EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Long-time center John Sullivan was in the first wave of cuts by the Minnesota Vikings, during a devastating day marked by a likely season-ending left knee injury for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater .Sullivans eight-year tenure with the team ended with his release on Tuesday after 12-year veteran Joe Berger was declared the winner of the starting job and the Vikings werent able to make a trade work for a player who missed last season because of a back injury.It was tough, but were always going to do whats in the best interest of the football team, coach Mike Zimmer said.Sullivan, a sixth-round draft pick out of Notre Dame in 2008, succeeded six-time Pro Bowl pick Matt Birk at center the following year. Hes fourth all-time among Vikings centers with 93 regular season starts.Our entire organization appreciates everything that John Sullivan has done for this franchise, general manager Rick Spielman said. Sullivan led our team, not only with how he played the game, but also with how he handled himself in our community. We wish John Sullivan and his family nothing but the best.Berger, a valuable, versatile player who has also started games at guard since joining the Vikings in 2011, proved to be a solid replacement in 2015 after Sullivan went down during training camp. They rotated regularly this summer, each taking turns with the first team.We graded them and everything, Zimmer said. We thought that Berger was better.With Bridgewater likely out, Berger will be working with a new starting quarterback. Shaun Hill will step in as the starter for now, but another quarterback is almost certain to be acquired over the next week.Meeting the NFL deadline for reducing rosters to 75 players on Tuesday, the Vikings also waived offensive tackle Austin Shepherd, defensive end Theiren Cockran, offensive tackle Sean Hickey, tight end Brian Leonhardt, defensive tackle Claudell Louis, wide receiver Marken Michel, linebacker Terrance Plummer, wide receiver Terrell Sinkfield, quarterback Brad Sorensen and wide receiver Troy Stoudermire.Safety Antone Exum and defensive tackle Scott Crichton were waived with an injured designation. Offensive lineman Mike Harris, the starter last year at right guard, was placed on the non-football illness reserve list. He has not practiced since training camp began because of an undisclosed condition.Cockran and Stoudermire are former University of Minnesota standouts. Sinkfield played in high school in the state (Hopkins), and Leonhardt played in high school (Spring Lake Park) and college (Bemidji State) in Minnesota. Shepherd was a seventh-round draft pick in 2015. Crichton was drafted in the third round as a defensive end in 2014.---AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell contributed to this report.---Online:AP NFL website: http: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFLNike Air Max 270 Sale . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nike Air Max 270 From China . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. https://www.cheapnikeairmax270china.us/ . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Wholesale Nike Air Max 270 . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Cheap Nike Air Max 270 . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have signed general manager Ron Francis to a contract extension through the 2018-19 season, the team announced Tuesday.Financial terms were not disclosed.I appreciate the fact that (owner Peter Karmanos Jr.) is willing to give me the extension, Francis said. Were going in the right direction, so its exciting to help continue that.Francis, 53, is a Hall of Fame player beginning his 11th season in a management role with the Hurricanes and his third since taking over for Jim Rutherford as general manager. Hes led the youth movement that helped the Hurricanes improve 15 points in the standings last season, trading captain and franchise face Eric Staal while reshaping the team around a core of younger players.Ron has rebuilt our organization the right way, stocking our team and system with young players who will help this franchise compete for the Stanley Cup year in and year out, owner Peter Karmanos Jr. said. Im thrilled that he will continue to see the job through. The future is very bright for the Hurricanes in Carolina.With the move, the Hurricanes have locked up two key management figures this summer. In July, they signed coach Bill Peters to an extension, also through 2018-19.ddddddddddddFrancis said after he finished Peters extension, Karmanos approached him and said now I want to take care of you.He sat down and said, `This is what Id like to do, Francis said. And I said, `OK, Pete, thats fair. It was just a matter of getting things signed.Francis also said forward Raffi Torres will try out for the team when camp begins in September.Torres hasnt played a regular-season game in the NHL since 2013-14, and last October was suspended for 41 games -- the longest suspension in NHL history for a hit on another player -- and fined $440,000 for his illegal check on Anaheims Jakob Silfverberg during a preseason game.You all know the way I played the game -- I dont condone those kinds of hits, and I think they were dealt with the right way, Francis said. Hes served his time, hes forfeited his money and hopefully hes in a different place. ... Its not a contract. Its a tryout. He has to earn a contract. He has to earn a spot in our lineup. ' ' '