Seahawks Notebook: Thomas Plans On Playing Sunday vs Patriots

Pete Carroll is likely hoping for a repeat when his team takes on the Patriots next Sunday in Arizona.

This is the time of year where players are obviously banged up, but the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl certainly isn't going to keep Seattle All-Pro free safety Earl Thomas out of action next weekend against New England.

Thomas, who injured his shoulder in the NFC Championship game, told the team's official site after landing in Arizona that when you've got the opportunity to prepare for the biggest game in the world, that environment "makes it better" and he expects to be out there against the Patriots. The veteran missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but participated in the team's Friday session.

Having already won one championship last year, the Seahawks are obviously focused on trying to make it two in a row, something that hasn't been accomplished since the Patriots did it in 2003-2004. It would be quite a feat and Thomas admitted that he felt like he was in a movie and reliving a dream.

"Since I was a little kid, every time I got hurt I always came back in the game," Thomas told the website. "I played third base on my All-Star baseball team and a lined ground ball hit me in my mouth. I was wearing braces at the time, so my lip got stuck to my braces. I had to go to the emergency room. My dad said, 'Do you want to play? Do you want to go back and play?' I was like, 'Of course.'

"So this is me. I love competing. And I'm just glad. We're reliving our dream. It feels like a movie."

CARROLL HAS HIS TEAM FOCUSED:

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has come a long way since his days in New England, and with his team back in the hunt for another title he's got them in the right mindset as they get set to begin their preparations for their showdown against the Patriots.

Carroll had two words for his team before they headed off to Arizona, which were "stay humble", trying to remind them of the task at hand. Carroll's no stranger to big games, especially having already led them to one title, as well as the success during his tenure at USC which included two national championships.

"I think this is a good challenge," Carroll said via Seahawks.com. "Like I told the guys today, this is a challenge to maintain the humility that you need, that is necessary. There is so much pomp and circumstance and following and praise and everybody's patting you on the back and all that kind of stuff.

"We need to stay balanced and stay in the middle, and make sure we don't sway from where we normally are and hold on to the mentality and the focus that helped us get to these kinds of situations. I think that's the big deal. We've been through the playoffs and the matchups and those kinds of thing and that kind of conversation. But it's more about how this whole media thing elevates the focus and attention, and we want to do it really well and handle it really well and make sure that we're ready and capable of playing like we're capable come game time."

BENNETT CALLS DEFLATE-GATE "PROPAGANDA":

Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett hasn't been paying much attention to the "deflate-gate" story that's been playing out across the country surrounding the Patriots, and as far as he's concerned it sounds like he's not reading too much into it.

Bennett, who told the Seattle Times that he was watching "Dora the Explorer" with his three daughters during Belichick's news conference on Saturday, feels it's nothing more than one big story line to add more build up to what should be a tough match-up.

"I think it's all propaganda, just to get a chance to build the game up,'' Bennett said via the newspaper. "It's all inflating the game right now. It's like just to make it even more worth it than what it's really about. It's really just about us, two great teams, playing. I think a lot of people are shying away from that aspect of it. They have the Patriots, who are arguably one of the best teams of this decade, and we're starting to try to catch up to where they're at and what they've done in the last 10 years. Bill Belichick is one of the best coaches of all time. I think people are forgetting that. The coaches going and the players playing, it's too much about the balls. Hopefully everybody starts to talk about the game again."

CARROLL SET TO HAVE A TALK WITH LYNCH:

Marshawn Lynch's obscene gesture in the NFC Championship game cost his him $20,000 this week, and apparently officials have already warned the team that it will cost them 15-yards in the Super Bowl should Lynch pull the same move next Sunday should he score against the Patriots.

With that in mind, Carroll acknowledged that he'll be having a conversation with his star running back, and said that the situation will be addressed.

"I haven't talked to him yet about the thing that came up with the league, but that will be addressed," Carroll said via ESPN on Sunday when the team arrived in Arizona. "I think he's going to have a great Super Bowl week and have a great time doing this and playing in this game."

SEAHAWKS BOOED IN PRO BOWL:

There weren't any Seahawks participating in Sunday night's Pro Bowl, but they found out what fans in Arizona thought of them after receiving a less than warm welcome from the home crowd.

There were five players for Seattle who were elected to attend the NFL's annual All-Star game, but since they're playing next weekend in the Super Bowl, they obviously declined. However, they did make an appearance during the contest, with safety Kam Chancellor, running back Marshawn Lynch, cornerback Richard Sherman, safety Earl Thomas and linebacker Bobby Wagner each on hand to take in the game.

Midway through the first quarter they were announced to the crowd, who booed them. Not that it should be that much of a surprise. With the game being played in the home stadium of the Arizona Cardinals, clearly fans aren't happy to see their NFC West rivals with an opportunity to celebrate a Super Bowl title on their home field.

That would be the same as the Jets playing in the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. Fortunately the odds are pretty good that won't happen, not because Gillette Stadium probably won't be a host for the foreseeable future, but because that would require the Jets to get there - which is the even less likely scenario.