NEU » -- Matt Kenseth

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings placed safety Michael Griffin on injured reserve Saturday afternoon, ending the two-time Pro Bowlers bid to start next to Harrison Smith.Griffin, who was on crutches in the teams locker room Sunday after his back seized up against the San Diego Chargers, did not play in the teams final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.On Saturday afternoon, he posted a message on Instagram that suggested hed been released: Just want to thank the @vikings organization for the opportunity and want to wish them the best this season. Thanks for memories and friendships that will never be broken. #skolvikesThe safety said he wasnt sure at the time if the Vikings would release him or put him on injured reserve, but when he was playing on a one-year deal at age 31, he figured the net effect of the move was the same.It was more likely I wasnt going to be able to play next week, Griffin said. I felt like the writing was on the wall. Youre not going to keep a guy whos going to be injured, and you dont know how long he was going to be out. I got an epidural shot on Monday; its getting better, but I dont know when Ill be able to be fully 100 [percent].Griffin said he plans to get a second opinion on his back, which he first injured several days before the Vikings-Chargers game. We didnt know exactly what it was. I thought I could play, but a couple plays into the game, it just locked up, he said. I was trying to make the team. When youre an older guy, and youre not playing, its not going to help.Griffin had man-to-man coverage on a Chargers tight end when Melvin Gordon broke through the line, forcing Griffin to make a quick change of direction in pursuit of the running back. Gordon sprinted away for a 39-yard touchdown, which was the first in U.S. Bank Stadium history.The Vikings signed Griffin to a one-year, $2.5 million deal in March, hoping he could turn into the kind of dynamic safety theyve sought next to Smith. Griffin, though, lost out on the starting job to Andrew Sendejo while fighting through his back injury.Minnesota will keep seventh-round pick Jayron Kearse after an impressive preseason in which the Clemson product intercepted two passes and forced a fumble. Anthony Harris, who started two games in 2015 after the Vikings signed the safety as an undrafted free agent, also made the Vikings final roster. Air Max 97 Undefeated For Sale . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Air Max 97 Silver Bullet Fake . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. http://www.outletairmax97.com/ . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Air Max 97 Neon Seoul For Sale .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Air Max 97 Plus Black Shock Orange . PAUL, Minn. BLACKSBURG, Va. - Senior Sebastian Saiz led Ole Miss with 21 points and sophomore Terrence Davis added 18 and 12 rebounds for his first career double-double, but the Rebels dropped a road game at ACC foe Virginia Tech 80-75 Sunday.Ole Miss trailed the entire second half, including 68-54 with a little more than five minutes left to play, but the Rebels scored on six straight possessions. They hit three 3-pointers in that span to cut the lead to 71-70 on a basket by Cullen Neal with 1:24 remaining.Ahmed Hill hit 5 of 10 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from beyond the 3-point arc for Virginia Tech (8-1), which won its fourth straight game. Zach LeDDay added 15 points.ddddddddddddIf they get penetration, because of their spacing and ball movement, theyre going to find the open guy, Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy said. Youve got three of their five guys typically making 3s - and then (Chris) Clarke throws one in. And LeDay throws one in. It doesnt do good for the other team.The Rebels return to action Thursday with a home game against Murray State for the first of three straight non-conference home games before opening SEC play against No. 6 Kentucky on Dec. 29. ' ' '