SEATTLE -- The guitar riffs ripped from the hotel ballroom where owner Paul Allens band was performing and filled the lobby. USWNT Store . Down on the lower level, Hall of Famer Walter Jones posed for pictures with exuberant fans. This celebration in the wee hours of Monday morning was what Pete Carroll envisioned when he arrived in Seattle in January 2010 and was finally given the full say over an NFL franchise in the hopes of replicating at the professional level what he was able to accomplish in college. Celebrating was standard practice when Carroll was at USC. But the party that followed Sundays 43-8 blowout of Denver that gave Seattle its first NFL title topped all those previous celebrations. It may just be the beginning for the Seahawks. "This is exactly what we envisioned from day one. We were going to be right here and win this football game -- and it just happened to be in New York. which makes it even more special -- in the fashion that we were able," Carroll said. "We deserved it and we earned it because this is exactly what weve been preparing for, and we expected it. That may sound cocky. That may sound arrogant. But its a mentality you cant get in one week." Seattles coronation was the culmination of an overhaul that Carroll and general manager John Schneider embarked upon when they took control of the Seahawks. Nearly 1,000 roster moves later, they could finally take the ultimate satisfaction in what they had created: the envy of the NFL. The Seahawks are mean and talented on defence. They have one of the most dynamic young players in the game in quarterback Russell Wilson. And the surrounding cast complements him well. There is very little indication this will be a one-year flash. "One of the things that happens every so often is teams have a big fallout after they win the Super Bowl," Carroll said. "Were not in that situation." Seattles title will be remembered for a dominating defence that will be regarded among the best in league history. Richard Shermans play at cornerback -- and sometimes his mouth -- drew the attention but that defence was far more than Sherman and his "Legion of Boom" teammates in the secondary. Linebacker Bobby Wagner was even better in his second season, while Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith was called upon to play different positions throughout the season. The signings of Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett on the defensive line, and the re-signing of Clinton McDonald after Week 1, gave the Seahawks the deepest defensive line rotation in the league, all with plenty of energy to chase Colin Kaepernick in the NFC title game and harass Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl. Offensively, the Seahawks were without their top two wide receivers for most of the season between Percy Harvins preseason hip surgery and Sidney Rices midseason knee injury. But Harvin showed just why the Seahawks made the investment with his 87-yard kickoff return touchdown that was essentially the final blow in the Super Bowl. Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin believed they were disrespected all season and were intent on proving critics wrong. For the most part, they did, while Jermaine Kearse continued to play the role of another undrafted gem discovered by Schneider. The offensive line missed both starting tackles -- Breno Giacomini and Russell Okung -- for more than half the regular season due to injuries but managed. And Marshawn Lynch continued to go "Beast Mode" at just the right times. Seattle should be able to keep its core together but there will be difficult decisions to make. There are key free agents, including Baldwin and Tate. There are also potential salary cap decisions to be made with players like Rice, Zach Miller, Chris Clemons, Brandon Mebane and Red Bryant. Then there are the two looming extensions that could get done this off-season -- Earl Thomas and Sherman. Both players can be extended before the start of next season, but the likelihood is that Seattle tries to get a deal done with Thomas first and then see if an extension will work for Sherman. So far, Sherman has been the ultimate bargain for Seattle, scheduled to make less than $700,000 in base salary next season. Thomas and Sherman are entering the final year of their rookie contracts in 2014 and with both now two-time All-Pro selections, each is likely due a hefty raise. If Seattle can get both extensions done, it would allow them to focus on Wilson during the 2014-15 off-season when his rookie deal can be redone. "We are looking two to three years ahead so last year we knew we were going to have some things coming and how to handle certain players and to know just where we are headed," Schneider said recently. "We put different models together. Matt Thomas does a phenomenal job with it. Figure out the best way to navigate it. They are really good problems to have." USWNT Jerseys China . Five straight losses (and six in the past seven) now dot the schedule – matching their longest skid of the year – after they fell again in New Jersey on Sunday night, topped 3-2 by Cory Schneider and the Devils. USWNT Jerseys 2021 . The International Ice Hockey Federation says Pavlovs avoided a two-year sanction because he acted "without significant negligence in failing to verify the safety of the supplements he was taking. https://www.cheapuswnt.com/ . Goergl, the 2011 world champion, started 28th after the other top contenders had already gone down but had the fastest time at each interval. Goergl finished the demanding 3-kilometre Kaelberloch course in 1 minute, 47.Charlie Nicholas believes Roberto Martinezs need for victory in the FA Cup semi-final is greater than Louis van Gaals - but fears for both managers futures. The Everton boss is under increasing pressure after seeing his side thumped 4-0 by local rivals Liverpool, a result which leaves them without a win in seven Premier League games and on course for a second successive bottom-half finish.If he loses this semi-final, then the calls for him to go are only going to get louder, Nicholas told Sky Sports. Charlies Sky Bet tips Find out what Charlie is predicting for Everton v Man Utd here. Roberto Martinez saw his Everton side lose 4-0 to rivals Liverpool on Wednesday Martinez is a very good coach but hes not admitted that this team is underachieving and it pains me to say it I think the owners will be actively seeking change.The Goodison Park faithful were looking forward to a summer of investment following Farhad Moshiris 49.9 per cent purchase of the clubs shares, but Nicholas feels that is unlikely with Martinez at the helm. Everton fans have protested against their manager after a disappointing season He added: I think that the concern will be why should they invest money in the club when the manager isnt getting the best out of his current squad?Bill Kenwright has done a fantastic job as chairman and would love to keep Martinez, but the investors will be asking whether theyll be giving their money to the right man to spend. Theyve already got a strong squad and its not working. Everton manager Roberto Martinez refused to talkk about his future at the club Meanwhile, the Soccer Saturday pundit believes Van Gaals future will be decided by his ability to get United into the top four rather than winning the FA Cup. USWNT Shirts. With just four league games to go, United are two points behind fourth-placed Manchester City and hold a vastly inferior goal difference. Louis van Gaals future could hinge on whether Man Utd clinch a top-four spot, thinks Charlie Nicholas Is the FA Cup enough? I would say no, said Nicholas. United have to be in the Champions League. Its not even about the prize money, its the prestige of being there. If I asked United fans if they want FA Cup or top four I think most would say top four. They want to be back in the Champions League. If David Moyes can get sacked after nine months for not managing it, then youve got to think they will be looking at Jose Mourinho or even the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Slaven Bilic and Ronald Koeman. Louis van Gaal believes Manchester Uniteds latest win over Crystal Palace keeps them in with a chance of clinching a top four spot The timing of PSGs reported move for Mourinho is interesting because United cant afford to be seen to make an announcement as they need to put their focus into securing a top-four finish.Nicholas expects Van Gaal to prevail on Saturday, backing a 1-0 victory for United in his Sky Bet tips.He added: I think it will be tense and I think Everton will be too worried about making mistakes to play well.Ive done a heck of a lot of United games this season and, while Ive rarely been impressed by them, theyve built some momentum with three successive wins, which started by a good display against West Ham. Also See: Everton v Man Utd preview Progress since Moyes? Problems mount for Martinez Ramos considered Utd bid ' ' '  |
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