I have a better feel for the receivers that Im throwing

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Green Bay Packers will be wise to treat Cordarrelle Patterson carefully this weekend.He has had their attention since his very first play against Minnesotas biggest rival.Patterson set an NFL record that can never be topped as a rookie for the Vikings on Oct. 27, 2013, when he caught the opening kickoff at the Metrodome and returned it 109 yards for a touchdown.The Packers promptly removed punter Tim Masthay from kickoff duty, replacing him with kicker Mason Crosby, but Patterson still tacked on a 51-yarder later that night.The Packers went on to win 44-31 and are 4-1-1 against the Vikings in Pattersons career, but he has produced some of his longest runbacks in games against Green Bay. Holding the all-time franchise record with 11 kickoff returns of 50 or more yards, Patterson has tallied five of them while playing the Packers. In six matchups against them, his average on 18 runbacks is 36.7 yards.We just try to get better each and every week and just focus on whatever team were playing that week, Patterson said, dismissing the notion of saving extra energy for facing the Packers.Patterson, whos in the final year of his contract, could benefit from the new rule that places touchbacks at the 25-yard line.Some kickers legs are not as strong as the others. Some of them cant kick it out of the end zone every time, and some of them will mishit it, Patterson said. Thats an opportunity Ive just got to take advantage of and just help my team out.The Vikings host the Packers on Sunday night in the debut of U.S. Bank Stadium, sending the series back indoors. Crosby is still handling kickoffs, ranking eighth in the league in touchbacks since entering the NFL in 2007.Hopefully we get a couple chances, Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said.Patterson produced a 61-yard return in the season opener at Tennessee.He doesnt lack confidence or athletic ability. It was really good for him. It was good for our blockers, Priefer said. We preach staying on the blocks and finishing blocks and doing the little things, because we have such a great returner back there. Our guys really block well for him.The Vikings special teams player under more scrutiny these days is kicker Blair Walsh, who missed one of two extra points and two of six field goals in the 25-16 victory over the Titans last week. He infamously hooked left that 27-yard field goal attempt in January that would have sent the Vikings to the next round of the playoffs, too.Hes our guy, but he has to make those kicks, Priefer said. He was disappointed just as much as we were disappointed that he missed them.All four of Walshs made field goals came in the second half, at least.You want to make the other two and be more consistent for your team, Walsh said, but I have been in the past and I know I will be in the future, so Im not going to let one game get under my skin.---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/DaveCampbellAP Breeland Speaks Super Bowl Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Jordan Lucas Super Bowl Jersey . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/Youth-Derrick-Nnadi-Chiefs-Jersey/ . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. Daniel Sorensen Super Bowl Jersey . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Emmanuel Ogbah Super Bowl Jersey . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Zip. Everyone around Peyton Manning, including the quarterback himself, says he has more of it this year. Hes running a faster offence with Adam Gase in charge. Hes getting the ball into his receivers hands quicker. And his passes, especially according to those red-handed receivers on the other end, definitely have more oomph. As he enters his second season in Denver, Manning is another year removed from the neck problems that plagued him in 2011 and hes much more comfortable in his surroundings, even if he still gets lost driving around town. "We worked out at Duke in March or April and I definitely felt like he had more zip on the ball," receiver Eric Decker said. "I think hes come back stronger." Manning wasnt exactly a 98-pound weakling in 2012. He did, after all, throw for 4,600 yards and 37 touchdowns to go with just 11 interceptions, and he was well on his way to a fifth MVP award before Adrian Peterson kicked it into high gear over the final month of the season. But his passes leave a little bit more sting this spring. "Last year -- weve talked about it a lot -- but he was going through a lot," tight end Jacob Tamme said. "Not only a new team, but just with his body and his rehab. Hes still working on that. But you can tell he feels a little bit better." The Broncos have added bulk to their line in 335-pound guard Louis Vasquez and beef to their backfield in 217-pound bruiser Montee Ball at running back. But Manning, too, is hardier than he was a year ago when he was shaking off the rust from missing his final season in Indianapolis with a neck problem that weakened his throwing arm. Manning is known as a monster in the weight room, and he took that attitude into his rehab last year and that approach into his off-season this year. "With the program that weve got, its unbelievable the amount of muscle mass and endurance that guys have and the cut-down of injuries that we had last year," Decker said. "I think thats a compliment to the strength and conditioning staff here and I think Peyton is one of those that took advantage of it and really got himself in good shape and is stronger and healthier this year." Its been noticeable on the football field during the teams 10 days of OTAs. "He appears to be way more comfortable," coach John Fox said. "His arm appears to be a little stronger, more zip. That could be just understanding his receivers better and spitting the ball out quicker. So, I think just overall familiarity with what were doing." Mannings top target last seasson was Demaryius Thomas, who caught 94 passes for 1,434 yards -- while they were still learning about each other.dddddddddddd Thomas said he has more of a rapport with his quarterback this year. "Its sky-high right now," Thomas said. "I know what he wants. I know where to be on the field. I feel like the more were on the field, the better I get." Manning is reticent when it comes to talking about his health and is loath to compare one year to another. Still, he acknowledged this week that he is throwing the ball harder than he was this time a year ago. "I think that Ive made some progress definitely since last year at this time. I think also some since last season," he said. "I think oftentimes when you know more about the receiver that youre throwing to, you have more repetitions with each guy, I think that usually allows for hopefully more accuracy and more confident throws, if you will." Manning feels like himself again. "Well, certainly the second year, even though we have some changes in our offence, I have a better feel for the receivers that Im throwing to, of the offence," he said. Wes Welker has been thrown into the mix, Gase was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive co-ordinator and has installed a more up-tempo attitude and Greg Knapp came on board as Mannings new position coach. "So, we are learning a new offence but at the same time, there is enough familiarity from last year that does make every player feel more confident," Manning said. "And, when you know what youre doing, you play faster. Receivers can run faster routes, I think quarterbacks and running backs have a better idea of what theyre doing and you can go out there and play without having to think as much. "Any time you can take the thinking out of football, thats a good thing. Thatd be true for me and for a lot of players this year in really the second year of kind of this new system." That comfort level shouldnt be confused with complacency, though. Hes as driven as ever, especially after losing to Baltimore in January after entering the playoffs as the AFCs top seed. "Comfort is a word he doesnt like and that we dont like to use a lot around here because we dont want to be complacent, we dont want to be feeling good about ourselves," Tamme said. "We havent really done anything. And were working right now to see what we can do this year. I think theres a good comfort as far as knowing everybody and being around the guys. But theres also that hunger and that edge thats always there." ' ' '