belongs to police, firefighters, first responders that knew that they

LANDOVER, Md. -- As if things were not already bad enough for the Minnesota Vikings, what with a four-game losing streak and a depleted offensive line, there sat Jake Long in front of a locker, head bowed, a pair of crutches by his side.Backup Jeremiah Sirles, seated to Longs left, reached out and put a hand on his teammates shoulder, trying to comfort him.Long -- signed last month after the Vikings put two tackles on injured reserve -- was carted off the field after hurting his Achilles tendon on Minnesotas final drive of a 26-20 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, dropping a team that started 5-0 to 5-4 and making its present and future even bleaker.Well get back to the drawing board tomorrow, Sirles said about what will happen to the offensive line now that Long is expected to miss the rest of the season, and see what the plan is going forward.Of immediate concern, in addition to how to replace Long after already having to account for injuries to left tackle Matt Kalil and right tackle Andre Smith, is next weeks game against the visiting Arizona Cardinals.Got a lot of things weve got to clean up, a lot of things weve got to get better at, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. Everybodys frustrated right now. So Id be disappointed if they werent frustrated.The Redskins (5-3-1), meanwhile, get to enjoy this back-and-forth victory -- Washington led 14-0 a minute into the second quarter, trailed 20-14 at halftime, then scored the final 12 points -- before facing yet another team whose season is spiraling out of control: They host the Green Bay Packers (4-5 after losing four of their past five games) next Sunday night.Here is what else to know about Washington and Minnesota:FAT ROBUndrafted rookie Robert Kelley is not letting go of the Redskins starting running back job. He climbed the depth chart in part because former starter Matt Jones had trouble holding onto the football, and Kelley -- nickname: Fat Rob -- heads into next week as the unquestioned No. 1 back. Kelley had 97 yards on 22 carries against Minnesota and hasnt fumbled in the NFL, while third-down back Chris Thompson put the ball on the ground Sunday. Kelley watched the film of his first start, Oct. 30 against Cincinnati, saw cuts he missed and improved. I tried to make sure I didnt make the same mistakes this game, Kelley said. It worked out.SHORT YARDAGEThe Vikings cant believe how much trouble they have in short-yardage situations and will prepare for Arizona knowing they failed to convert twice on third-and-1 against Washington. Weve just got to do better. We went with big people. We went with small people. Didnt get either one. Thats where our toughness needs to take over, tight end Kyle Rudolph said. We cant seem to get that 1 yard.RAZORS EDGESeven of the Redskins nine games this season were decided by one score; theyre 4-2-1 in those. Players said its a sign of resiliency; they wouldnt mind a blowout moving forward, though. If were really going to be a good team, defensive end Chris Baker said, weve got to stick our foot on (an opponents) throat from the beginning of the game until after the game.NO BALANCEIf Minnesota is going to turn its season back around, one key could be figuring out how to run the ball more -- and run it better. Not having Peterson is a big deal, of course, but check out these numbers against the Redskins: 21 carries for 47 yards, a 2.2 average. Sam Bradford threw the ball nearly twice as many times (40) as he handed it off. Its been tough the past couple weeks, but were going to stay committed to it. I know that we believe in the run game, Bradford said. I still believe were best when were balanced.RED-ZONE STUMBLESThe Redskins offense settled for three field goals in four trips to the red zone against Minnesota -- part of Washingtons season-long struggles when it gets close to the end zone. Plus, Kirk Cousins almost got intercepted at the goal line, but linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr collided and the ball fell between them.---AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrichAdidas NMD R2 Dames . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Adidas Ultra Boost Uncaged Heren . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. http://www.nmdtekoop.com/nmd-human-race.html . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Adidas Superstar Goedkoop . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Adidas NMD R1 Kopen . