ASS News » first day of minicamp began for the Super

RENTON, Wash. -- So much for concern that running back Marshawn Lynch would be absent from the Seattle Seahawks minicamp. Shortly after the first day of minicamp began for the Super Bowl champions on Tuesday, Lynch strolled from the Seahawks locker room with his No. 24 jersey pulled over a hooded sweatshirt. Lynch was just a spectator, spending most of his day chomping on sunflower seeds and chatting with teammates. But he was in attendance, avoiding the potential of being fined nearly $70,000 for skipping the mandatory team workouts. "We expected him to be here and he was here," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. Reports surfaced last week that Lynch might consider not attending the practices in hopes of getting a higher salary for the 2014 season. Lynch signed a four-year contract before the 2012 season. He is scheduled to make $5 million in base salary this season plus per-game roster bonuses. Carroll declined to discuss any conversations with Lynch about his contract. "There is nothing in our conversations about that, the business side of it that well talk about," Carroll said. "There is no reason to. We havent talked about other guys in that regard so were not doing that now." Lynch was not available to speak as he sat out the practice with a sore ankle, according to Carroll. Lynch had not been present for Seattles organized team activities and because of a sore ankle, Carroll said it would be unlikely his running back would be on the field during minicamp. Seattles plan is to make sure Lynch is healthy for the season opener against Green Bay on Sept. 4, which will be a very light load of carries during training camp and the preseason. Even though the Seahawks staff at various times during the off-season has expressed getting more carries for reserves Robert Turbin and Christine Michael, Carroll reiterated that Seattles run game begins with Lynch. Lynch has rushed for at least 1,200 yards in each of the past three regular seasons. Hes gotten at least 285 carries in each of those three seasons and last season during Seattles title run finished the year with 366 carries combined between the regular season and playoffs. That was the fourth-most combined carries for any running back since 2009. "We have rested him a lot in the off-season. He takes a big pounding during the year. It takes him a long time to get his body back to where he doesnt feel the rigours of the season thats past," Carroll said. "In this case its unique but he is a unique player and he has a unique role on our football team, so we have to do what we have to do to take care of him." Lynch could have faced significant fines if he decided not to attend minicamp, but he has shown previously he does not enjoy losing money through fines. Last season, Lynch begrudgingly began speaking to the media during the playoffs in an effort to avoid hefty fines from the league. That included memorable sessions during Super Bowl week where he answered questions for about 20 combined minutes during three days of league-mandated media availability. "Marshawn has really been the guy for us and we love everything about the way he plays and what he brings to this team. Hes never taken a step backward at any time for us in all the years hes been here," Carroll said. "From the day we went after him and got him we had sights on him becoming the player that he has become and he has never disappointed us. Hopefully hell be really healthy and ready to go at the season start and if we have accomplished that with this off-season that will be very successful for him and for our team." NOTES: LB Bruce Irvin, who had hip surgery in early June, was the only player not in attendance. ... Rookie WR Paul Richardson was a full participant after being limited in recent off-season workouts with a sore shoulder. ... Veteran DT Kevin Williams was a full participant one day after signing his contract with the Seahawks after spending his entire career with Minnesota. Rick Martin Jersey .S. routed Sweden 7-0 Sunday to win its fourth straight title and seventh overall under-18 world championship. Olson earned his third shutout of the tournament and the Americans allowed only four goals in six games to set an International Ice Hockey Federation under-18 record. Jeff Skinner Jersey . They never thought it would take some blood, too. Kevin Love grabbed his 4,000th career rebound as part of a 19-point, 13-board effort to lead the Timberwolves over the Utah Jazz 112-97 on Tuesday night. http://www.officialsabresfanstore.com/ . He just didnt expect them to be this good. Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points to lead No. 6 Villanova to a dominating 77-59 victory over Georgetown on Saturday, preserving the Wildcats hopes of a No. Alexander Mogilny Jersey . -- D.A. Points was disqualified Friday from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for using a training device while waiting to play the 18th hole at Pebble Beach. Gilbert Perreault Jersey .com) - The Toronto Raptors set their sights on a second straight victory with the Oklahoma City Thunder visiting the Air Canada Centre tonight riding a two game streak of their own.HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Jimmie Johnson has a sixth NASCAR championship in hand and two legends within reach. Johnson staked his claim as one of the most dominant competitors Sunday by winning his sixth Sprint Cup title in eight years. He needs one more championship -- hes sure to be the early favourite in 2014 -- to tie the NASCAR record held by Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt. Johnson barely got to complete his celebratory burnouts