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Tom Johnson Color Rush Jersey , Wash. (AP) — The players the Seattle Seahawks lost off their defense over the past year became synonymous with being considered among the best at their position and creating an elite unit that was tough to have success against.And yet, the current batch of Seahawks sit near the midseason point with a defense that statistically is back among the elite of the NFL."I'm not surprised at all. We knew coming into the season we had a great group of guys and we knew the outside was sleeping on the leadership we had in the building and the people that we had in the building. ... We knew that people didn't see that. They wouldn't see that," Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said."If you listened to us talk, we were very confident in what we were going to get accomplished and what we were going to be doing. What we are seeing is good, but I think there is a level where we can get better."Heading into Week 9, the Seahawks have the No. 5 total defense (327.3 yards per game), No. 4 in pass defense (219.0) and No. 4 in points allowed per game (18.7). Those numbers include six games playing without starting linebacker K.J. Wright because of knee surgery and three games without Earl Thomas after he suffered a broken leg in the Week 4 win over Arizona.Wagner was around before the overhaul started. So was defensive end Frank Clark and defensive tackle Jarran Reed. But the rest of Seattle's defense has been largely re-tooled over the past two seasons. And instead of Seattle taking a major step back, it has returned to being among the NFL's best in less than half a season."The first few games, even up until now, we were still trying to learn how to play with one another, learn how to have fun with one another," Wagner said. "Now, you're seeing the product of that last game and I think it's still room to get better."Seattle is coming off one of its better defensive performance of the season when it limited Detroit to 34 yards rushing in a 28-14 win over the Lions last week. Matthew Stafford still had a big day throwing the ball, but the Seahawks ability to make Detroit one-dimensional on offense was critical considering the Lions ability to run the ball in recent weeks.It was the fourth time Seattle held an opponent under 100 yards rushing and the Seahawks forced three turnovers bringing their season total to 16.The Seahawks were hopeful this kind of defense would develop but knew it could take some time with new players such as Tre Flowers
Rasheem Green Color Rush Jersey , Shamar Stephen and Barkevious Mingo joining the lineup, and Tedric Thompson, Bradley McDougald and Shaquill Griffin stepping into more prominent roles."There is so much football that they don't know you can't be upset by what they're doing. Because they're working really hard, they've had success, they've had failure," Seattle defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said. "They've learned from their successes and failures so it's really fun to watch the development of the young players."The competition Seattle has faced should be noted and will get significantly tougher in the coming weeks, beginning with Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Three of Seattle's wins have come against teams ranked in the bottom half of the league in total offense.That changes this weekend. Led by Philip Rivers, the Chargers have the sixth-best offense in the NFL averaging 402.7 yards per game, and nearly 28 points. That's followed by a matchup with the Los Angeles Rams and their second-ranked total offense; then back home to face Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers on a short week after that; and finally a trip to face Cam Newton and Carolina to close out November.If there's a concern that Seattle's defense has yet to be truly tested, the examination will happen over the next four games."We all treating them the same and that's the best quarterback we've played against," Griffin said. "That's the type of mentality we have to bring to that, no matter what quarterback we're facing. We're going to bring the same mentality and play our best ball. You name some great guys and I'm looking forward to playing against all of them."NOTES: Coach Pete Carroll said the release of veteran WR Brandon Marshall on Tuesday was mostly because of roster construction and the fact Seattle is passing the ball less. Marshall had only two snaps in the win over Detroit and Carroll said the roster spot was needed for additional special teams help. The Seahawks promoted WR Malik Turner from the practice squad on Wednesday to take Marshall's spot. ... Carroll said the team was hoping for a shorter suspension for LB Mychal Kendricks, who was suspended eight games, but looked forward to getting him back late in the season. NBAFirst the general manager