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said.COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Two players who began their careers at opposite ends of the spectrum nearly three decades ago ended up in the same place on Sunday -- with their names etched on plaques at the Baseball Hall of Fame.For Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza, the culmination of their long journeys was tinged with tears all around.I stand up here humbled and overwhelmed, Griffey said, staring out at his family and tens of thousands of fans. I cant describe how it feels.The two became a piece of history on their special day. Griffey, the first pick of the 1987 amateur draft, became the highest pick ever inducted. Piazza, a 62nd-round pick the next year -- No. 1,390 -- is the lowest pick to enter the Hall of Fame.Griffey played 22 big league seasons with the Mariners, Reds and White Sox and was selected on a record 99.32 percent of ballots cast, an affirmation of sorts for his clean performance during baseballs so-called steroid era.A 13-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove Award winner in center field, Griffey hit 630 home runs, sixth all time, and drove in 1,836 runs. He also was the American League MVP in 1997, drove in at least 100 runs in eight seasons and won seven Silver Slugger Awards.Griffey, who fell just three votes shy of being the first unanimous selection, hit 417 of his 630 homers and won all 10 of his Gold Gloves with the Seattle Mariners. He played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Mariners and led them to the playoffs for the first two times in franchise history.Thirteen years with the Seattle Mariners, from the day I got drafted, Seattle, Washington, has been a big part of my life, Griffey said, punctuating the end of his speech by putting a baseball cap on backward as he did throughout his career.Im going to leave you with one thing. In 22 years I learned that one team will treat you the best, and thats your first team. Im damn proud to be a Seattle Mariner.Dubbed The Natural for his effortless excellence at the plate and in center field, Griffey avoided the Hall of Fame until his special weekend because he wanted his first walk through the front doors of the stately building on Main Street to be with his kids, whom he singled out one by one in his 20-minute speech.There are two misconceptions about me -- I didnt work hard, and everything I did I made look easy, Griffey said. Just because I made it look easy doesnt mean that it was. You dont become a Hall of Famer by not working, but working day in and day out.Griffeys mom, Birdie, and his father, former Cincinnati Reds star Ken Sr., both cancer survivors and integral to his rise to stardom, were front and center in the first row.To my dad, who taught me how to play thiis game and to my mom, the strongest woman I know, Junior said.ddddddddddddTo have to be mom and dad, she was our biggest fan and our biggest critic. Shes the only woman I know that lives in one house and runs five others.Selected in the draft by the Dodgers after Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda, a close friend of Piazzas father, Vince, put in a good word, Piazza struggled.He briefly quit the game while in the minor leagues, returned and persevered despite a heavy workload as he switched from first base to catcher and teammates criticized his erratic play.His mother and father were foremost on his mind, too.Dad always dreamed of playing in the major leagues, said Piazza, just the second Hall of Famer depicted on his plaque wearing a Mets cap, after Tom Seaver in 1992.He could not follow that dream because of the realities of life. My fathers faith in me, often greater than my own, is the single most important factor of me being inducted into this Hall of Fame. Thank you, Dad. We made it, Dad. The race is over. Now its time to smell the roses.Piazza played 16 years with the Dodgers, Marlins, Mets, Padres and Athletics and hit 427 home runs, including a major league record 396 as a catcher. A 12-time All-Star, Piazza won 10 Silver Slugger Awards and finished in the top five of his leagues MVP voting four times.Perhaps even more impressive, Piazza, a .308 career hitter, posted six seasons with at least 30 home runs, 100 RBIs and a .300 batting average (all other catchers in baseball history combined have posted nine such seasons).Though the Dodgers gave him his start, Piazza found a home in New York when he was traded to the Mets in May 1998.Three years later, he became a hero to the hometown fans with perhaps the most notable home run of his career. His two-run shot in the eighth inning at Shea Stadium lifted the Mets to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the first sporting event played in New York after the 9/11 terror attacks.Piazza paid tribute to that moment.To witness the darkest evil of the human heart ... will be forever burned in my soul, Piazza said. But from tragedy and sorrow came bravery, love, compassion, character and eventual healing.Many of you give me praise for the two-run home run in the first game back on Sept. 21, but the true praise belongs to police, firefighters, first responders that knew that they were going to die, but went forward anyway. I pray that we never forget their sacrifice.Attendance was estimated at around 50,000 by the Hall of Fame, tying 1999 for second-most all time. ' ' '