RENTON, Wash. - Within their inner circle, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Schneider and staff quietly speculated that their 2012 draft class would be special, despite the critics derision.Outsiders were dismissive of linebacker Bobby Wagner, a former two-star recruit from tiny Utah State; undersized quarterback Russell Wilson, who had to transfer from North Carolina State to start as a senior; and Bruce Irvin, a high school dropout who had bounced around junior colleges before landing at West Virginia.In small circles, behind closed doors, we talked about that this could be the one. This could be the draft class that could really make the difference, Carroll said.Sometimes that group of draftees — six of whom are on the Seattle active roster — reminisce about the failing grades their class received. The players have Super Bowl rings and are about to play in their second straight NFC championship game on Sunday when they host Green Bay.Irvin, the first-round pick, was a stunner no one expected to go that early and many believed would never develop into an every-down player. Critics said second-round selection Wagner never faced elite competition in college.And Wilson, Seattles much disputed third-round pick ... well, listing all the criticism that pick received would take too long.We look at that type of stuff. We look at that class, weve got seven, eight guys that are key contributors right now, Irvin said. I dont know man, I dont know who grades that type of stuff. Were just going to continue to prove everybody wrong.Great drafts have anchored championship teams in the past. Arguably the best draft class was the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers with Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth and Mike Webster, all Hall of Famers. The Cowboys took Mel Renfro, Bob Hayes and Roger Staubach in the 1964 draft. More recently, Baltimores selection of Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in 1996 proved invaluable to its first title.Seattles roster has been built a variety of ways. First-round gems, like safety Earl Thomas and left tackle Russell Okung, both taken in 2010, are joined by late-round steals including safety Kam Chancellor, picked in the fifth round the same year. A year later linebacker K.J. Wright was a fourth-round pick, followed by All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman in the fifth and starting cornerback Byron Maxwell in the sixth.And there are the undrafted free agents Seattle has unearthed, most notably starting wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse.But no group of additions to Seattles roster has matched the importance of the 2012 draft.Everyone told us we werent going to be any good. Weve heard that a lot, Wilson said. No matter what anybody tells you, you have to be a self-motivator. Thats what we have in the 2012 class of the Seattle Seahawks. Theyre all self-motivators. We all believe in each other, we all believe in ourselves, and weve all kind of just pushed each other. When we first got here, I know we had a 2012 meeting and kind of told the guys I want to be the best class theres ever been here. Thats kind of been our mindset.The majority of notoriety from the 2012 class has gone to Wilson and Wagner. Wilson has started every game in his three seasons and is in line for a massive payday, while Wagner has become an elite inside linebacker and was first-team All-Pro this season despite missing five games.But the depth found in that class is what sets them apart. Irvin is Seattles starting strongside linebacker, proving he was more than just a pass rusher. Fourth-round pick Robert Turbin is the backup to Marshawn Lynch. Sixth-round pick Jeremy Lane has been Seattles nickel cornerback when healthy.And the real late-round steal of the group? Guard J.R. Sweezy, a defensive tackle in college that has developed into one of Seattles most consistent offensive linemen.Weve always remembered the way they talked about us when we got drafted and what not, Sweezy said. We kind of knew what we were going to do. We kept our heads down and got to work. Now were seeing the product of all of that and its fun to be part of it.___AP NFL website:
www.pro32.ap.org and
www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Alex English Jersey . -- D. J. Williams finally has his packing strategy down.
Gary Payton Jersey . New Zealand brushed aside England 26-7 to win the event and reclaim top spot in the overall standings. The All Blacks, the defending World Series champions, won their third tournament this season in style, running four tries past England to claim their 11th Cup championship in Hong Kong and first since 2011.
https://www.cheapbucksonline.com/226t-sidney-moncrief-jersey-bucks.html . The Force had two men, including former Wallabies No. 8 Ben McCalman, in the sin-bin in the dying minutes of the match, but were able to resist a late Highlanders surge to post a four-try, bonus point win.
Glenn Robinson Jersey . Now the Minnesota Vikings have set their sights on soccer.
Junior Bridgeman Jersey . The matchup will be made up in Minnesota at a later date. The arena was evacuated about 45 minutes before the scheduled 9:30 p.m. EST tipoff when a generator malfunction outside the arena sent smoke pouring into the building, according to NBA spokeswoman Sharon Lima.LONDON -- Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko scored in extra time to send Manchester City into the League Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 win at Newcastle on Wednesday, while Tottenham needed a penalty shootout to earn a place in the last eight. Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. In the other fourth-round match, Tottenham and Hull were level at 2-2 after extra time. Hull player Ahmed Elmohamady, who gave away the penalty converted by Roberto Soldado at White Hart Lane in Hulls 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, missed the decisive spot-kick. Gylfi Sigurdssons 25-yard (meter) shot in the first half had put the home side ahead, before American goalkeeper Brad Friedel fumbled the ball into his own net. Paul McShane scored in extra time to give Tottenham the lead, but Hull substitute Harry Kane made it 2-2. Tottenham prevailed 8-7 on penalties. "To a man my players were magnificent. They didnt deserve to go out of the Cup but it wasnt our day today. We had the better chances," Hull manager Steve Bruce said. At St Jamess Park, Negredo calmly tapped the ball in to put his team ahead after Dzeko sent in a low cross from the left side of the area that Newcastle defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa failed to intercept. David Silva and James Milner combined well to set up the second goal. Milner found Dzeko with a superb pass that the Bosnian striker converted. Dzeko praised City backup goalkeeper Costel Pantilimons performannce after the Romanian player kept the pressure on Citys No.dddddddddddd 1 keeper Joe Hart. "He was great. This is the second game in the Cup that he hasnt conceded a goal, so hes definitely improving," Dzeko said. City coach Manuel Pellegrini made 10 changes to the side that lost to Chelsea at the weekend. His team soon came under pressure and was lucky not to concede when Papiss Cisses clever lob over goalkeeper Pantilimon flew just wide in the eighth minute. Without Vincent Kompany, Citys defence looked shaky and following a free kick and a melee in the box, Newcastle fans erupted in cheers when Ameobi slotted in from close range -- only to see his goal disallowed for offside. City became more dangerous on the break as the game opened up in the second half. James Milner curled a shot over an empty goal in the 63rd minute after Krul had been caught stranded and Negredo found the side-netting after a run into the area. Pantilimon made a decisive save in the 91st minute after Hatem Ben Arfa found Cisse on his own, blocking the strikers poor finish before Negredo and Dzeko turned the match in Citys favour. "Were obviously disappointed not to score. We played well enough to warrant a goal and I couldnt ask more from the players," said Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, who had made a "priority" of the League Cup. "The performance level was really high but it was a hard match so its a shame we didnt get our noses in front." City will next face Leicester while Tottenham will host West Ham in a London derby. Stoke faces Manchester United and Chelsea will play the winner of Sunderland vs. Southampton in the other quarterfinal. ' ' '
Cantinho Satkeys
