Campus Maximus » against the Shockers. Cotton added 1

PHOENIX - As it is, a pretty persuasive case could be made that Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and the rest of the Seattle Seahawks defence is among the very best groups on that side of the ball in NFL history.The Seahawks are the first team since coach Buddy Ryans 1985-86 Chicago Bears to give up the fewest points per game and fewest yards per game in back-to-back seasons.Theyre also the first team in more than 40 years, since the Minnesota Vikings Purple People Eaters of 1969-71, to lead the league in points allowed for three consecutive seasons.Where would Seattle rank, though, if it manages to beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Sundays Super Bowl, a year after overwhelming Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos 43-8 in the championship game?Not surprisingly, in this age of Twitters ability to instantly transform a mild boast into motivational material for an opponent, the Seahawks are not quite willing to wade into a debate.That would be cool, once you look back 20 or 30 years from now, to see how good you are. I remember the great defences back in the day. Theyre still being talked about. Teams from the 70s, from the 80s, theyre still being talked about to this day, even, linebacker K.J. Wright said. So when it gets to 2040, we can look back and just see how good we are. Itll be pretty fun.Others are ready to assess the Seahawks today.Over a two-year period, theyre as good as anybody thats played, said Brian Billick, coach of the Ray Lewis-led 2000 Baltimore Ravens that set a league record for fewest points in a season.Another former NFL head coach, Steve Mariucci, is impressed by the way Seattle has put up strong statistics year after year lately.Theyre in the conversation because of continuity over time, said Mariucci, now an NFL Network analyst. The Bears were pretty good over time, too, but they didnt win another Super Bowl. They were one-and-done.Those Chicago teams featured Hall of Famers, but they also used a never-before-seen scheme that confounded opponents. The Seahawks dont necessarily present creative formations or try to confuse offences.Instead, they rely plenty on everyone sticking to their assignments, hard hitting, turnovers and closing speed that helps limit opponents yards after catches.To try to avoid fumbling Sunday, the Patriots worked this week on protecting the ball.Running with slippery balls. Guys trying to strip the ball from you all practice, receiver Brandon LaFell said, adding that coach Bill Belichick puts a ton of water on the balls, and weve got the greased balls that are real slick.Brady calls playing against the Seahawks a grind and a test of wills.Youve got to run good routes. Youve got to make good throws. Youve got to throw into tight windows, Brady said. Theyve got a lot of eyes on the quarterback, so youve got to be conscious of those things, and youve still got to be able to play aggressively and play with confidence. You cant let one bad play affect another.The Seahawks defensive lines ability to fluster Brady and slow burly running back LeGarrette Blount could be key Sunday, and much of that responsibility will fall to Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril.But Seattles success really starts in the secondary with the self-styled Legion of Boom, led by All-Pros Sherman at cornerback and Thomas at safety. The other safety, Kam Chancellor, gets less recognition, but as Sherman put it: He doesnt fly under the radar on the field.Another vital cog is All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, whose value became most clear when he was out of the lineup for five games with a toe injury. Since his return, Seattle is 8-0.If they make that 9-0 with another Super Bowl victory, then maybe even the Seahawks will be ready to rate themselves.We can definitely talk about it. We have to win the game first, Wagner said. But if we win the game, we can talk about it.___Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Jordans From China . Serves hit by her surgically repaired shoulder often missed the mark, resulting in 12 double-faults. Cheap Jordans Free Shipping .The Dallas Cowboys released Sam from the practice squad Tuesday, dropping the rush end as they prepare for several potential reinforcements to return to the defensive line. http://www.cheapjordansusa.com/. The Yankees made the moves before Tuesdays game against Baltimore. Robertson was listed retroactive to Monday. Robertson posted two saves in three games as the replacement for retired Yankees closer Mariano Rivera before getting hurt. Cheap Authentic Jordans From China . -- Michael Bennett gambled last off-season that playing on a one-year deal in Seattle