MANKATO, Minn. -- Minnesotas success will ride heavily on the right arm of Teddy Bridgewater, with several improvements sought by the third-year quarterback to steer the Vikings toward a deep run through the playoffs.Being more assertive is on top of Bridgewaters list.The biggest thing that you want to see is maybe him letting it loose a little more, general manager Rick Spielman said near the beginning of the offseason, an uncharacteristically specific directive from the boss that helped shape a narrative thats sure to stretch into the fall.The organizations desire for Bridgewater, 17-11 in his career as a starter but ranked in the bottom third of the NFL last year in most of the major passing categories, has a dual meaning.First, he must be more of an advocate to the coaching staff for the plays hed like to run. Coach Mike Zimmer has almost made it sound as though hed like Bridgewater to argue with him or offensive coordinator Norv Turner once in a while. The consummate team-first player when hes at a podium for interviews, rarely willing to dissect his own performance, Bridgewater acknowledged this week his need to apply more assertiveness to his interaction with the team. The baby-faced, big-smiling Bridgewater has a tendency to be too much of a people pleaser.I want to be an image of coach Zim, Bridgewater said of his blunt-talking coach, and Im going to make sure that I try to do that.The Vikings also need Bridgewater to, literally, let the ball loose down the field. He had 41 completions of 20-plus yards last season, ranking 23rd in the league.Im not going to go out there and just throw the ball all around the park and throw it to the other team. I want to have an aggressive mentality, but a relaxed presence, Bridgewater said. Thats going to be my focus this year, and Im going to make sure Im studying film more and just seeing when we can take shots and what guys we can get after.First-round draft pick Laquon Treadwell was acquired to help with that, after an experiment with Mike Wallace as the top outside wide receiver ended after one year. Stefon Diggs and Charles Johnson will also be counted on, as will Adam Thielen and Jarius Wright in the slot.There might not be a player with more potential to help elevate Bridgewaters performance, though, than tight end Kyle Rudolph.Even Zimmer urged Bridgewater at one point in the second half of last season to simply trust Rudolph more. Rudolph was unavailable for most of Bridgewaters rookie year because of injury. For much of 2015, Rudolph was asked to pass block more than ever to aid an ailing offensive line. His production as a receiver picked up significantly down the stretch.Now, with some important additions to the front five, the Vikings are targeting Rudolph as, well, a more active target.Its important to me that I make sure Im always there for Teddy, especially when the head coach has the confidence in me to go to the quarterback and tell him to trust me more, Rudolph said. Being a bigger guy, there may not look like theres much separation there, but if you throw the ball in the right place, Im going to be the only one to get it. Ill always make sure that, worst-case scenario, nobody catches it.Bridgewater wears a gray wristband with the acronym G-U-M-P, standing for great under major pressure. The Vikings have rarely been concerned about his ability in this area, even if his deep-passing statistics have been lacking.Ive been dealing with pressure since Ive been playing sports. Thats why I play the position, said Bridgewater, who will turn 23 on Nov. 10. Its the most pressure-packed position, and I love it.Zimmer has often been asked about Bridgewaters development, their careers inexorably intertwined having taken their respective jobs with the Vikings in 2014. Theres hardly a player the head coach has raved more about, despite the caution Bridgewater has played with and the lack of accuracy hes shown down the field.Im glad hes my guy, Zimmer said, adding: He does the things were asking him to do to continue to win, and I do believe that youre going to continue to see another jump for him. We have to play a certain way in order to win games, and Im not going to apologize for doing that. Teddy is going to be an extremely good player. Hes got too many other things going for him.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Jerseys 2020 . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. 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Melbourne Victory fans who dobbed in and turfed out a flare-lighting troublemaker in Saturdays A-League derby have saved their club from punishment from Football Federation Australia over the matter.A flare lit in the second half of Victorys 4-1 derby defeat looked set to compound their misery on a poor night, with the club playing under the threat of a points deduction due to poor fan behaviour.But A-League chiefs have decided against activating the punishment or lengthening their probation period after hearing evidence from the club.Rather than celebrating or cheering the flare - as might have been the case in years past - Victorys active fans shunned the individual and handed him over to authorities, according to FFA.A-League boss Greg ORourke suggested it might be the start of a cultural shift.The self-policing by the Melbourne Victory fans is yet another positive step and a strong public statement that fans, clubs and the wider football family were united in saying flares are not acceptable, ORourke said.The club has instead been issued with a reprimand.Western Sydney Wanderers, walking a similar tightroope after poor fan behaviour from last season, had their probation period lengthened until seasons end after two flares were lit in the Sydney derby.ddddddddddddORourke said the crucial factor in treating Victorys situation differently was the action of fans - as well as Victorys enthusiastic take-up of anti-flare campaigns.This behaviour is refreshing, he said.We look at all incidents on a case-by-case basis and take into consideration the totality of the situation and behaviours and we noted some clear distinctions from the incidents last week at the Sydney derby.In issuing the reprimand FFA is warning all clubs of the need to stay vigilant. The collective focus of FFA, clubs, players and true football fans is to work together to eliminate all forms of anti-social behaviour, including flares.We need to be clear that a recurrence of the incident where flares are ignited in the Melbourne Victory fans area may leave FFA with no alternative other than to deduct points from the club. ' ' '