Sonstiges » to get fun for the Eastern Conferences

RENTON, Wash. -- 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. He was proven to be correct. Bennett now has a Super Bowl title and a new four-year contract that will keep him with the Seahawks. "I dont know if there was any doubt, but there was a lot of speculation a lot of teams tried to get me to come there," Bennett said Monday after signing his new deal. "But ultimately I wanted to come back and play with these guys and win some more games." Bennett was considered one of the top free agents in the NFL after a breakout season with the Seahawks where he led the team in sacks and proved a versatile option as a defensive end and defensive tackle. But he never made it all the way to the start of free agency Tuesday after the Seahawks came up with a satisfactory deal. Terms were not announced by the team. Pro Football Talk reported Bennetts deal was worth about $28.5 million with $16 guaranteed. Bennett said there were other teams offering more money, but the guaranteed amount was most important. Bennett was thought to have been strongly pursued by Chicago, where he had a chance of joining his brother, Martellus, with the Bears. But he ultimately decided to return to Seattle. "Yeah there was more, but I wanted to be here man. There are a lot of young guys here, and there are a lot of winning ways and I just love the organization and the things that they are about. I love the staff, from the equipment staff to the medical staff; it just goes on and on." Lost in the speculation about Bennetts future was his history with Seattle and specifically defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn. The Seahawks signed Bennett as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M in 2009 and gave him a spot on their roster for the start of that season when Quinn was his defensive line coach. Even though he was eventually waived and claimed by Tampa Bay, that initial relationship with Seattle remained strong. Its partly why Bennett jumped at the chance to return last off-season with Quinn as the new defensive co-ordinator, even if it meant playing on a one-year deal that paid only $3 million in base salary. Its also a factor in why hes staying now. "At the end of the day, it was about being comfortable and being in a good situation," Bennett said. "Sometimes going to a whole other organization doesnt work out the way it worked out for me coming here and being with these guys. A lot of times people take a lot of money and they go to places and theyre not what they turned out to be. I know what this place is. Im familiar with the staff and players and it makes a big deal to be here." Seattle seemed to understand what it would take to retain Bennett. The Seahawks parted with defensive end Red Bryant and wide receiver Sidney Rice to create additional salary cap space. Coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have been steadfast that their top priorities in free agency were retaining their own players and not making big splashes by signing others. Bennett was at the top of the list with wide receiver Golden Tate not far behind. Bennett had 8 1/2 sacks in the regular season and a fumble return for a touchdown. His numbers would have likely been higher had the Seahawks figured out earlier in the season how best to utilize their defensive line rotation. Bennett had even more impact in the playoffs. He had a forced fumble and recovery that gave Seattle an early lead in the NFC divisional playoff win over New Orleans, and added one sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the NFC championship game against San Francisco. "We had hopes he would be a real contributor and he exceeded our expectations and were excited to keep him," Carroll told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday. "Hes got great energy, a terrific motor and hes a very versatile football player. We really need to play him more. He didnt play a lot of plays the first half of the season, we specialty played him, and then we played him more as the year went on. We got better and he helped us. Were excited about it." Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys . - Andrew McCutchen went 4 for 5 and finished a home run short of a cycle, and Jordy Mercer drove in a career-high four runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-2 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Dennis Johnson Jersey . Neither side would publicly confirm or deny any discussions were taking place, until the near unexpected happened. On Saturday night sources confirmed to TSN, the league and players agreed to terms on a new, tentative CBA, pending ratification by the unions players. A league source confirmed the CFLs board of governors must also ratify any potential agreement. http://www.shopceltics.com/Cheap-Robert-Williams-Celtics-Jersey/ .The 24-year-old quarterback spent four seasons at Northern Illinois and in 2013 was a finalist for the Heisman, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in U. Danny Ainge Jersey . Hollis-Jefferson went 5-for-6 from the field and added six