RENTON, Wash. - The interceptions are down for Earl Thomas. Same for the number of passes Thomas broke up this season and the free safetys total tackles.What remains the same is a presence that makes it difficult to challenge the Seahawks deep down the middle of the field.He has been more consistent than he has ever been. Hes been at his best, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. As it happens you know, when you gain the notoriety and the respect is demonstrated by the fact the ball doesnt go your way, he doesnt see much but thats a big, big plus for us. That means that post routes and seam routes dont happen again. Thats huge because thats how people score the most in the league with the throwing game. So hes been a huge factor.As a whole, Seattles secondary has lacked some of the flash that made it stand out during last seasons title run. There has been less opportunity for Thomas, Richard Sherman and the rest of Seattles defensive backs to be in the spotlight because teams were less willing to take chances throwing against them. The Seahawks led the NFL with 28 interceptions last season. This season, that number plummeted to just 13.But a core element of Seattles defence is not giving up big plays and much of that can be attributed to Thomas. The Seahawks gave up just 32 completions of 20 or more yards this season, the fewest in the NFL. They also led the league in fewest runs of 10 or more yards allowed. While fellow safety Kam Chancellor gets attention for his run support, Thomas is often the one cleaning up any ball carriers that slip through.Thomas season could be encapsulated by one play in the season finale against St. Louis. With the Seahawks holding a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, Rams quarterback Shaun Hill threw in the flat to running back Benny Cunningham at the 6-yard line. Cunningham was briefly slowed by Byron Maxwell at the 2, allowing time for Thomas to come from 10 yards away and get in on the tackle. But instead of just trying to stop the runner short of the goal line, Thomas chopped at Cunninghams arm. The move knocked the ball free from Cunningham and out of the end zone for a touchback.The forced fumble kept Seattles streak intact of not giving up any fourth-quarter points in the final six games. And it drew raves from his teammates.I thought it was the biggest play of the game, defensive end Michael Bennett said. That was one of those plays, most people would just let a guy run into the end zone and just say, Were already in the playoffs, we dont need to do that. This play doesnt even matter. But the mindset Earl has every weekend is intensity and his approach to the game is second to none. For him to make that strip was just amazing.But when asked to describe that play on Thursday, Thomas gave a collective shrug. He didnt see anything special about his third forced fumble of the season.I think that play just represents all the tackles that I make. They kind of look like that but people dont see it. But I guess that was something that everyone had to pay attention to, Thomas said. I knew what was coming. I had a good feel, I was in a rhythm and I was just mirroring the QB. Once I get in a mirror like that Im in sync and its hard to stop what Im trying to do.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Natrell Jamerson Jersey . Indeed, must be among the greatest challenges in all of sports. The pressure he applies, from set to set, game to game, point to point, shot to shot. TreQuan Smith Jersey . The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who lose three straight finals in Monte Carlo to Rafael Nadal from 2006-08, has not played in the tournament since 2011, when he lost to Jurgen Melzer in the quarterfinals. http://www.authenticfootballshopsaints.c...e-Elite-Jersey/. -- Creighton apparently has Villanovas number. Natrell Jamerson Saints Jersey .com) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right elbow last week, the teams official site reported Wednesday. Tom Savage Jersey .com) - Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 11.While the Dallas Stars are still young, their expectations have clearly changed.This group is no longer just hoping to get to the playoffs.Weve been together for a year now. The new players have fit in well, said Jamie Benn, their 25-year-old captain. Weve got a little bit more confidence as a group just making the playoffs, and I think we can bring that into this year.Not only did the Stars end the longest post-season drought in franchise history last season, they came oh so close to taking top-seeded Anaheim to Game 7 in the opening round. The Ducks had to score twice in the final 2:10 of regulation in Game 6 to force overtime, and won on the only shot there.We had a great year last year, and this year I think our expectations are a lot higher, said Tyler Seguin, the 22-year-old centre.General manager Jim Nill, a longtime assistant GM with Detroit, was hired in April 2013 after the Stars missed the playoffs for the fifth season in a row. He hired veteran coach Lindy Ruff, who had eight playoff appearances in his 15 seasons with Buffalo.Nills biggest initial deal was a seven-player trade with Boston to get former second overall pick Seguin, who in his debut Dallas season was the leading scorer with 84 points (37 goals, 47 assists). This off-season, Nill added 31-year-old former Ottawa teammates Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky.Last year, Jamie Benn moving back to the wing, Seguin coming in, how were they going to mesh together? And weve seen that theyre as dynamic a duo as there is, Nill said. A lot of questions have been answered. ... Weve got the excitement of adding Spezza, Hemsky and these guys. Its an exciting time, good for our team.Spezza (23 goals, 43 assists) is a centre acquired in a trade before free-agent right wing Hemsky (13 goals, 30 assists combined with Edmonton and Ottawa) signed a three-year contract. The two will likely be paired together, providing another scoring line behind the front line led by Seguin and Bennn (34 goals, 45 assists).ddddddddddddHere are some things to know about the 2014-15 Dallas Stars, who open the season at home Oct. 9 against Western Conference finalist Chicago:POTENT POWER PLAY: During the preseason, Ruff had a primary power-play unit that included Seguin and Benn, his top two scorers from last season, and newcomers Spezza and Hemsky. We were finding each other, Seguin said. It will be great to see what we can do once we learn each other a lot. Ruff said he expects those guys to read off each other, rather than having a specific plan where, Youve got to be here, and youve got to be there.BACKUP GOALIE: The Stars went into training camp with several options to be goalie Kari Lehtonens backup. They used four different players in that role last season. Anders Lindback, who started 67 games over the past four seasons with Nashville and Tampa Bay, exited training camp as the second goalie on the roster.WORKING CLASS: Benn said the team has developed an identity as a hard-working team. Weve got to be the hardest-working team out there, the captain said. Our skills going to help us out, but if we dont work hard, were not going to win many games.STILL UNSIGNED: When the Stars opened training camp in mid-September, unsigned restricted free agents Cody Eakin and Brenden Dillon were working out at home in Canada. Eakin, a centre, signed a two-year deal and joined the team this week. Defenceman Dillon remained unsigned and it was uncertain if his contract would be resolved before the season.PEVERLEYS PROGRESS: Nearly seven months after collapsing on the bench during a game because of an irregular heartbeat, forward Rich Peverley is doing off-ice workouts. 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