Poor positional play by Sevilla defenders in the 48th was redeemed

MINNEAPOLIS - If Adrian Peterson is allowed to return to the Minnesota Vikings this season, the reunion probably wont happen swiftly.The NFL formally began a review of the star running backs case for potential punishment under the leagues personal conduct policy, informing Peterson on Thursday that his status on paid leave from the Vikings will not change until completion of the process.The NFL has requested that Peterson submit relevant information regarding his case and meet with designated experts who will make recommendations for the commissioners consideration, spokesman Brian McCarthy said. Peterson also will have the opportunity to have a hearing prior to the issuance of any discipline.Peterson pleaded no contest in Texas on Tuesday to misdemeanour reckless assault, down from a felony charge of child abuse for disciplining his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch. He received whats essentially two years of probation, plus a $4,000 fine and requirement to complete parenting classes and 80 hours of community service.Adrian wants to get on with his life and have his relationship with his son and get back to playing football, Petersons attorney, Rusty Hardin, said after the plea agreement was reached to avoid a trial or any jail time for the 29-year-old.Just how fast Peterson gets back to playing football is a complicated and potentially contentious matter.A few hours after the NFL released its update, the NFL Players Association issued a statement demanding efficiency and consistency. Those traits have often been missing from the disciplinary process.Our union worked with the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings and Adrians representatives on a mutual agreement pending the adjudication of his legal case. Now that his legal matter is resolved, we believe it is Adrians right to be treated in a manner that is consistent with similar cases under our collective bargaining agreement. We will pursue any and all remedies if those rights are breached, the NFLPA said.The Vikings (4-5) are in their bye week, scheduled to reconvene for practice Monday. They play next at Chicago on Nov. 16.With only seven games left on the schedule, the timeline is tight for a return. Commissioner Roger Goodell was excoriated for his initial leniency in the caught-on-camera knockout punch Baltimore running back Ray Rice threw at his now-wife. The league boss will be under intense scrutiny for how he handles any punishment for Peterson.Weeks after handing Rice a two-game suspension, Goodell announced in August he was toughening the leagues policy on domestic violence that now calls for a six-game suspension without pay for a first domestic violence offence.Thats not a cut-and-dry guideline in this case with Peterson, though, because he has maintained he intended no harm in seeking to discipline his son the way he was as a child growing up in Texas. His plea was not an admission of guilt, and the felony was reduced to a misdemeanour.On the other hand, theres the firestorm to consider when the Vikings first declared on Sept. 15 that Peterson, after sitting out the home opener the day before, would remain with the team to give him his due process in the legal system.The boy suffered cuts, marks and bruising to his thighs, back and one of his testicles, according to court records, and backlash from the public was strong. One major Vikings sponsor suspended its partnership, other corporations expressed concerns to the team and the league, and Peterson was dropped as an endorser of several brands.The Vikings then reversed course about 36 hours later, announcing that Goodell agreed to issue his special roster exemption. Peterson continued to draw his weekly in-season salary of more than $690,000, and the team was sheltered from the proverbial pitchforks that came out after their initial decision.Petersons admission that he smoked marijuana prior to an October court appearance is unlikely to weigh into the discipline. The league has a separate policy on substance abuse, which was revised in September and does not call for a four-game suspension until a fourth offence. Prior violations put a player in referral to the program, followed by a two-game fine and a four-game fine.The Vikings have been quiet since Petersons plea agreement, stating only that they will speak about his situation at the appropriate time.Also on Thursday, Nike confirmed it has severed its relationship with Peterson. His contract with the shoe giant had been suspended in September.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Wholesale Shoes Cheap .C. -- Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross is saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons. Wholesale Fashion Shoes . Louis Blues and back into top spot of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings. The Sharks had been ranked No. http://www.wholesaleshoesfashion.com/ . Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabres came to an agreement on a big trade that may only offer incremental improvement to the Blues in their quest for a Stanley Cup. Wholesale Shoes China Free Shipping . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Wholesale Shoes China . The league-leading New York Rangers outhit and outmuscled the Maple Leafs during a 3-0 victory on Saturday. Backup goalie Martin Biron stopped all 20 shots he faced to complete a nice workmanlike effort by the visitors.TURIN, Italy -- Penalty specialists Sevilla beat Benfica 4-2 in a shootout to win the Europa League after a 0-0 draw in the final on Wednesday, claiming another international title for Spanish football. Sevilla goalkeeper Beto saved two spot kicks from Benfica forwards Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo who failed to deceive with stutter-step approaches to the ball. Substitute Kevin Gameiro stepped up to score the decisive kick as the drama played out at the end housing Sevilla fans who have seen this story before. Sevilla had ousted city rival Real Betis on penalties in the last-16 round, and also won this competition in 2007 in a shootout. The Portuguese champion had dominated regulation time yet failed to score, and extended its streak of losing European finals to eight matches over 52 years. "The best team did not win," Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said. "Benfica players should be congratulated," Jesus said. "There is nothing I can criticize." Sevilla had seemed destined to win a competition it entered only after UEFA denied two Spanish clubs places because of financial problems. It had also been seconds from elimination in the semifinals against another Spanish team, Valencia. "We know how to suffer and we know how to fight. I think the result was fair," said Sevilla coach Unai Emery. "Its a very special evening." Sevilla, which won the competition for the third time in nine seasons, ensured Spain will sweep the season-ending European club competitions, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meeting in the Champions League final on May 24. Next month Spain will defend its World Cup crown in Brazil and seek to clinch a record fourth straight major international trophy after winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012. Benfica, however, has not won a continental trophy since its greatest player, Eusebio, inspired two straight European Cup titles in 1961 and 62. Four months after Eusebio died aged 71, the Lisbon club missed another chance to end the unwanted record. Benfica returned to the scene of its semifinnals triumph against Juventus and the match kicked off with patches of empty sets in the Italian champions stadium.dddddddddddd Three early opportunities for Sevilla broke down for Carlos Baccas lack of finishing. The Colombia forward failed to shoot when collecting a pass across the goalmouth, drifted offside in a fast break started by captain Ivan Rakitic, and then could not connect with Rakitics angled low cross. A testy spell midway through the half lacked creativity, and even Rakitics shot from the centre circle drifted well wide of goal. Benfica ended the half strongly, aided by loose play in the heart of Sevillas defence. Sevilla relied on Beto for a double save, swatting away Maxi Pereiras looping shot from close range and then parrying Rodrigos low drive. Benfica claimed a penalty when Nicolas Gaitan fell under pressure from defender Federico Fazio who poked the ball barely wide of his own goal. Poor positional play by Sevilla defenders in the 48th was redeemed by three crucial blocks in the goalmouth as Lima, twice, and Rodrigo fired shots from 10 metres (yards). German referee Felix Brych rejected repeated Benfica penalty claims, with one clean tackle on Lima bringing a shower of flag sticks thrown by Portuguese fans behind Sevillas goal. At the other end, former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes twice tested Jan Oblak around the hour mark with rising shots straight at the Benfica keeper. Sevilla needed another saving tackle in the 72th, when Coke denied Lima as the Brazilian shaped to connect with Maxi Pereiras lateral pass. Benfica again finished the half on top, and Beto leaped to tip over Limas shot in the 84th. When Beto then lost a deep cross, defender Ezequiel Garay headed over an empty Sevilla goal as the scoring chances continued to go begging. Bacca could have won it for Sevilla when breaking clear in the 101st minute but his rising shot flashed just wide. But Bacca, like his teammates, made no such mistake in the shootout - as Sevilla repeated its success on spotkicks in the 2007 UEFA Cup final against Espanyol. ' ' '