MINNEAPOLIS -- Matt Cassel was one day away from hitting the free agent market and fielding offers from other suitors. Tracy Mcgrady Magic Jersey . Then the Minnesota Vikings swooped in at the last minute. The Vikings agreed to terms with Cassel on Friday on a deal that will keep him in Minnesota, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. Terms of the deal, which was first reported by NFL Network, were not immediately available. The move helps solidify the Vikings shaky quarterback situation. The team used a musical chairs approach to the position last season, rotating Christian Ponder and Cassel, and even starting Josh Freeman for one game during a miserable 5-10-1 season. Cassel was by far the most effective of the three, going 3-3 in his six starts and being on the field at the end of all five of the teams victories. He completed 60.2 per cent of his passes for 1,807 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions after signing as a free agent from the Kansas City Chiefs. But he opted out of the final year of his two-year deal in February, and there was concern Cassel would choose to move to another team after he was forced to split time with the ineffective Ponder. New head coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday he "would love to have Matt Cassel back if Matt Cassel wants to be back." But the coach was also bracing for the likelihood Cassel would at least test free agency before giving the Vikings an answer. "Hes got a bunch of pretty girls looking at him right now," Zimmer said then. "And he wants to explore and see whats best for him. I dont blame any of these guys. In free agency, I think thats why they have the rules is that they get a chance to go see what their markets worth. Then if they find a better situation than what they think is here, then I think thats everywhere." It appears Cassel knew where he wanted to be all along. Cassels familiarity with the teams offensive players -- Adrian Peterson, Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Rudolph among them -- and the way the team responded to Cassels leadership on the field were among the big reasons the Vikings wanted him back. The agreement would appear to make Cassel the front-runner to be the starter when the 2014 season opens with new offensive co-ordinator Norv Turner calling the plays. Ponder is still on the roster, but his performance over his first three seasons has inspired little confidence among his teammates. The Vikings have the eighth overall pick in the upcoming draft, and there remains a strong possibility they will select someone to be the teams quarterback of the future. But keeping Cassel in the fold will reduce the pressure on the team to start a rookie. "It all depends, but what I want to do is play the best guy," Zimmer said. "I dont care if hes a rookie, if hes a veteran, if hes a returner. It doesnt matter to me who the quarterback is if he can win games, and thats really what its about, winning football games and figuring out how to do that." Timofey Mozgov Magic Jersey .Y. - Matt Harvey wants to make sure hes on the mound in late October — if the New York Mets get there for the first time since 2006. Nikola Vucevic Magic Jersey .J. Fair didnt have many chances to be the main option for Syracuse last season. http://www.magicauthentic.com/kids-nikola-vucevic-magic-jersey/ . Torres calmly stroked a 51st-minute spot kick down the middle with goalkeeper Romel Quinonez diving right to convert a penalty earned by Javi Martinez. Spain controlled play at the Sanchez Pizjuan but found it hard to convert against a well-organized Bolivian team before Iniesta charged forward to curl around Quinonez in the 84th to seal victory.SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco Giants have their own version of the Core Four that has fueled their recent October dominance. While players with catchy nicknames like the Panda, the Freak and MadBum, and shiny trophies like former NL Rookie of the Year and MVP Buster Posey get most of the accolades, a quartet of relievers has played almost as big a role in putting the Giants in position to win a third World Series title in five years. Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo are among the seven players who have played in all three post-season runs for San Francisco since 2010, providing stability to a role that can be so hard for some teams to fill come October. One thing that we have thats kind of nice is we have that continuity, Lopez said. Weve been around each other for, this is now our fifth year together for most of us especially in that back end of the pen. That parts kind of nice. We know what we can do, and we complement each other. With a win in the World Series starting Tuesday night in Kansas City, the Giants will join the New York Yankees teams led by Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada as the only teams in the past 40 years to win it all at least three times in five seasons. Like those great Yankees teams that won four titles from 1996-2000, the Giants have relied on stellar relief pitching. Its nice to have these four guys with their experience and calmness they bring to the bullpen, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. Lopez has had a steady role as a left-handed specialist whose submarine delivery is lethal against lefties, and Affeldt is another tough lefty who can pitch longer because he is almost as effective against right-handed hitters. Casilla and Romo have had their roles change over the years as the Giants are looking to win their third title with a third closer. Brian Wilson handled the job in 2010 with Romo and Casilla serving as setup men. That changed in 2012 when Casilla stepped into the closer role after Wilson got hurt early in the season. Casilla didnt last in the role as Romo proved more effective and ended up closing out the World Series by striking out Miguell Cabrera. Jason Williams Jersey. Casilla and Romo flopped roles again this year after Romo blew three saves in June. We had a lot of success when he was the closer here, and its not easy sometimes, Bochy said. But he never said anything, never complained. For a manager, you appreciate that. He wanted to do everything he could to help the team. Thats the only way this works. The four have combined for a 6-1 record with eight saves and a 1.31 ERA over 87 post-season appearances since 2010. Affeldt has gone 18 straight appearances without a run, Casilla 17 and Lopez 15. With 68 2-3 innings, they have accounted for nearly one-fifth of San Franciscos post-season innings since 2010, and more than the more heralded starters. Every time Ive been in the playoffs, it seems like bullpens are used to their maximum, Affeldt said. Guys have come in in different situations and thrown strikes and come in for guys when maybe we have to come in mid-inning, guys on base, stuff like that. Weve done a pretty good job. The four have gotten help this post-season from journeyman Yusmeiro Petit, whose nine shutout innings of two-hit relief were big reasons for San Franciscos wins in Game 2 of the division series against Washington and Game 4 of the NLCS against St. Louis. Petit has been let go four times in his career, including briefly last season by the Giants, making him a perfect fit in a bullpen of mostly castoffs. Of the seven relievers who have pitched this post-season, only Affeldt hasnt been released, waived or designated for assignment in his career. Casilla was signed to a minor league deal before the 2010 season after being let go by Oakland. Lopez was designated for assignment four times in his career before being acquired in a deadline deal with Pittsburgh in 2010. Romo is a former 28th round pick who was designated for assignment by San Francisco in 2008 before earning a regular role in the majors. Now they are all proven major leaguers and post-season stars that the Giants would never think of letting go. They thrive on being out there in a tight game, in a late situation, Bochy said. They certainly help me make my decisions a lot easier. ' ' '