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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings have been looking for a tough, play-making defensive back to cover slot receivers ever since they parted ways with beloved veteran Antoine Winfield before last season. Captain Munnerlyn is ready to fill those shoes. The Vikings agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the free agent cornerback on Thursday, continuing the teams aggressive pursuit of defensive help in free agency. Munnerlyn played the first five seasons of his career for the Carolina Panthers, where he returned five of his seven interceptions for touchdowns. "We have a new coaching staff in Minnesota and Im excited to get to work with these guys," Munnerlyn told The Associated Press. After signing a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Panthers last year, Munnerlyn posted career highs with 74 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks. He also returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns and parlayed that into a deal that could be worth as much as $15 million with the Vikings. Munnerlyn, who will turn 26 next month, has scored four defensive TDs in the last two years. He was a seventh-round draft choice after leaving South Carolina after his junior season, and the 5-foot-8, 165-pound Munnerlyn has been proving that he belongs ever since. "Everybody looks at my size and says, Oh man, he cant play. Hes too short to play outside corner, or hes too short to do this," Munnerlyn said in a conference call later Thursday. "Thats the biggest key with me, man. I was just trying to go out there and prove I can be an every-down corner, that I can make plays and bring toughness to a team." Winfield knows a thing or two about that. The diminutive cornerback spent nine seasons with the Vikings, establishing himself as one of the hardest-hitting defensive backs in the league. Munnerlyn said early in his career his coaches showed him game tape of Winfield. "I kind of stole some of his game and brought it to my game," Munnerlyn said. "I dont hit as hard as he does. He can really bring it when he tackles. But I try to go out there and make the tackles and make plays just like him." The Vikings desperately needed another veteran cornerback to add to a young, thin defensive backfield. After cutting Winfield last summer, the Vikings moved Josh Robinson from outside to the slot cornerback. Robinson struggled mightily in the role and former second-round draft choice Chris Cook proved unreliable and unremarkable on the outside. Cook is a free agent. Munnerlyn said Vikings coaches plan to start him on the outside opposite promising youngster Xavier Rhodes, then move him inside in nickel packages on passing downs. He was a part of the second-ranked defence in the league last season under Ron Rivera. He said he saw similarities to the system new Vikings coach Mike Zimmer will employ in Minnesota. "Hes a gritty, tough player and he can play all over the place -- cornerback, nickel or inside," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said last season. "Hes good in pressure and you can tell hes a headsy, smart player. Anytime you are playing against those guys its kind of like the Ronde Barbers of the world where you know there is a level of intelligence. You want to know where he is on the field." The Vikings wanted to do a longer-term deal with Munnerlyn, but Munnerlyn pressed for a three-year contract to give him one more shot at a big payday. "To get another contract before Im 30, that was the key," Munnerlyn said. "Just to go out here for three years and see if I can win them over a little bit more, get an extension after year two or something. Just try to go out here and make plays and win games." Munnerlyn is the latest big move in a series of them to kick off free agency for the Vikings. They re-signed defensive end Everson Griffen with $20 million in guaranteed money and signed defensive tackle Linval Joseph away from the New York Giants with a five-year deal that could be worth $31.5 million. They also made two smaller deals on Thursday, bringing back reserve defensive tackle Fred Evans and signing former Chargers cornerback Derek Cox to one-year deals. All the moves are aimed at bolstering a defence that was 31st in the league last year. "Im sure with these signings and with these people they (brought) in well ranked in the top 10," Munnerlyn said. Shoes Online Australia Discount . Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist as Phoenix held on to snap a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday. Clearance Shoes Online Australia . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday. http://www.shoescheapaustralia.com/. Terms of the contract were not disclosed by the club. Clemons spent his first five NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 draft out of Clemson. Cheap Shoes Australia Free Shipping . - The Kansas City Royals are hoping All-Star catcher Salvador Perez will be back in a few days. Cheap Shoes Online Australia . -- When Steve Blake checked in at the scorers table with 5:25 remaining in the third quarter, Stephen Curry shook his head and shouted across the court, asking Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson not to take him out.Jason Hathaway survived a ferocious battle with Mark Dilley and won the Budweiser 300 on Sunday. Hathaway and Dilley swapped the lead six times in the inaugural NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 race at Autodrome Chaudière and battled to the end on a green-white-checkered finish before Hathaway emerged with the win. It was the fourth series career victory for the driver of the No. 3 Rockstar Energy Drink/HGC Chevrolet out of Dutton, Ontario. Dating back to last season, it was Hathaways third triumph in his last five starts. Dilley settled for second while Steve Mathews, who won his third career pole position earlier in the day, crossed the line in the third position. Defending and three-time series champpion Scott Steckly battled back from a start toward the rear of the field to finish fourth followed by Louis-Philippe Dumoulin in fifth.dddddddddddd Alex Guenette, D.J. Kennington, J.R. Fitzpatrick, Noel Dowler and Jason White completed the top-10 finishers on the day. The race was postponed to Sunday after persistent rain showers washed out all on-track activity on Saturday. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 returns to Quebec for a July 6 date at Mirabels Circuit ICAR for the Jiffy Lube 100 presented by La Petite Bretonne, the seasons second of four road course events. The inaugural Budweiser 300 from Autodrome Chaudière will be shown on TSN on Saturday at 1:30pm et/10:30am pt. ' ' '