MINNEAPOLIS -- Matt Cassel was one day away from hitting the free agent market and fielding offers from other suitors. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Cyber Monday Jerseys . Then the Minnesota Vikings swooped in at the last minute. The Vikings agreed to terms with Cassel on Friday on a deal that will keep him in Minnesota, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. Terms of the deal, which was first reported by NFL Network, were not immediately available. The move helps solidify the Vikings shaky quarterback situation. The team used a musical chairs approach to the position last season, rotating Christian Ponder and Cassel, and even starting Josh Freeman for one game during a miserable 5-10-1 season. Cassel was by far the most effective of the three, going 3-3 in his six starts and being on the field at the end of all five of the teams victories. He completed 60.2 per cent of his passes for 1,807 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions after signing as a free agent from the Kansas City Chiefs. But he opted out of the final year of his two-year deal in February, and there was concern Cassel would choose to move to another team after he was forced to split time with the ineffective Ponder. New head coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday he "would love to have Matt Cassel back if Matt Cassel wants to be back." But the coach was also bracing for the likelihood Cassel would at least test free agency before giving the Vikings an answer. "Hes got a bunch of pretty girls looking at him right now," Zimmer said then. "And he wants to explore and see whats best for him. I dont blame any of these guys. In free agency, I think thats why they have the rules is that they get a chance to go see what their markets worth. Then if they find a better situation than what they think is here, then I think thats everywhere." It appears Cassel knew where he wanted to be all along. Cassels familiarity with the teams offensive players -- Adrian Peterson, Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Rudolph among them -- and the way the team responded to Cassels leadership on the field were among the big reasons the Vikings wanted him back. The agreement would appear to make Cassel the front-runner to be the starter when the 2014 season opens with new offensive co-ordinator Norv Turner calling the plays. Ponder is still on the roster, but his performance over his first three seasons has inspired little confidence among his teammates. The Vikings have the eighth overall pick in the upcoming draft, and there remains a strong possibility they will select someone to be the teams quarterback of the future. But keeping Cassel in the fold will reduce the pressure on the team to start a rookie. "It all depends, but what I want to do is play the best guy," Zimmer said. "I dont care if hes a rookie, if hes a veteran, if hes a returner. It doesnt matter to me who the quarterback is if he can win games, and thats really what its about, winning football games and figuring out how to do that." Jeff Keppinger Cyber Monday Jersey . That four-game skid in early January seems as if its a long time ago. Kessel scored twice, James van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist and the Maple Leafs beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Tuesday night for their sixth straight win. Bo Jackson Black Friday Jersey . Stamkos suffered a broken leg 10 weeks ago and continues to rehab in hopes of returning to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup before the Olympic break. As a result of the positive feedback from the X-ray, Stamkos will continue to ramp up both on- and off-ice workouts. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Los Angeles Angels powered their way to a victory. Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton homered to help the Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Friday night Trout hit his 25th homer of the season, a two-run shot off Jeremy Hellickson (0-1) during a three-run first that put the Angels up 3-0. "Were getting our timing back," Trout said. "A good win tonight for sure." Los Angeles went ahead 4-1 on Hamiltons solo homer in the third. The slugger was hit by Jeff Beliveaus pitch in the seventh inning and has a bruised left middle finger. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Hamiltons finger was a little sore and isnt sure if he will play Saturday. After Tampa Bay loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Huston Street, the closer got his fifth save since being acquired from San Diego on July 18 by striking out Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist, and getting Matt Joyce on a pop fly. Zobrist had a potential extra-base hit go foul down the right field line. "You know its a matter of time before he starts making pitches," Scioscia said. "Thats a tough group to go through. He got it done." This was the Rays first game since trading ace David Price to Detroit as part of a three-team deal Thursday. Tampa Bay received Tigers left-hander Drew Smyly and two minor leaguers. "There are no moral victories," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "Thats a game we should not have permitted to get away." Albert Pujols tied Chipper Jones for 25th place on the career list with his 549th double in the first and scored on Erick Aybars single. Matt Shoemaker (9-3) allowed three runs and eight hits over five innings. Tampa Bay got within 4-3 in the fifth on Evan Longorias infield single. Keith Hernandez Cyber Monday Jersey. A second run scored on a throwing error by third baseman David Freese. Longoria was thrown out attempting to advance to second after colliding with first base umpire Larry Vanover. The Angels took a 5-3 lead on a sixth-inning run-scoring double by Chris Iannetta. Hellickson gave up four runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander, coming back from right elbow surgery in January, has gone less than five innings in all three of his starts this season. Tampa Bays Cole Figueroa hit a second-inning sacrifice fly. TRAINERS ROOM Angels: Tyler Skaggs was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left forearm strain. Scioscia says the left-hander might miss "a little bit of time." Rays: Right fielder Wil Myers, out since May 31 with a broken right wrist, took batting practice in an indoor cage for the first time. Catcher Ryan Hanigan, out with a strained left oblique, will join Single-A Charlotte on Saturday. ON DECK Angels: Left-hander C.J. Wilson (8-6) is scheduled to return from the disabled list to start Saturday night. He went on the DL July 10 with a sprained right ankle Rays: Right-hander Chris Archer (8-6) is looking Saturday night to extend a stretch of going six or more innings in 10 of 12 starts. LATE NIGHT The Angels arrived at their hotel just after 4 a.m. following a 1-0, 13-inning win Thursday night at Baltimore that took 4:33. Fridays game lasted 3:39. GUMBY MISSES OUT The Rays are giving away a Maddon "Mr. Potato Head" on Saturday. Maddon is hopeful that there will be another promotion featuring his favourite character "Gumby" in the future. LAST WORD "Everybody realizes its part of the gig. People get traded. Were definitely going to miss him." Joyce on the Price trade. ' ' '
