalyst in securing his place on the F1 grid for next season.I knew that if I did a good job with good results they are going to keep me,, so thats what I did after the summer break and even if it was very difficult with this power unit issues and so on, the only real opportunity to shine was Singapore.ddddddddddddTo be honest there was quite a lot of pressure because I knew that was the only place with some good opportunities and I delivered there. There were a few good qualifyings after that and I felt again back to my normal.In Singapore everything came together and it all felt good again. It felt like my whole motivation, my whole spark came back and I felt very comfortable again in what I was doing and I really started to enjoy it.When asked if he feels like he has been handed a second chance following his troubles this year, Kvyat -- who will enter his fourth F1 season in 2017 -- replied: It does in a way, yes, because this year has been incredibly long and rocky. Its good to settle down now and get this chance because next year everything starts from zero.Its a new car, a new opportunity and a new season. So of course Im going to do my absolute best to use this chance as well as possible and it all comes together much better now. ' ' '