er. I think his ID and his Social Security number would say hes still Revis.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has made his philosophy well known by now: construct the foundation through the draft and use free agency to supplement the core of the roster. Kyrie Irving Nets Jersey . Coming off of a five-win season and with so many holes to fill, Spielman needed to be a little more aggressive on the open market to take some of the pressure the looming draft. Spielman capped a busy first week of free agency by signing receiver Jerome Simpson and cornerback Derek Cox to one-year deals on Friday, saying he needed to move quickly to shore up the defence and give them some freedom for the May draft. The Vikings spent big money to keep defensive end Everson Griffen and sign defensive tackle Linval Joseph to replace Jared Allen and Kevin Williams. They also worked hard to keep quarterback Matt Cassel and get cornerback Captain Munnerlyn to help beef up the struggling defensive backfield, while sprinkling in Simpson, Cox and Fred Evans on one-year deals for depth. "By doing that, it sure helps you head into the draft not to get boxed in; well, youve got to take this position," Spielman said on Friday. "Now we have that flexibility to see how the draft is going to fall -- and I do believe this is a very deep draft and the potential of moving up or down in the draft to accumulate picks -- youre still going to be able to add a lot of youth and a lot of young talent that can come in and help our ball club." The Vikings pick No. 8 overall in the draft, which starts May 8. Addressing many of their most pressing needs in free agency frees Spielman to get creative. With Cassel, he doesnt have to draft a quarterback early. With Joseph there to occupy double teams, he doesnt have to get a run stuffer to play next to last years first-round pick, Sharrif Floyd. With Munnerlyn on one corner opposite Xavier Rhodes, and Cox added to a group that also includes Marcus Sherels and Josh Robinson, he doesnt have to draft a cornerback right away. The aggressiveness also gives a new coaching staff that includes head coach Mike Zimmer, offensive co-ordinator Norv Turner and defensive co-ordinator George Edwards, a solid veteran base with which to work. "I think by the activity that weve done so far, its by no means the end of what were going to do," Spielman said. "Well continue to monitor the market and work through the next couple weeks. But it gives us the flexibility that well need heading into the draft, where you dont have to hone and say you have to take this position. Again, with the opportunity as we develop our draft board to take the best available player." Simpson bounced back from an injury-plagued first season in Minnesota in 2012 with a solid season last year. He caught 48 passes for a career-high 726 yards in 2013 and expressed a desire to return to the Vikings when the season closed. Spielman said the Vikings like the deep threat Simpson brings to the table alongside fellow receivers Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson. But Simpson could face discipline from the league for a drunken driving arrest when next season opens. "He does have explosive speed down the field and does give us a vertical threat, but we felt confident enough and comfortable enough after the new coaching staff had met with him and understand the whole circumstance behind that last arrest that we re-signed him back to a one-year deal," Spielman said. Spielman said the Vikings were in talks to bring back left guard Charlie Johnson and were not closing the door on a possible return for Williams, the stalwart defensive tackle who has anchored Minnesotas line since 2003. The Vikings hosted defensive tackle Henry Melton for a visit, but he left on Thursday without a deal. "Theres no decision thats been made," Spielman said of Williams. "I told him wed leave it open. But we were trying to address some other needs that we definitely wanted to get done first." Joe Harris Jersey . -- Jerry Rice Jr. Caris LeVert Jersey . The Jays responded to the three-spot Detroit placed on Casey Janssen the evening before with an attack on the Tigers Achilles Heel, its bullpen, tying the game in the ninth and winning the game in the 10th. The result absolved Marcus Stroman, brilliant once again, of a tough luck loss while at the same time robbing Max Scherzer, brilliant once again, of a deserved win. https://www.netsrookiesshop.com/Drazen-Petrovic-City-Edition-Jersey/ . On the day after Billy Horschel posted his 12th straight round in the 60s, won his second straight tournament against a world-class field and picked up an additional $10 million bonus as the FedEx Cup champion, Watson was kicking back in his seat at a Kansas City Royals game.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Darrelle Revis looked straight ahead and spotted the reporter standing behind his right shoulder.I can see him right now without looking at him, New Englands star cornerback said, smiling at writers and cameras at his locker. Its a God-given talent.Baltimore wide receiver Steve Smith will try to evade that amazing vision — forward, backward or sideways — when the Ravens visit the Patriots in a divisional playoff game Saturday.But if Revis sees receivers, hes among the best at keeping them from catching passes.Hes a great corner, Smith said. I dont think you get a one-year deal for, I think, $10 million for being a slouch.Revis actually is making $12 million this season, a wise investment after he was released by Tampa Bay in March. Hes due another $20 million next season, an amount the Patriots almost certainly wont pay, paving the way for possible free agency.But Revis is setting his sights on the Ravens, hoping to reach his third AFC championship game after making back-to-back appearances with the New York Jets in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.Top-seeded New England (12-4) had a first-round bye while sixth-seeded Baltimore (11-6) beat Pittsburgh 30-17 in a wild-card game last Saturday.Revis has made a career of shutting down top receivers by devoting himself to perfecting his technique, studying film, learning from experience and using trickery.Its a chess game out there, said Revis, a Pro Bowler in six of his eight seasons. Youve got to bait the receiver. Sometimes youve got to bait the quarterback.Make them think youre doing one thing, then do something else.Most importantly, Revis has exceptional ability to blanket receivers, seeming to know the route and mirroring it.I think that has something to do with him being a really good basketball player in high school, said Brandon Browner, another outstanding cornerback in his first season with the Patriots. What we do at cornerback is the same thing a point guards doing. He shadows them step by step.So closely, in fact, that some players are reluctant to throw to the receiver Revis is guarding.Not Joe Flacco.The playoff-tested quarterback — 13 touchdown passes and no iinterceptions in the Ravens current five-game playoff winning streak — doesnt plan to ignore whomever Revis covers. Spencer Dinwiddie Jersey. ou allow them to dictate something by who they match him on, Flacco said. When weve played against some guys and ... tried to avoid him or done things game plan-wise to get matchups in other places, it usually just takes your attention away from what you should be doing.Besides, the Ravens are the best at picking up big chunks of yardage through the air even when a receiver doesnt make a catch.They led the NFL by drawing 14 defensive pass interference penalties that were enforced this season with six of those drives ending in touchdowns and four in field goals, according to STATS. Torrey Smith led the league with 10 of those calls.Weve got techniques that weve been working on to avoid those, said Revis, who hasnt been penalized for pass interference this season. We recognize these things and we see them on film.A completion and pass interference require the receiver to do the same thing: Get in position to make the catch.You cant really go in there and say, Hey, were going to try to get the pass interference call, Flacco said. Those usually happen by our receivers going out there and playing well and getting themselves in positions to make big plays.Revis probably will be matched up against Steve Smith, a 14-year veteran.Does he age? an amused Revis said. His age is what it is on paper, but hes still electrifying.Is Revis still Revis? Steve Smith said to laughter. I think his ID and his Social Security number would say hes still Revis.He led the Ravens with 79 catches and 1,065 yards receiving then added five for 101 yards in the wild-card win over the Steelers.Revis leads the NFL with 123 passes defenced since his rookie year with the Jets in 2007 and led the Patriots with 14 this season.Hes looking to add to that on Saturday.You have to stay focused. You have to continue to stay patient, Revis said. I just work on technique and thats whats been keeping me around.___AP Sports Writer David Ginsburg contributed to this story.___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '