EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Just last season, Minnesota Vikings coaches gave Xavier Rhodes boxing gloves to wear during drills in practice.The idea was having Rhodes better learn how to effectively play cornerback without risking penalties for grabbing at the receiver.Opponents arent winning many rounds with Rhodes these days.Rhodes picked off Carson Palmer twice, including a 100-yard touchdown return that was the longest in team history, and helped lead the Vikings to a 30-24 victory over Arizona on Sunday that stopped their four-game losing streak. The fourth-year player, drafted by the Vikings in the first round out of Florida State with the selection they received from Seattle in the trade for wide receiver Percy Harvin, is tied for fourth in the NFL with four interceptions.Those are huge splash plays that everybody notices, but hes tackling, doing everything right, free safety Harrison Smith said. Hes playing lights out.The performance was prolific enough to trigger an NFL Network interview with Deion Sanders , the Pro Football Hall of Fame member and most famous of the many cornerbacks Florida State has produced. Sanders, who became well known for his flamboyance, teased Rhodes for not adding any flair to the end of his return.Though he plays with plenty of fire, Rhodes isnt much for show. He was too exhausted for a celebration by the time he reached the end zone for the first time since high school, so much so that he requested an oxygen mask on the sideline to help recover.My legs were dead, Rhodes said, and I was just tired.The receivers Rhodes has been covering lately have been worn out, too, from Kelvin Benjamin to Odell Beckham Jr. to DeAndre Hopkins. Palmer threw in his direction nine times, with three completions for a total of 19 yards.This week coach said to play our defense, be aggressive and go out there and tackle. Tight coverage, sack the quarterback, and this week we did all of that, Rhodes said. We accomplished all of our goals.Including, most importantly, victory. The defense didnt escape blame for the losing streak, with one issue an overzealous attempt to produce the kind of momentum-changing plays that Rhodes had on Sunday. The problem is when players chase them, usually out of desperation to boost a struggling team, other issues often arise.Rhodes and Smith, for example, each whiffed in overtime two weeks ago when they converged on Detroit wide receiver Golden Tate after a catch that he took into the end zone to win the game.We are all trying to make plays, Rhodes said. You just need to be disciplined.Thats just as important as aggression for a cornerback in this league, as Zimmer has long reminded his pupils. Zimmer, who coached Sanders for five seasons as the defensive backs coach in Dallas, has developed an affinity for Rhodes since taking the job three years ago.If we would just play a solid, fundamental football game and let the big plays come to us, they do, Zimmer said, adding: Theyre not always going to come, but you just have to do your job first and then the rest will happen.Just like that interception late in the second quarter with the Vikings clinging to a 13-10 lead and the Cardinals at third-and-goal at the 9. Palmer argued that cornerback Captain Munnerlyn held the intended target, John Brown, before Rhodes swooped in from behind.Im a competitive guy and he said he felt like his receiver was held on that play. I didnt think so at all. Im entitled to my space, and my space is on the field. He ran directly into me, so I jammed him up. I didnt grab. I didnt yank. I let him go. Balls in the air, Munnerlyn said. Xavier, I dont know where he came from, but he made the play and took it 100 yards.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Air Force 1 Outlet . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Air Force 1 Alte Bianche Outlet . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/ . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Air Force 1 Alte Comfort Prm Year Of Snake . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Air Force 1 Alte Flax . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. MIAMI -- For the Miami Dolphins, the usual optimism of training camp lasted only until the first scrimmage, when a dismal showing by the offense prompted all kinds of dire commentary about how 2016 was going to be more of the same.Tackle Branden Albert, not one to overreact after nine years in the NFL, suggested waiting a few more weeks before drawing conclusions.I dont know why everybody is getting their panties in a bunch, Albert said. We will see when the time is right.While Albert preaches patience, long-suffering Miami fans are anxious to know whether things will be different under Adam Gase, the teams ninth coach since 2004.Gase won raves for his work with Jay Cutler, Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow, and now hell try to help Ryan Tannehill become a winner.Hes an expert in pushing guys to reach their potential, Tannehill said, and Im excited to have him.Gase has given Tannehill broader flexibility to change plays, and urged the easygoing Texan to assume more of a leadership role as he begins his fifth NFL season. Tannehills resume includes 15,460 yards passing and 87 touchdowns while starting every game, but he has yet to lead Miami to a finish above .500, much less a playoff berth.The biggest thing Gase could to do to help Tannehill is provide him with better protection. Tannehill has been sacked 184 times since 2012, most in the NFL.Here are the other key issues that will help determine whether the Dolphins earn their first playoff berth in eight years:BLOCKING: The offensive line has been the biggest culprit during Miamis postseason drought, but the unit could be much improved thanks to the addition of first-round pick Laremy Tunsil, touted by some as the best player in the draft.The Dolphins novel solution to their blocking woes will likely be to start four left tackles, although Albert will be the only one lining up at that position. The others with experience at left tackle are Tunsil at left guard, veteran newcomer Jermon Bushrod at right guard and JaWuan James at right tackle. Center Mike Pouncey will anchor tthe unit when he returns from a preseason hip injury.dddddddddddd.COMEBACK BIDS: The Dolphins have two worrisome Achilles heels, belonging to running back Arian Foster and defensive end Cameron Wake. The pair of four-time Pro Bowlers are trying to come back from Achilles tendon surgery last year.Newcomer Foster could provide a big boost because the Dolphins have no other established running back. Jay Ajayi began training camp with the No. 1 unit after rushing for 187 yards as a rookie, but was unimpressive during the exhibition season.Wake, who has 70 career sacks, might assume a new, career-extending role as a pass-rush specialist on the Dolphins deep defensive line.DEFENSIVE WORRIES: Wake, newcomer Mario Williams and Ndamukong Suh give Miami a trio of four-time Pro Bowlers in the front four.We have great potential, new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. Those guys have a history of being great pass rushers, but thats on paper. Until we do it, nothing is solid.And the rest of the defense could cause Joseph headaches. Miami swung a trade to acquire middle linebacker Kiko Alonso and cornerback Byron Maxwell, but there were reasons (injury and underperformance) the Eagles let them go. And the Dolphins must count on a rookie, second-round draft pick Xavien Howard, at the other cornerback spot.TOUGH SCHEDULE: Perhaps the toughest early schedule of any team includes games at Seattle and at New England to start the season, so the Dolphins will likely find out quickly how Gase handles losing.The home opener is Sept. 25 against Cleveland, which will showcase the results of a $500 million stadium renovation that includes a flashy canopy and new video boards. All the stadium needs now is a winning team.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steven-wine ' ' '