Will Dissly Color Rush Jersey , now the coach.In another move aimed at getting the Charlotte Hornets on track, majority owner Michael Jordan fired coach Steve Clifford on Friday after the team went 36-46 and failed to reach the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons.Clifford had a year left on his contract. The move to dismiss him came after his face-to-face meeting Friday with new general manager Mitch Kupchak."I want to thank coach Clifford for his contributions to the Hornets," Kupchak said in a statement. "I know he has worked incredibly hard on behalf of the organization and we wish him the best moving forward. The search for a new coach will begin immediately."Jordan hired Kupchak on Sunday to replace Rich Cho, who was fired earlier in the season after the Hornets failed to climb out of an early slump.The Hornets were 196-214 in five seasons under Clifford. They reached the playoffs twice, but failed to make it out of the first round in 2014 and 2016.Clifford is the third NBA coach to be dismissed since the end of the regular season, following Jeff Hornacek of New York and Frank Vogel of Orlando.BASEBALLKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)Outfielder Tarik El-Abour, who was diagnosed with autism at age 3 and did not speak until he was 6, signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals on Autism Awareness Day.El-Abour was assigned to the Royals' extended spring training in Surprise, Arizona, and will open with one of Kansas City's three rookie league clubs, which all start their seasons in June. The 25-year-old El-Abour has played in the independent Empire League, where he was named rookie of the year in 2016.Reggie Sanders, a former Royals player who is an adviser to baseball operations
Michael Dickson Color Rush Jersey , was instrumental in getting El-Abour signed. Sanders said his 40-year-old brother is autistic.El-Abour threw out the first pitch on Autism Awareness Day last year at Kauffman Stadium. Sanders received permission from manager Ned Yost for El-Abour to take batting practice and shag fly balls during pregame drills."He did so well, fit in so well, just being one of the guys," Sanders said. "I said, `Lord, what do you want me to do with this?' Six months went by and I woke up one day and said, `Oh my God, I think this would work in terms of the Kansas City Royals and Tarik."'Sanders described El-Abour as a speedy left fielder."He's just a raw player," Sanders said. "The coaches are all in in terms of being patient with him, making sure they are very clear ... in terms of their language."After graduating from San Marino High School in California, El-Abour played at Pasadena City College. He earned a starting spot with Pacifica College, which merged with Bristol University in Anaheim. He played his senior season while earning a degree in business administration."We see this as an outstanding opportunity for Tarik and our organization," Royals assistant general manager J.J. Picollo said.NHLFRISCO, Texas (AP) – Ken Hitchcock wasn't sure how long he would coach the Dallas Stars the second time around after 15 years away.Turned out to be one season.The coach who led Dallas to its only Stanley Cup championship retired Friday
Alex McGough Color Rush Jersey , ending a 22-year career as the third-winningest coach in NHL history. Hitchcock's 823 wins are behind only Scotty Bowman (1,244) and Joel Quenneville (884).The 66-year-old Hitchcock will become a consultant for the Stars."I have contemplated this since our last game and I came to the conclusion that now is the right time to step away and let the younger generation of coaches take over," said Hitchcock, who last year signed a multiyear contract that included the stipulation of becoming a consultant when he was finished coaching.Hitchcock returned to Dallas after 14 seasons elsewhere, including stops in Philadelphia, Columbus and St. Louis. General manager Jim Nill hoped Hitchcock could get the Stars back to the playoffs, but a late-season slump kept them out for the second straight year and the eighth time in 10 seasons."We were honored to have Ken as our head coach and it was fitting that he finished his coaching here," Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said. "He is a certain Hockey Hall of Fame coach and he left a lasting legacy wherever he went."The Stars went to the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive seasons, beating Buffalo for the title in 1999 before losing to New Jersey in six games. Those are the only times Hitchcock or the Stars have made it to the final.NFLRENTON, Wash. (AP) – The Seattle Seahawks are hoping Sebastian Janikowski can solve their kicking issues.The team signed Janikowski on Friday amid a number of moves.Seattle also signed quarterback Stephen Morris to have another arm on the roster behind Russell Wilson. Running back J.D. McKissic and defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson signed their exclusive rights free-agent contracts for the 2018 season.Janikowski spent 17 seasons with the
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