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RENTON, Wash. - The conversations started in the spring and as much as K.J. Wright wanted to believe the Seattle Seahawks legitimately wanted to keep him around long-term, the fact the season started and weeks ticked by without a contract extension began weighing on the linebacker.The more the season goes on, its only human you start to think about am I going to be here, am I not? Wright said. I didnt try and let it affect me too much.The stress and worry about his future was alleviated on Thursday after Wright signed a four-year extension worth up to $27 million with the Seahawks, keeping one of Seattles key defensive players from reaching free agency.Wright was in the final year of his rookie contract and making $1.4 million in base salary. While the idea of seeing what he was worth on the open market was intriguing, he ultimately wanted to remain with the team that drafted him in the fourth round in 2011.Im not going to lie, it would have been nice to see what other teams thought of you, to see what your value was, Wright said. But I didnt want to go anywhere else. I love it here.Seattle has always valued the unique size and speed Wright has added to the linebacker unit. At 6-foot-4 and nearly 250 pounds, Wright has become a needed, versatile component since his arrival.Wright has started at all three linebacker positions for the Seahawks. The first game of his career in 2011, Wright started at middle linebacker. But Seattle has found the best spot for Wright is at weakside linebacker.For his career, Wright has started 54 of 58 games.Because hes around we have a lot of depth, Seattle linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. said. And if youve been around the Seahawks the last four years youve seen him grow into a really exciting player. Hes done a lot of fantastic things and the great thing about him, hes only getting better. Every time he steps on the field hes only getting better.Wright is leading Seattle with 96 tackles this season, already a career-high, has two sacks and forced three fumbles. Hes started all 14 games, including three at middle linebacker when Bobby Wagner was out with a foot injury.Wright is also playing more than at any other point in his career. According to STATS, Wright has been on the field for 95.8 per cent of the defensive snaps this season, the highest total of his career.The timing of this signing gives us the ability to keep as many of our core players together as we possibly can, Seattle general manager John Schneider said in a statement. Since day one, K.J. has been a true professional in his daily approach.Wright is the latest of Seattles core group of drafted players to be given new contracts. Strong safety Kam Chancellor was first before the start of the 2013 season. All-Pros Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman, and wide receiver Doug Baldwin were all extended following Seattles title last season.Next on the agenda: quarterback Russell Wilson and Wagner, both of whom can be extended this off-season.We play so well together and get along so good, just have to keep these guys around, Wright said. It only makes sense to keep guys you drafted here to keep growing and developing as football players. Im glad they chose me to stick around and do nothing but be the best player on and off the field.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Adidas Nmd Mens Ireland . Halak did not get the start in the Washington Capitals Tuesday night game against the St. Adidas Nmd Womens Ireland .com) - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and four-time Australian Open titlist Roger Federer were among Mondays fourth-round winners at Melbourne Park. http://www.cheapnmdsneakersireland.com/a...ap-ireland.html. Durant had 33 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, hit the tying 3-pointer late in regulation and made the go-ahead foul shots in overtime to lift the Thunder past the Wizards 106-105. John Wall missed a driving layup attempt at the buzzer for Washington, which was seeking its third straight win. Adidas Nmd Ireland .Heres Ralph the Dog with the crew here at TSN jumping into the James Duthie TradeCentre selfie: Happy to drop by! RT @TSN_Sports: @tsnjamesduthie: Take this Ellen. Adidas Nmd Shoes Near Me . Strasburg (1-1) got 14 consecutive outs in one stretch and allowed only three hits, including Marcell Ozunas homer in the seventh. The right-handers lone walk was to the last batter he faced. Washingtons starter Wednesday, Jordan Zimmermann, left after a career-low 1 2-3 innings, leaving the bullpen "taxed," as manager Matt Williams put it. PARIS -- Novak Djokovic won his 15th straight match and Roger Federer beat a top-10 player for the first time since January, setting up a semifinal match between the two at the Paris Masters. Djokovic beat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-1, 6-4 Friday, while Federer overcame Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Top-ranked Rafael Nadal also moved into the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Richard Gasquet of France and will play defending champion David Ferrer, who rallied past Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The last time Federer defeated a top-10 player was when he outlasted Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. "Thats definitely good for my confidence, because those are the kind of wins I need right now," Federer said. "Im happy now I won against a top-10 again, especially just before London where I will have to play against three top-10 players in a row." The eight quarterfinalists at the Paris Masters are the same eight who have qualified for the ATP World Tour Finals in London next week. Federer avenged last weekends loss to del Potro in the Swiss Indoors final. The 17-time Grand Slam champion played nearly flawless tennis in the first set, making 17 winners and only four unforced errors. Del Potro fought back in the second set, saving a break point in the opening game before converting his second break chance at 5-4 to level the match when the fifth-seeded Swiss netted a forehand. In the deciding set, del Potro sent a forehand into the net to drop serve at 3-3 and Federer won the match when the Argentine hit a forehand long. Djokovic, wwho saved all six break points he faced, won 13 of 19 points at the net.dddddddddddd "Coming to the net is one of the improvements that I had recently," the second-seeded Serb said. "It didnt click so fast, trust me. I had to work and put in many, many hours on the practice court that you guys dont see." Wawrinka lost five-setters against Djokovic at the Australian Open and the U.S. Open this year. "When he plays that good its very difficult, especially on this surface where hes the best, I believe," Wawrinka said. Nadal improved his record against Gasquet to 12-0 despite a crowd cheering loudly for the only Frenchman left in the draw. The Spaniard, who is seeking a record sixth Masters title in a single season, broke for a 4-3 lead with a crosscourt backhand return winner. Gasquet struggled with his one-handed backhand against Nadals powerful groundstrokes and the U.S. Open champion went a set up when the Frenchman made a backhand error. Nadal took a 4-0 lead in the second set and finished off Gasquet by whipping a forehand winner down the line. "Winning a match against him before the end of my career is going to be extremely difficult," Gasquet said. "I would like to, but hes getting better and better." Nadal has now a 32-2 record on hard courts this season, having been sidelined much of last year with a knee injury. "Probably the injury that I had (forced) me to play more aggressive than before, and that helped me a lot to play better on hard," Nadal said. Nadal unseated Djokovic atop the rankings by reaching the final of the China Open last month. ' ' '