would pay off in the future with the long-term contract he always wanted. Wholesale Authentic Jordans .35 million. The right-hander had agreed last February to a deal that pays him $3.775 million this year and allows him to earn an additional $225,000 in bonuses based on games finished.ST. LOUIS -- All those runaway wins, its hard for unbeaten Wichita State to pick a favourite. Blowouts have become the norm for the Shockers. It keeps them loose during games and after. "I cant remember which one was our best game, but if you think so, then OK," point guard Fred VanVleet said after the second-ranked Shockers encountered little resistance in a 67-42 rout of Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament semifinals on Saturday. Coach Gregg Marshall said hes got a "fun team to watch, a fun team to coach, a fun team to be around." He scoffed at naysayers who might criticize strength of schedule. "Who can find fault with 33-0? No, I take that back, I know people find fault with 33-0. I dont. I enjoy it," Marshall said. "Ive enjoyed it the whole year." Marshall wrapped up his postgame news conference by complaining about an exposed nail on the table at the podium that caused him to rip his jacket on Friday, and to point out that Tekele Cottons first name is often mispronounced. "Hes going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the second time in three weeks," Marshall said. "Its not Tekeel, its Tekale -- like the vegetable." Cleanthony Early scored 20 points with three 3-pointers and a pair of dunks and Wichita State began celebrating early in the second half. The 22-point romp over Evansville in the quarterfinals had a similar feel. "Our motto is to play angry," centre Kadeem Coleby said. "But at the same time were out there on the court smiling, and were having fun with each other." And making life miserable for the opposition. "They handled us," Missouri State coach Paul Lusk said. "Obviously, we had some guys go down but give them credit. It wasnt a whole lot of fun to sit through." Jarmar Gulley, who leads the team with a 14.7-point average, had five points in 14 minutes before leaving with a jaw injury. Keith Pickens was scoreless and played three minutes because of a groin injury. "Theyre two of our best guys," forward Christian Kirk said. "Thats pretty tough." Cotton also made three 3-pointers for the top-seeded Shockers, who matched the start by Larry Bird and Indiana State in 1979 before they lost to Michigan State and Magic Johnson in thee NCAA title game.dddddddddddd Wichita State will be heavily favoured against Indiana State or Southern Illinois to make it 34 in a row, which would match the NCAA-record start by UNLV in 1990-91. Players appear utterly unconcerned. "I dont know about exactly celebrating what weve accomplished, so to speak, as opposed to thinking about how great we are," said VanVleet, the Valley player of the year. "We dont really blow our heads up like that. We have fun throughout the process. "If you watched the game, you saw that." The Shockers, who last won the conference tourney in 1987, took control with a 17-0 run in the first half and topped it with 24 straight points in the second, scoring at will while Missouri State endured droughts totalling more than 15 minutes. "I want to win very badly, but I would want to beat you at cards if we dealt them tonight," Marshall told a questioner. "Thats just the way Im wired." Missouri State (21-11) gave Wichita State its closest call in the regular season, losing by three in overtime at home in January after squandering a 19-point lead. The Bears got away with 33 per cent shooting in the quarterfinals against Illinois State but were blown out shooting 31 per cent against the Shockers. Cotton added 13 points, and VanVleet had nine points and five assists. Gavin Thurman led Missouri State with nine points. Austin Ruder was held to four points on 2-for-7 shooting after going 6 for 12 from 3-point range and scoring 21 points in the quarterfinals. Wichita State went to the Final Four as a No. 9 seed last season and is closing in on a No. 1 seed this March. Early had his two dunks, celebrating a bit on the way back down court each time, and was among seven players scoring during the 24-0 run that made it 61-23 with 8:58 to go. The Shockers were 8 for 10 from 3-point range in the first half, with five of them coming in the 17-0 run. Marshall said it was actually 8 for 8 because the two misses were with the shot clock about to expire. "To us, its just a rush of excitement," guard Ron Baker said. Missouri State went more than 6 1/2 minutes without a point before Thurman scored in the lane with 2:13 to go in the half. The Bears trailed 33-19 at the half, their lowest first-half scoring output this season. ' ' '