MINNEAPOLIS -- Like an incomplete pass bouncing untouched on the turf, Bernard Berrians time in Minnesota fell well short of the hopes and expectations he raised following a strong first season with the Vikings. Berrian was waived Tuesday, halfway into his fourth year with the team. He met with coach Leslie Frazier on Monday about his status and had another talk scheduled for Tuesday, following his second healthy scratch in three games. Frazier declined to specify on Sunday after losing to Green Bay why he left Berrian on the inactive list again, but the coach hinted this move was coming. Berrian watched the Oct. 9 game against Arizona on the sideline in street clothes, too, and Frazier said that was for a disciplinary reason, reportedly because he missed two team meetings. The coach said afterward he didnt "foresee any future problems" and that Berrian remained a significant part of the teams offensive plans, but the vote of confidence was conspicuously missing the last two days when Frazier gave vague answers to questions from reporters about Berrians status. Between those benchings, Berrian had his most productive game of the season, with five receptions for 54 yards. But even that night at Chicago, he dropped a crucial third-down pass while running wide open on a slant route, failing to give quarterback Donovan McNabb and the struggling offence an important early spark. Berrian is a vested veteran, so the Vikings must pay him all of his US$1.9 million salary unless another team claims him. He took a pay cut to stay this year, down from $3.9 million, and had the last two seasons of his original contract lopped off. Berrian signed for $16 million guaranteed and made several million more than that after leaving the Bears to join the NFC North rival Vikings in 2008. Missing the deep threat they could rely on for many years with Randy Moss, the Vikings counted on Berrian to stretch the field with his elite speed and diversify their game plans to keep defences from piling up to stop running back Adrian Peterson. But after collecting eight touchdowns, including one punt return for a score, and 964 yards receiving that first season, Berrian went downhill quickly. He was hampered by quadriceps, groin and hamstring injuries. He didnt connect with Brett Favre in 2009 or 2010, and this year was more of the same with McNabb. During interviews with the media, Berrian was often defensive, uncomfortable and terse. He claimed on Monday he believes hes the same player he was in 2008 and that hes faster now than he was then. But the 30-year-old Berrian hasnt scored a touchdown in a regular season or playoff game since Nov. 22, 2009, and only twice in the last two years has he surpassed 30 yards in a game. Devin Aromashodu and Michael Jenkins have assumed Berrians role, running deep routes. Rookie wide receiver Stephen Burton was elevated from the practice squad to take Berrians place on the active roster. Also, defensive end Cedric McKinley was released from the practice squad, leaving two open spots there. Tracy Mcgrady Jersey . Messier, who had been a special assistant to Rangers general manager Glen Sather, announced Thursday in a statement that he is resigning in order to "expand the game of hockey in the New York area by developing the Kingsbridge National Ice Center. Fred VanVleet Raptors Jersey .40 metres at the Drake Relays. Drouin, from Corunna, Ont., bested his own record of 2.38 metres set in Aug. https://www.raptorsrookiesshop.com/Tracy...Edition-Jersey/ Stanley Johnson Raptors Jersey . The Reds will host the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight in the opener of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park, and the debut matchup will feature a pair of pitchers whose recent resumes have included a fair number of bases-clearing hits. C.J. Miles Jersey . Better still, its in the same team and there are 13 races left for it to develop.LOS ANGELES - As DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors long-time iron man, lay sprawled out on the baseline, his leg twitching in obvious pain, each one of his concerned teammates stood around him holding their collective breath. Exceeding all expectations to begin the season, this tight-knit group has become known for their solidarity, both on and off the floor. Now, with their leading scorer sidelined indefinitely, theyll need it more than ever. After exiting Fridays loss to Dallas early in the second half with a groin injury, the Raptors announced that DeRozan sustained a torn left adductor longus tendon, keeping him out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. DeRozan was driving to his right, nearly four minutes into the third quarter, when he slipped and fell to the floor. With the assistance of a trainer, he was eventually helped up and to the locker room, where he remained for the duration of the contest, one the Raptors would eventually lose after a late-game rally fell short. There is no immediate timetable for his return to basketball activities, according to the team, and his status will be updated over the coming weeks. The Raptors All-Star guard is averaging a team-high 19.4 and 4.2 rebounds over the clubs first 16 games. As the focal point of their improved attack, DeRozan accounts for just under 29 per cent of the Raptors offensive possessions when hes been on the court, the highest usage rate of any player on the team. Having to replace his production, for however long he is out will be a challenge, though its not necessarily a fatal blow given their depth and balance on both ends of the floor. More than anything else, it will be an adjustment. The sixth-year guard was logging roughly 34 minutes a night to lead the team after ranking third in the NBA in playing time last year. He has missed just 11 games to this point in his career (the Raptors are 8-3 in those contests). Weve got to [continue to] play, said Kyle Lowry, who will be relied upon even more without his backcourt running mate. Next man up. Its a team, not about one guy. If anybody goes down, the next man has to step up. The Raptors are the leagues sixth-ranked team in bench points, thanks in large part to the addition of Lou Williams - leading the East in scoring among reserves - the versatile James Johnson and Greivis Vasquez, wwho has rediscovered his jump shot this past week.dddddddddddd I think weve got one of the best, and I say this in a humble way, benches in the league, Vasquez said. Somebody else is going to step up. Lou will step in or myself or James or whatever coach wants to do. Now hes got a squad. Hes got a team. And now he needs to, and he will, put it together. Somebody went down and we almost won. That wasnt good enough. I think we have guys that can step up and do their job. All three wing players figure to see expanded roles in DeRozans absence, with one of them likely stepping into the starting lineup. Although Williams, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, seems to be a natural fit to fill the scoring void - averaging 14.3 points, third on the team - Dwane Casey may prefer to utilize his instant offence off the bench. The same can be said of Vasquez, the back-up point guard, leaving Johnson, who could start at the three-spot and push Terrence Ross to the two, giving them more size and defensive acumen up front. Landry Fields could also be in the mix for spot minutes. Well decide that in the next day or so, Casey told reporters after practice on Saturday, declining to name a replacement ahead of Sundays meeting with the Lakers. We dont know now, well talk about that later. One thing is for certain, the 13-3 Raptors will face their biggest and most telling early-season challenge. Lowry, who will be in consideration for Eastern Conference Player of the Month next week, will become more important than ever, handling increased responsibility in the teams half-court sets. Jonas Valanciunas could also be in line for a bigger piece of the offensive pie in the low post. One thing about our team, we have guys that can step up and they are definitely going to have to because thats a big scoring load in DeMar, echoed Amir Johnson. We have guys that can come in and step up for us. DeRozan accompanied the team to Los Angeles, his hometown, Saturday afternoon, where they will begin a three-game road trip without his services on the court. Generally, the recovery time for a groin injury of this nature can range from weeks to months depending on the severity. Until they learn more about DeRozans status and can get him back in uniform, their celebrated team unity will be put to the ultimate test. ' ' '