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MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time in his 23-year NFL coaching career, Mike Zimmer wasnt at the stadium with his team.With the Minnesota Vikings hosting Dallas on Thursday night, Zimmer was at home resting after emergency surgery to repair a detached retina.Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer took over as the interim head coach, a decision that Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said would be the least disruptive to the team. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur (Cleveland, 2011-12) and offensive line coach Tony Sparano (Miami, 2008-11) each have prior experience as an NFL head coach, but they remained in their roles. Zimmer is the play-caller for the defense, considered one of the savviest in the league, and that duty fell to defensive coordinator George Edwards.The teams flagship radio station, KFAN-FM, reported on the pregame show that Zimmer visited the team hotel to address the players in the afternoon. The Vikings played a video clip of Zimmer encouraging the team during training camp with a get-well-soon message on the scoreboard prior to kickoff. Spielman declined to speculate on whether Zimmer would have to miss multiple games during the recovery, but with the Dec. 11 game at Jacksonville the coach is unlikely to be cleared in time for air travel with his condition.We have to see how his eye responds to the surgery, Spielman said. I do know how intense coach Zimmer is. Talking with him today and with the doctors, as much as he wants to be out there coaching tonight, its in his best interest that we get this taken care of. Coach Zimmer has never missed a game. I know how hard this is on him. I cant express how hard on him it is that he wont be able to coach. But we have to look after his health.Left untreated, retina damage can lead to permanent vision loss . The retina is a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye. When its detached, the cells are separated from the layer of blood vessels that provide oxygen and nourishment. This was the third procedure the 60-year-old Zimmer has had over the past month.As hard-headed as he is and as tough-minded as he is, we had some pretty significant talks one-on-one, heart-to-heart, on what is important in life and what isnt, Spielman said. I think after we met, I expressed to him specifically that potentially going blind in one eye is not worth one game in the NFL.Zimmer, who got his start in the NFL as an assistant with the Cowboys in 1994 and spent 13 years with the organization, has yet to face Dallas in the regular season as a head coach . The Vikings and Cowboys played last year in the preseason.Zimmer first experienced trouble with his right eye a couple of days before the Oct. 31 game at Chicago and scratched the eye inadvertently during that game. That prompted team doctors to send him for further examination, which revealed a torn retina. He had surgery Nov. 1 and another one Nov. 8, which left his eye noticeably red. It had cleared up significantly in recent weeks, though, and Spielman said Zimmer wasnt expected to need further treatment.But the coach suddenly complained of vision problems during a walk-through practice with the team Wednesday afternoon, and head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman drove Zimmer to seek medical attention. Spielman said the latest diagnosis was a detached retina.After first revealing the issue at his Nov. 2 news conference, Zimmer said hed been watching film with his good eye and using reading glasses to write down notes in preparation for that weeks game. With the Vikings mired in a slump with five losses in the last six games, the hard-nosed Zimmer sure hasnt appeared to back off his approach in the desire to help the team get back on track and catch up in the NFC playoff chase. Zimmer mentioned recently hes been arriving at his office even earlier than usual, around 4:15 a.m.Spielman dismissed the theory that Zimmers setback this week was related to pushing too hard after the first two procedures.Whether the situation was the sudden death of his wife, Vikki, when he was the defensive coordinator for Cincinnati in 2009, the kidney stones he had removed in 2014 or the death of his father, Bill, during the 2015 preseason, Zimmer had never missed a game until now.Its not worth the risk, Spielman said. And were looking out for the long-term of his health.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Stitched Nike MLB Jerseys . 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He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1.Spurs title hopes could depend on their results against Liverpool and Man Utd - but Dele Alli can help them to victory, says Jamie Redknapp... Dele Allis brilliant performance in Englands win against Germany was just the latest step in his amazing rise. Now, hes got to deliver in a key double-header for Tottenham.Spurs travel to Liverpool on Saturday Night Football and then host Manchester United on Super Sunday on April 10 - both games live on Sky Sports - and these fixtures will determine their season. They have no distractions now. Their entire focus is on the Premier League. And if they can take six points from these next two games, I can see them winning the title.If they do go on to lift the trophy, Alli will have been a key factor - and what an achievement that would be for a 19-year-old midfielder who was playing in League One this time last year. Dele Alli starred in Englands win against World Cup holders Germany I remember the first time I really took notice of Alli - it was when MK Dons thrashed Manchester United in the Capital One Cup in August 2014. Immediately I thought, he can play, but what really stood out was his tackling. There was one old-school, unbelievable challenge. It was remarkable to see someone so young playing like that against Manchester United.He went to Tottenham and has become this powerhouse of a midfield player. He has so much belief and confidence and a great arrogance on the ball - and I mean that in a good way. Its not something you can teach and only a few players have it, but that ability to want the ball anywhere on the pitch - even against the world champions in Germany - is special. Roy Hodgson has to put Dele Alli in the number 10 role for England at Euro 2016 and fit the rest of the players around him. Jamie Redknapp There doesnt seem to be a real weaknesses in his play but I really like him in that number 10 role, where you can see a lot more of his game. Mauricio Pochettino deserves credit for trusting him in that position - and its where I want to see him play at Euro 2016 for England.Too often with the national team we play people out of position - think about Paul Scholes or Steven Gerrard being deployed out on the left wing. It drives me mad. Well get the best out of Alli if we play him where he plays for Spurs.Hodgson has to put Alli in the number 10 role and fit the reest of the players around him.dddddddddddd Hes not your typical number 10 - he runs beyond the striker and tackles hard - but we need to embrace his talent. Jurgen Klopp will field strongest team against Spurs, despite Europa League trip to Dortmund, says Redknapp Im sure Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool will have plans to stop him and it should be a fascinating game on Saturday night across the pitch.Tottenham havent had the best of records at Anfield and, despite facing Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League on Thursday night, I expect Liverpool to field their strongest team and go all out for the win. Belgiums Nacer Chadli has praised his Tottenham team-mates for their performances for England If were still counting Arsenal in the title race - who are 11 points off Leicester with a game in hand - then we have to still consider Liverpool for a top-four finish, even if they have it all to do being seven points adrift with a game in hand.And thats why I cant see them resting players for Dortmund. Liverpool have to keep going for that Champions League spot as long as its still possible.This will be a high-pressure, high-tempo game from both sides. I dont see Spurs losing it and I think it will end up a draw; Ive got a feeling were in for a high-scoring, exciting match. Watch Liverpool v Tottenham live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5pm on Saturday. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Premier League questions How did your international players get on? ' ' '