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MINNEAPOLIS -- Vikings running back Adrian Peterson reiterated on Thursday that he hopes to remain in Minnesota until he retires, responding to a report that he spoke to Jerry Jones about one day playing for the Dallas Cowboys. Peterson and the Vikings both issued statements shortly after ESPN reported that Peterson had a phone conversation with Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, this summer about playing for the team in Petersons home state after his time with the Vikings came to a close. "This was a casual conversation between NFL colleagues in which I never indicated I wanted to leave the Vikings," Peterson said. "I have always said I understand the NFL is a business but that I would love to retire as a Viking." The business part of the NFL is starting to come into play for the 29-year-old Peterson, who is the leagues highest paid running back, a position that is increasingly occupied by younger, cheaper players. He will make $12 million in 2014 and those salaries climb in each of the final four seasons of his seven-year deal, culminating with $16 million in 2017. Because of the way his contract is structured, which allows the Vikings to release him without incurring hardly any salary cap issues after this season, Peterson is essentially on a series of one-year deals controlled by the team. If his production declines as he gets older, he could be released or asked to take a pay cut. Under NFL rules, Jones was required to notify the Vikings when he had that conversation with Peterson. But there was no indication that Jones did. "We are focused on the 2014 season, and as we have consistently communicated, Adrian is an integral part of the Vikings organization," the Vikings said in a statement. Peterson rushed for 1,266 yards and 10 touchdowns last season but has required surgery to repair an injury in each of the last three offseasons. Nevertheless, he remains as determined as ever to prove that he will not hit the wall that often accompanies a running backs 30th birthday. "It doesnt apply to me," Peterson said in June. "I have a totally different mindset and mind frame, so Ill just stay in my lane and let everybody else say what they have to say." Tigers Jerseys China . The win puts the final playoff berth in Group A in question. If the Czechs beat Slovakia on Tuesday, they will go through. If they lose, Germany will get the last quarter-final berth. Detroit Tigers Gear ." Argos general manager Jim Barker uttered those words during an interview with TSN 1050 radio just prior to the CFLs annual free agent frenzy. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ . You can watch all the action on TSN2 beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. Pineda won his second straight start last Wednesday against Chicago, as he held the Cubs to just four hits over six scoreless innings to run his record to 2-0, while lowering his ERA to 1. Detroit Tigers Store .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Wholesale Tigers Jerseys . - The Pittsburgh Pirates plan on keeping promising left fielder Starling Marte playing alongside National League MVP Andrew McCutchen for years to come.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Atlanta Hawks just keep rolling on the road.They pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 107-98 Monday night and earn their seventh straight road victory for the first time in 21 years.They have been doing it by building double-digit leads on opponents floors.We really cant control the crowd and a lot of stuff, so we just go out there and do the best we can, said Al Horford, who had 16 points for the East-leading Hawks. Coach always stresses the importance of defending and rebounding, and I feel like weve been doing a good job of that.Paul Millsap scored 23 points, Jeff Teague added 20, and DeMarre Carroll had 17 points and eight rebounds in Atlantas fifth straight win overall and 19th in 21 games.Right now, Atlanta has unshakable confidence, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.Not so for the Clippers, who fell to 7-10 against teams that currently have winning records.Defensively, we have no presence, said Chris Paul, who had 10 points and 10 assists before fouling out with 1:50 to play.Blake Griffin had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Clippers, whose biggest lead of nine came at the start of the game. DeAndre Jordan added 15 points and 16 rebounds, and J.J. Redick had 14 points as the teams three-game winning streak ended.If we knew exactly what we need to address, Griffin said, hesitating to find the words. Its just not something we can snap our fingers and fix.Dennis Schroders driving layup gave the Hawks the games first double-digit lead, 82-72, early in the fourth. It came near the start of an 18-6 run that extended their advantage to 95-78, largest of the game. Schroder had seven points, Pero Antic five, and Millsap four in the spurt.We werent executing and making good decisions early, but our defence put us in a position where we could kind of hang around and keep it at six or eight, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. We made a little run at the end of the second quarter, then the defence maintained its place, and offensively we got into a little bit of a rhythm.The Clippers committed six of their season-high 21 turnovers in the fourth, when the Hawks had one. Atlanta shot 48 per cent from 3-point range, and the Clipperrs were held to 28 per cent.ddddddddddddWe missed a lot of open shots and were very lax with the ball, Rivers said. We lost the game because we turned the ball over and gave them easy shots. We were forcing a lot of passes.Griffin made one of two free throws to tie it 67-all late in the third before the Hawks scored 10 of the last 12 points to take a 77-69 lead going into the fourth. Carroll had six in the spurt. Griffin and Paul both picked up their fourth fouls in the quarter when the Clippers briefly led by two.The Clippers turnovers led to 23 points by the Hawks, who came in averaging 26.5 in four previous games.TIP-INSHawks: They had 13 steals. ... The last time they won seven straight road games was Nov. 17-Dec. 22, 1993. ... Their bench was 1 for 12 from the field in the first half. ... Atlanta has won eight straight against West foes, equaling their streak from Oct. 31-Nov. 18, 1997. ... They snapped a three-game skid against the Clippers at Staples Center. ... They won the season series 2-0, having taken a three-point victory at home less than two weeks ago.Clippers: Former Laker Dennis Rodman sat behind the teams bench. ... They shot 50 per cent from the field in the opening quarter before dipping to 36 per cent in the second. ... Informed that he remains Atlantas franchise assists leader with 3,866, Rivers joked, Atlanta has not had a lot of good players. Rivers played for the Hawks from 1983-91 at the start of his NBA career.SHOOTIN SCHRODERSchroder had all seven of his points in the fourth after going 0 of 4 in the first half.Its great for him as a young player to stick with it, Budenholzer said. Hes a very confident young man, and he made some big plays. He also did well defensively. Were trying to do it as a team, and different guys at different moments are finding ways to help us.SEARCHING CLIPPERSLike Griffin, Jordan cant quite put his finger on why the Clippers struggle against the NBAs best teams especially defensively.You see it in spurts of us having the right tools to be a defensive team, Jordan said. Then theres times where we look like we dont know what were doing.UP NEXTHawks: Host Memphis on Wednesday.Clippers: Host Lakers on Wednesday. ' ' '