Three words raced through Seattle Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith's mind as he streaked toward the end zone in the Super Bowl, returning his interception of a pass by Peyton Manning: ''Don't get caught.'' That, Smith explained Monday at a news conference, would be the ''typical thoughts a defensive player (would have) with the ball.'' And he heeded his own advice, going 69 yards for a touchdown on that play. He added a fumble recovery later and earned MVP honors as Seattle beat Manning's Denver Broncos 43-8 for the Seahawks' first NFL championship. At no moment during Sunday's action did Smith think he would take home the award. Not me.' But to be here, it's just pretty cool.'' Smith is not one of those players who long ago seemed destined to wind up getting the keys to a new vehicle the day after the Super Bowl, a sponsor's prize for the big game's best player.

Less than 12 hours after winning the Super Bowl, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll already was talking about getting started on next season. ... Our guys would be surprised if we didn't,'' Carroll said Monday morning. We'll take this in stride.'' He appeared at a news conference at a Manhattan hotel with linebacker Malcolm Smith, the MVP of Seattle's 43-8 victory over Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. Carroll oversees a team with the fourth-youngest roster for a Super Bowl champion, with an average age of 26 years, 175 days, according to STATS.

Richard Sherman felt the need to apologize. It's a dream come true.'' Led by its All-Pro cornerback, Seattle's ''Legion of Boom'' secondary and the nastiest defense in the NFL proved the strength of the Seahawks was greater than the record-setting arm of Peyton Manning in their stunning 43-8 rout on Sunday night. After two weeks of so much attention landing at Sherman's feet for what happened at the end of the NFC championship game, his Super Bowl night was rather uneventful. Manning wasn't about to mess with arguably the best cornerback in the NFL.

Less than five months after having back surgery, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray propelled Britain into the next round of the Davis Cup and earned some time off. Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britain's opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. ''I'm proud of the way I'm playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be,'' Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseball's San Diego Padres.

Virginia coach Tony Bennett installed a new play late last month for end-of-game situations, but he didn't have much confidence in. Maybe Malcolm Brogdon was saving himself for a big moment. ''I guess it's better to make it in a game.'' Brogdon came off screen and drained a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining to lift the visiting Cavaliers a 48-45 victory. The play is designed for either Brogdon or Joe Harris, the team's top 3-point shooter.