rebounds, while Stanley Jefferson contributed 14 points for the Wildcats, who used their trademark tough defense to dominate the games final 24 minutes and advance to Tuesdays winners bracket matchup with Kansas State. Marcus Smart Jersey .Y. - Major League Soccers independent review panel has taken back the fine and one-game suspension it placed on Toronto FC forward Luke Moore earlier this week.INDIANAPOLIS - Lance Stephenson wiggled his hips after a nasty crossover move. Paul George gestured to the crowd with his shooting eye and Danny Granger showed everyone he still has the touch. This is starting to get fun for the Eastern Conferences winningest team. Stephenson finished with his third triple-double this season, George scored 24 points and Granger made four 3-pointers as the Pacers overwhelmed Boston 106-79 on Sunday to ruin coach Brad Stevens return to his hometown. "Were starting the game off with high energy and were ending the game with high energy and in between were maintaining that energy," George said. "It wears teams down, and I think thats been the case these past couple games." Indiana (22-5) is taking full advantage of it, too. Since losing at home for the first time Monday and then losing at Miami on Wednesday, their first back-to-back losses of the season, the Pacers have been almost untouchable. They led for the final 38 minutes against Boston (12-17) and the final 41 against Houston on Friday. They have the best record in the East and are making things look easy. Stephenson finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and remains the NBAs only player with multiple triple-doubles this season. George, who is lobbying for Stephenson to make the All-Star team, has made 16 of 29 shots over the last two games. Roy Hibbert had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Granger, who missed all but five games last season with a left knee injury and the first 25 this season with a strained left calf, was 4 of 5 on 3s. He scored 12 against Boston and has 17 points this season after scoring 27 all of last season. Perhaps thats why Stevens, a lifelong Indiana fan, called this the best Pacers team hes seen in his lifetime. "Adding Granger is scary," Stevens said. "I think the more comfortable he gets, the better theyll be. I think theyre already if not the leader for the hunt, theyre in the hunt." The resume proves it. Indiana has won two straight, beating the Rockets, a Western Conference contender, and the Celtics, who entered Sunday tied for the Atlantic Division lead, by a combined 60 points. The 33 and 27-point victory margins are the two most lopsided wins Indiana has had all season, though the Pacers beat Milwaukee by 27 last month, and its only the second time theyve topped 100 pointss in consecutive games this season.dddddddddddd. The Pacers also will have a chance to pad their lead over the next couple of weeks. Sundays game marked the start of a 12-game stretch in which the Pacers will face 11 teams that currently have losing records. "We are a tough basketball team, we know that we can play, we know that we can improve," George said. "We are having fun out there because we are getting to know each other better." Thats a scary thought, even for Stevens, who was hoping for a much happier homecoming. The Celtics coach grew up in Zionsville, a suburb on the citys northwest side, and led nearby Butler to back-to-back national championship games before taking the Celtics job in July. During pregame introductions, he received a warm, polite reception from the home state crowd, which included his successor, Butler coach Brandon Miller, and his former athletic director, Barry Collier. The Pacers defence wasnt nearly as welcoming. Avery Bradley led the Celtics with 13 points, while Jeff Green and Courtney Lee each scored 11. Nobody else reached double figures. Stephenson was a showman all night, making nifty behind-the-back passes and at times dribbling wildly to shed defenders. So when he hit a 20-foot jumper after sending a Celtics defender sprawling on the ground early in the fourth quarter, he responded to the crowds ovation by wiggling his hips. Pacers coach Frank Vogel likes Stephenson for another reason. "Hes such a gifted passer and playmaker, he gives us a real edge," Vogel said. Boston started well, taking a 15-10 lead after going on a 7-0 run. Things went downhill fast. Indiana finished the first quarter on a 10-2 spurt to take a 20-17 lead. After the Celtics rallied to tie the score at 23 with 8:49 left in the first half, Granger hit two 3-pointers to spur a 15-1 run that turned the game and gave Indiana a commanding 38-24 lead with 5:08 to play in the first half. "Were not a team to make excuses," Jared Sullinger said. "Indiana just came out and kicked our behind. We just have to play better." Notes: The Pacers have won three of the last four and five of the last seven in the series. ... The Celtics have played back-to-back games eight times this season and have now been swept five times. ... Twelve of Indianas 22 wins have come by 10 or more points. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '