year ago was probably not. Clearly, Patterson has taken ownership o

Andy Murrays approach to his craft is supremely rational, his belief in sports science unquestioned. Ivan Lendl, Murrays coach, is a meticulous crosser of ts and dotter of is. The team that Murray has assembled leaves no stone unturned in its effort to keep Murray running, mentally as well as physically, like an exquisitely tuned race car.So why do Murrays wheels keep falling off at unexpected times?Its a fascinating quirk in a player who undeniably has greatness stitched into his muscle fibers. Murray is an elite, but hes still capable of shocking us with a spectacular, unexpected collapse. Its a seismic event, like the demolition of a giant old stadium by dynamite -- only nobody told the neighbors it was going to happen. The latest failure occurred in New York and just days ago in Glasgow, Scotland.Murray was on fire and on point all summer. He had gone 42-4 up to his quarterfinal meeting with Kei Nishikori at the US Open on Sept. 7, with four titles (including a major at Wimbledon and the Olympic gold medal).At the same time, US Open defending champion Novak Djokovic was struggling with his game as well as unspecified personal issues. The tea leaves all pointed to Murray making a sensational breakthrough, perhaps even shattering Djokovics long stranglehold on the mens game.But Nishikori took Murray out in Flushing Meadows in five sets. Then, not quite two weeks later in Murrays native Scotland, Juan Martin del Potro added insult to injury. He avenged his gold-medal-round loss to Murray in Rio de Janeiro with a five-hour, five-set Davis Cup win that paved the way for Argentinas advance to the final.Of course, Murray is still ranked No. 2 and his position among the elites is secure. It has been since long before Roger Federers left knee buckled or Rafael Nadals warrior spirit turned pacifist. Murrays haul of a dozen Masters 1000 titles and his basic Grand Slam consistency justify his inclusion. He occupies a weight class above that of US Open champ Stan Wawrinka, but note that the Swiss now has the same number of Grand Slam titles (three). Wawrinka is the first to advise others not to read too much into the Grand Slam title count.Yes, I have three Grand Slams, Wawrinka said after winning the US Open. How many Masters 1000 have Murray? [The Big Four] have been there since 10 years. They have not only been winning, but being in semifinal, final every time. Thats why Im not there.All true. But had Murray found a way past Nishikori, Wawrinka might not be having to plead his unworthiness. Also, pundits might be talking about a true horse race for the No. 1 spot in 2017, between Murray and Djokovic.Instead, Wawrinka has inserted himself into the conversation as the best big-match player. At the same time, a lot of the air went out of the Murray balloon. Did he win Wimbledon and Olympic singles gold because he was able to navigate around Djokovic? Some will say so. The one reality is that when it seemed a showdown was imminent in New York, it was Murray who failed to show up.The intriguing thing isnt that Murray lost to Nishikori, the 2014 finalist, but how he went down. Murray was up a set and a break, and seemed to be in control after he put down a Nishikori insurrection and won the third set. But Murray became upset when chair umpire Maria Cicak halted play midpoint at 1-1, 30-40 in the fourth set after a gong-like sound was heard inside the stadium. It all slid away from there.Afterward, Murray downplayed the role of the distraction and his subsequent tiff with officials in his news conference. Instead, he turned philosopher: I could have won the match for sure. But, you know, I have also won some over the last few months that I should have lost.Murray wasnt about to flagellate himself after his critical loss to del Potro less than two weeks later.I did great today, Murray said. Im very proud of how I played. I thought I did fantastic. I fought for every point, tried as best as I could. Thats all you can do.Well, almost. Murray still needs to look for a way to tighten the lug nuts on his wheels for one or two more critical occasions during a career run. Cory Joseph Kings Jersey . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Bruno Caboclo Jersey . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Wenyen-Gabriel-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. Iman Shumpert Jersey .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Mitch Richmond Kings Jersey . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings went three-and-out on their first possession, and the punt coverage team came out for a kick from the end zone.The gunners on the outside of the formation quickly closed in as the ball descended from the air, and the pressure forced New York Giants returner Dwayne Harris to drop it on the turf as he tried to run forward.Marcus Sherels recovered, and the Vikings went the other way for a touchdown in six plays to set the tone for a game they controlled from start to finish.The purple blur racing up the field to track the punt was none other than Cordarrelle Patterson.I put my hand out and just tried to hit the ball, Patterson said.This wasnt the role he or the Vikings envisioned when they packaged four lower picks to trade into the end of the first round of the 2013 draft to select the raw-but-speedy wide receiver out of Tennessee.He excelled at returning kickoffs right away, but that was supposed to be the bonus contribution on top of the dual threat he could provide the offense as a receiver and a runner.Over the last half of his rookie season, thats exactly what he offered.As the new system was rolled out in 2014 under offensive coordinator Norv Turner, Patterson struggled to establish himself as an integral part of it and soon became an afterthought in the game plan.Last season brought more of the same, and the Vikings declined to exercise the fifth-year option on his contract.Facing a crossroad in his fledgling career , Patterson began to prove to the coaches this summer that he was worth a roster spot for more than kickoff returning.What he has really made a commitment to is being consistent, Turner said.Relying on his Christian faith to deal with the frustration of scant playing time, Patterson was similarly grounded by his girlfriend and young daughter.Sometimes your mind can get lost here in football, Patterson said, but they keep my mind going so good, II dont know how to repay them.ddddddddddddNot only was he making an impact on special teams in the game on Monday night, but he was on the field for 36 plays with the offense, 49 percent of the snaps. Sam Bradford targeted him six times, and he caught five passes for 38 yards.We feel like if we can get the ball in his hands, good things will happen, Bradford said. Weve just got to keep finding ways to get him the ball.Coach Mike Zimmers response to a recent question about whether Patterson wouldve bought into the alternative role a year ago was probably not. Clearly, Patterson has taken ownership of his career.Its good for all guys to see, Zimmer said. If you work hard, good things come.Patterson has a few peers who also reinvented roles to extend their careers.Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was the seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft by Oakland after running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, but he topped out at 975 yards receiving in 2011 and spent one season for Indianapolis before settling with Pittsburgh in 2014 after carving out a role on kick coverage. Heyward-Bey still has a niche in the offense, catching a 31-yard touchdown pass last week, but his greatest value is on special teams.Terrelle Pryor, who also started his career with Oakland as a quarterback who was once a prized recruit at Ohio State, was out of the league in 2014 before returning as a wide receiver for Cleveland. This season, he leads the team with 290 yards.Sometimes staying in the league can require such drastic shifts.I dont look at what happened back then, Patterson said. God gave you your eyes in the front of our head to see where youre going, not where youve been.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '