SEATTLE -- The guitar riffs ripped from the hotel ballroom where owner Paul Allens band was performing and filled the lobby. [u

SEATTLE -- The guitar riffs ripped from the hotel ballroom where owner Paul Allens band was performing and filled the lobby. Vince Carter Raptors Jersey . 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." Jodie Meeks Raptors Jersey . As Valanciunas was whistled for a rare technical toward the end of the third quarter - a result of waving his hand at an official after being called for a foul - Lowry pulled the Raptors sophomore aside, corralling him by his jersey and patting him on the back. Jodie Meeks Jersey . Mladenovics quick hands at the net made the difference while Bencics inexperience in doubles showed. "We took a lot of pleasure," Mladenovic told Sport Plus television. "Its extremely difficult to play in such conditions, but our doubles team showed a lot of quality. https://www.raptorsrookiesshop.com/Delon-Wright-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- Tony Finau won the Stonebrae Classic on Sunday for his first Web.TORONTO - As many of his teammates departed for warm, sunny destinations over the Olympic break, David Clarkson decided to spend the majority of his time at home in Toronto, working to get himself in a position to finish what otherwise has been a forgettable season on the right foot. "Just at home with my daughter dressing up as a princess and bossing me around but I was home with the family, went away quickly, but was mainly just home with my wife and daughter," said Clarkson. Having already missed 21 of 60 games this season being in and out of the lineup due to two suspensions and two different injuries (foot and elbow), additional time off was the last thing Clarkson felt he needed. "I think Ive had enough of a break this year," he laughed, "but Im ready to go here to finish this season the right way." Instead of time off, Clarkson dedicated himself to a workout schedule in an effort to sustain the improvement in his play in the week leading up to the Olympic break. "Especially with the year, the way its gone for me, when you go through a tough time, sometimes youve got to dig deep and find a way to get back to work and try to stay healthy." So far, Clarksons off-ice work over the break has paid off, at least in the eyes of his head coach. "He worked out and maintained a high level of conditioning and its shown here during this mini camp," Randy Carlyle praised, singling Clarkson out after putting his team through another high tempo practice with a heavy emphasis on battle drills designed to ensure the team hits the ground running when they resume their schedule on Thursday night against the New York Islanders. Reunited with Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul on a line in the second last game before the Olympic break in Tampa Bay, Carlyle was impressed with the trios performance against the Lightning and the following game against the Vancouver Canucks. The three had played together most recently for a couple of games at the end of November before various injuries and suspensions kept them apart. C.J. Miles Raptors Jersey. "We think the combination of Kadri, Lupul and Clarkson have been a real strong force for us over the last little while and theres no reason to change that," said Carlyle. "We think they should be challenging the Bozak, Kessel and van Riemsdyk lines for minutes, offensive minutes." Likely more of a challenge than an expectation given the tear that the JVR-Bozak-Kessel unit was on heading into the break, an element of consistent production from that group would be welcomed to take some of the onus off the top line. Clarkson seems to be pleased with the chemistry developing among his linemates so far. "I think playing with those two, we made a lot of good plays," he said. "We were in the other teams zone, we were doing a lot and I think it was the healthiest Ive felt since coming back off the elbow (injury)." Signing a seven-year, $36.75 million deal to play in his hometown last summer, the expectations were high, probably too high to legitimately expect them to be met. At that price, production is expected in the range of 20 to 30 goals and 55-65 points. But Clarkson is not a player who will consistently reach those targets. He knows the criticism has been abundant. "In sports, I think you have to blank some stuff out whether its what people are saying or whats going on," said Clarkson. "As a player you go through ups and downs and its how you come out of it and how you handle it. You work hard through those times to get stronger and better." Finally healthy, a strong performance down the stretch could go a long way in helping to silence some of his critics and erase the disappointment of the first three quarters of the season. It promises to be tough, hard sprint to the finish and its type of hockey Clarkson wouldnt want any other way. "This is playoff hockey," he said, "the rest of the season is what its all about." ' ' '