before the debate began: Where does he rank among NASCAR greats? This much is certain: At 38 years and 61 days old, Johnson is the youngest driver to win six NASCAR championships. Petty was 38 years and 144 days old when he won No. 6 in 1975. Earnhardt was 42 when he won his sixth in 1993. "Well see if I can get seven," Johnson said. "Lets wait until I hang up the helmet until we really start thinking about this." Thats not really how it works, so here are a few more worthy comparisons for Johnsons remarkable run. Tennis star Roger Federer won 16 Grand Slam titles from 2003-10. American swimmer Michael Phelps won 18 gold medals over three Olympics, including eight golds in eight events in Beijing in 2008. Professional golfer Tiger Woods won seven majors from 1999-2002, including four straight in 2000 and 2001. And race-car driver Michael Schumacher won five consecutive Formula 1 championships from 2000-04, winning 56 per cent of his races in that span. The only other organizations to pull off six titles in eight years: --The New York Yankees did it twice, winning six of eight World Series titles between 1936 and 1943 and six of seven between 1947 and 1953. --The Montreal Canadiens hoisted the Stanley Cup six times in eight seasons between 1953 and 1960. --The Boston Celtics won eight consecutive NBA championships between 1959 and 1966. --UCLA won seven consecutive NCAA championships between 1967 and 1973. --The Chicago Bulls won six of eight NBA titles between 1991 and 1998. And now Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 team, led by Johnson and relentless crew chief Chad Knaus. "Every one of them is special," team owner Rick Hendrick said. "It makes you hungry to continue to try to win more. ... They got this championship mentality. "Well just keep digging and see if we can come back and be competitive. (If) luck will be on our side next year, well be able to win another one." Aside from Johnsons on-track dominance, here are five things to know about NASCARs 2013 season: KENSETH CLOSE: Matt Kenseths first season at Joe Gibbs Racing was his best in seven years, a title-contending run that fell 19 points short of a championship. The 2003 Sprint Cup champion finished with a career-best seven victories this season and led the majority of the 10-race Chase. Maybe its his experience. Maybe its his comfort level in the redesigned cars. Or maybe its the move from Roush Fenway Racing to Gibbs. "I dont know if I feel like Im the best driver Ive ever been in my career, but I really dont feel like Ive deteriorated,&qquot; Kenseth said.dddddddddddd "Its probably the best Ive felt physically and mentally and emotionally in as many years as I can remember. Its probably as confident as Ive ever felt." SEAT SHUFFLE: NASCARs annual seat shuffle has more moves than usual. Kevin Harvick, who finished third in points, is leaving Richard Childress Racing for Stewart-Haas Racing. Hell be joined there by Kurt Busch, who is leaving Furniture Row Racing after one season. With Ryan Newman out at SHR, hes moving to RCR. Martin Truex Jr. is moving from Michael Waltrip Racing to Furniture Row. Confused yet? Well, Jeff Burton also is done at Richard Childress, and although nothing has been officially announced, he appears headed to MWR for a part-time ride. Then theres Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte and Juan Pablo Montoya -- all of whom might be done behind a NASCAR wheel. Martin is stepping away. Labontes future is uncertain. And Montoya is returning to IndyCar, where he will drive for legendary owner Roger Penske. KEY INJURIES: Between Tony Stewarts broken leg and Denny Hamlins broken vertebra, the season had two significant injuries. But those were just a glimpse of what happened across auto racing. Former NASCAR driver Jason Leffler, a two-time winner in the Nationwide Series, died in June after crashing in a sprint car event. Justin Wilson fractured his pelvis and bruised a lung in the IndyCar finale, and four-time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti abruptly retired Thursday because of injuries sustained in a crash in Houston early last month. Franchitti fractured his spine, broke his right ankle and suffered a concussion. "The one other thing weve learned again and are reminded of in 2013 is that its a dangerous sport," NASCAR President Mike Helton said Friday. "Our drivers are human." CONFLICT, CHAOS & CHANGE: Those bickering disputes between Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin and Tony Stewart and Logano were minor compared to what happened during and after the Richmond race. It might go down as the most memorable moment of 2013. Clint Bowyer intentionally spun and triggered the biggest credibility crisis in NASCAR history. Bowyer was trying to help a teammate earn a valuable spot in NASCARs version of the playoffs, but the situation snowballed and led to a full-blown scandal. When the dust settled, chairman Brian France gathered all the competitors and tersely ordered them to give 100 per cent at all times going forward. DANICAS DUD: The year began with former IndyCar star Danica Patrick on the Daytona 500 pole and making history by leading laps at the Great American Race. Oh yeah, she also announced she was dating fellow rookie of the year candidate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He bested her in the race for the award as she mostly struggled in her first full Sprint Cup season. Patrick finished eighth at Daytona, but failed to crack the top 10 in the next 35 starts. She finished 28th in points. But shes never been happier, personally and professionally, despite her below-average results. 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