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07	Januar 2019

More than four months have passed for Stefon Diggs since

his yes-that-really-happened touchdown reception for Minnesota on the desperate last play from scrimmage gave the Vikings a postseason victory for the ages over New Orleans.He still hears about the play a couple of times per week.As nice as the accolades can be Demar Dotson Jersey , they won't win the Vikings any games this year."I'm kind of over it at this point. It's definitely a blessing, but we've got a brand new season to worry about, a lot of exciting things taking place right now, so I'm going to focus on that," Diggs said. "It's definitely an old smile right now."After a career-high eight touchdowns in 2017 while forming one of the NFL's best wide receiver duos with Adam Thielen, Diggs has entered the final year of his rookie contract, bound for a big raise.With Kirk Cousins now in place, he's working with his fourth primary starting quarterback in as many seasons in the league. John DeFilippo also represents his third offensive coordinator.Diggs is not one to be ruffled, though, not with the hurdles he has cleared over his career and the setbacks he's faced in life since his dad died 10 years ago."For me, it's just the same old building process, getting back going, getting the trust of your quarterback. That excites me, having a new challenge," said Diggs, who went to the Atlanta area with Thielen earlier this spring to hang out with and catch passes from Cousins.Those receiver-quarterback relationships are as important as any on the roster."As far as being our general and the guy that's going to lead us, I put 100 percent faith in him," Diggs said.Diggs is not the only integral Vikings player with an expiring deal, joining linebacker Anthony Barr and defensive end Danielle Hunter in the about-to-get-paid-a-lot club with no guarantee all three of them will fit under the salary cap.The price for Diggs has markedly increased since the "Minneapolis Miracle " game not only because of the clutch catch.Mike Evans (Tampa Bay), Sammy Watkins (Kansas City) and Jarvis Landry (Cleveland) have all signed new contracts since March with annual average values of more than $15 million. Diggs has been watching, naturally, with several public praises of his peers . Reading between the tweets? Diggs is clearly confident he'll be in their situation soon."I like to congratulate guys every chance I get," Diggs said. "So for my particular situation, I let my resume speak for itself. It'll figure itself out."If an extension doesn't get done in 2018 and he becomes a free agent Chris Conte Jersey , he could still sign with the Vikings, of course. Exploring the market doesn't sound like a goal of his, however."I love playing for the Vikings. I started here. I've had all my time here. I love my teammates. I love my staff. There's no place I'd rather be," he said.Barr was the only notable player missing on Wednesday from practice. Coach Mike Zimmer said Barr told him he wouldn't attend, but Zimmer didn't divulge a reason. Barr's absence could be driven by a form of soft protest about the lack of a new deal or self-preservation from injury. These organized team activities in late May and early June are not required. Only the minicamp in mid-June is contractually mandatory.One player whose presence was more pertinent than anyone's absence was kicker Kai Forbath, who was startled last month when the Vikings drafted Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson in the fifth round. Such moves rarely end well for the incumbent."I fortunately have never lost a competition, and I'm not shying away from this one just because they drafted him," Forbath said. "As long as I make my kicks, everything should take care of itself." Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't the only reason the surprising Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to their fastest start in eight years.Speedy receiver DeSean Jackson is making a difference, too, finally beginning to deliver what the team has been expecting since signing him in free agency before last season.Fitzpatrick has thrown for 819 yards and eight touchdowns in victories over New Orleans and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia the past two weeks. Jackson has a pair of 100-yard games receiving and three TDs 鈥?two of them on plays of 50-plus yards."It's unbelievable. He's playing out of this world right now," said Jackson, who scored on a 75-yard reception of the first play of scrimmage in Sunday's 27-21 win over the Eagles."He's in his prime," the 31-year-old receiver added of the 35-year-old quarterback who's filling in for suspended starter Jameis Winston. "Us old guys, we are in our prime. He's playing like he's 28 and I'm playing like I'm 24. So as long as we keep doing that, it's going to be a good year."Jackson, coming off a disappointing debut with the Bucs in 2017, has nine catches for 275 yards and three TDs the past two weeks after having one of his least productive seasons with 50 receptions for 668 yards and three TDs in 14 games a year ago.He followed a five-catch, 146-yard, two-TD performance against the Saints with a four-catch, 129-yard performance against the Eagles.And with TDs of 58 and 75 yards this season, he's eased ahead of Hall of Famers Lance Alworth and Terrell Owens for the third-most TD receptions of 50-plus yards behind Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (36) and Randy Moss (29).Jackson, who spent six seasons with the Eagles and three with the Washington Redskins before signing a three-year, $33.5 million contract to join the Bucs Ryan Smith Jersey , has 23 career TDs of 60 or more yards 鈥?tied with Rice for most in league history."I talked about this since I was younger, it's being legendary and leaving something for the league to understand that I made my mark, man," Jackson said. "I still have a lot of ball left in me. To tie Jerry Rice's records is very emotional for me."When Tampa Bay signed Jackson in March 2017, the Bucs were coming off a 9-7 finish the season before and envisioned the speedy wideout adding a much-needed element to their offense: a deep threat not only capable of stretching defenses, but someone able to turn short completions into big gainers."For me, it's unbelievable to have a guy like DeSean out there running around," Fitzpatrick said. "Loft the ball up and he can go get it and turn it into a 75-yard touchdown. He's a special player, and he showed that again."Through two games, Fitzpatrick has four completions of 50-plus yards, all for touchdowns. In addition to teaming with Jackson on the first play against Philadelphia, the 14-year veteran connected with tight end O.J. Howard on a 75-yard catch-and-run play against the Eagles.Meanwhile, four-time 1,000-yard receiver Mike Evans and second-year pro Chris Godwin each have two TD receptions."We have good skill guys. ... Chris Godwin is an emerging star. O.J. Howard is an emerging star. DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans (are) proven, big-time players," coach Dirk Koetter said. "If you really think about it, we've still got Cam Brate and Adam Humphries, who just aren't getting very many chances right now."Next up is a Monday night matchup against Pittsburgh at home, with a chance to begin a season with three consecutive wins for the first time since 2005."You can't peak too early. We have a lot of football left," Jackson said."We have a big one coming up with Big Ben (Roethlisberger) and AB (Antonio Brown) coming to town," the receiver added. "I grew-up a Steeler fan, so I'm going to be amped up for that game too."