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12 things we learned from Avril, Baldwin, Chancellor, Unger, Wagner & Wright's press conferences

12 key takeaways from Monday's press conferences with Cliff Avril, Doug Baldwin, Kam Chancellor, Max Unger, Bobby Wagner, and K.J. Wright.

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Day two of the Seahawks' Super Bowl XLIX media availability came following the team's "Bonus Monday" practice.

Defensive end Cliff Avril, wide receiver Doug Baldwin, strong safety Kam Chancellor, center Max Unger, and linebackers Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright met with the media at the team hotel in Phoenix.

Below, check out 12 things we learned from Monday's sessions with Avril, Baldwin, Chancellor, Unger, Wagner, and Wright:

Cliff Avril

1. He Started From The Bottom, Now He's Here

Avril signed with the Seahawks as an free agent on March 13, 2013 after spending five seasons with the Lions in Detroit. During his rookie year with the Lions in 2008, the club didn't win a single game, going 0-16 on the season. For that reason, Avril said he has a greater appreciation for going to back-to-back Super Bowls in his two seasons with the Seahawks.

"It's been amazing," he said. "I've been blessed to see both ends of the spectrum - not winning any games to pretty much getting to the top the last two years. So I appreciate it a lot just for the simple fact that what I've gone through. I appreciate just being able to get to the top and be the number one, the last team standing. I appreciate it probably a little more than some of the younger guys."

2. He Credits The Seahawks' Success To Pete Carroll & John Schneider

Asked what it is about Seattle that has led to success over the past two seasons, Avril was quick to credit the culture head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have established in the Pacific Northwest.

"Coming here, it's so much more chill," said Avril. "It's so much more – they allow you to be yourself as a person, as an athlete. It's not stressful coming to work, but I guess winning solves all that too.

"I think that's the biggest thing, the biggest difference is just allowing me to be me and allowing each individual player to be themselves. But once they cross those lines to go play ball everybody comes together, and the camaraderie and the brotherhood that we have just shows every week."

Doug Baldwin

1. He's Excited To Go Up Against Darrelle Revis

Baldwin, the team's leading receiver in 2014 who has a knack for making the big-play when it's needed most, said he's looking forward to matching up against Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis, one of the game's top defensive players.

"I am excited about it," Baldwin said. "I think that obviously he is a very talented cornerback. He is great at what he does and he has a reputation for being effective on the field and being a dominant defensive player.

"However, I do not shy away from anybody. I am excited about the opportunity to go up against one of the best."

2. He Thought Russell Wilson Was Different When He First Saw Him

Baldwin said his first impression of Seahawks signal caller Russell Wilson came at the NFL Scouting Combine, when the Seattle wideout noticed he was witnessing the work of a "different guy."

"I would just say that he stood out," Baldwin said of his quarterback. "It was different to see him and the way he was leading at the Combine. When I got to see him in person and watch him practice in the rookie minicamp you could tell he was a cat that was going to go out there and give everything he had to his profession. Obviously, he is still doing it and he is doing it at a very high level."

Baldwin said Wilson is one who likes to lead by example, with the work ethic he exudes on the practice field, in meetings, and in film study.

"He shows us week-in and week-out what he is capable of doing by just focusing and preparing," said Baldwin. "Guys want to follow that."

Kam Chancellor

1. He Likes Being Called An Enforcer

Richard Sherman recently referred to Chancellor as a "lion" backing up "a pack of wild dogs" in the Seahawks' defensive backfield.

At 6-foot-3, 232-pounds, Chancellor provides an unparalleled physical presence in the Seattle secondary. He's a founding father of the "Legion of Boom" and said he embraces the "enforcer" label.

"It just fits my type of play," said Chancellor. "I definitely like to be physical. I like making contact. I like big blows. I like making game-changing hits. I get that from watching guys like Sean Taylor. It just pumps me up and gets me ready to make game-changing hits."

2. He Knows Rob Gronkowski Is The Patriots' Playmaker

Chancellor knows shutting down Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will be a top priority in slowing down New England's offensive attack.

"That's their playmaker, that's their go-to guy," said Chancellor. "They're definitely going to try and target him a lot, try to get him the ball in the game. We just have to play our defense, play our calls. Whatever coach calls, we just have to go out there and be fundamentally sound and play our ball."

Gronkowski, who measures 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, was the Patriots' leading receiver this past season. He hauled in 82 balls for 1,124 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns. Chancellor said matching Gronkowski strength for strength will be key.

"He definitely is a big, physical guy, but it's just big-on-big," said Chancellor. "Just play big-on-big."

Max Unger

1. He Thinks LeGarrette Blount Was Built For The NFL

Unger played with Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount at the University of Oregon and had some nice things to say about the New England ball carrier who had 148 yards and three touchdowns in his team's 45-7 AFC Championship game romp of the Indianapolis Colts.

"He was an animal," Unger recalled of his three years with Blount at Oregon. "A big back, just built for the NFL, really. He had a lot of success at Oregon and he ran the rock pretty hard."

2. He Thinks Marshawn Lynch Is The Best Teammate Anybody Could Ask For

Unger was asked what it's like to block for Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and had nothing but praise for the focal point of Seattle's offensive attack.

"If not the best, one of the best running backs in the NFL," Unger said. "The guy runs hard and he makes you want to do your job better is the best way to put it. He runs so hard. You watch him and you see the strain that he has every play. You can't leave him hanging.

"He's the best teammate anybody could ask for," Unger continued. "One of my all-time favorites playing football with, in the locker room, and as a person - on and off the field. I don't know what else to say about him."

Bobby Wagner

1. He Thinks The Seahawks Still Have Something To Prove

The Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII 43-8 over the Denver Broncos last season to bring the first Lombardi Trophy back to Seattle. They're the first team to appear in back-to-back Super Bowls since the Patriots did so in 2003-04, but Wagner didn't give in when asked what the secret to Seattle's recent success has been.

"It's not a secret," said Wagner. "It's remaining humble and not getting too big-headed because you won the Super Bowl. We still played this year like we had a chip on our shoulder and like we had something to prove. We still have something to prove.

"There are always going to be doubters. This is a team full of people wanting to prove doubters wrong."

2. He Thinks Marshawn Lynch Is Misunderstood 

Wagner gave an inside-the-locker-room account of Marshawn Lynch when asked if he thinks the Seahawks running back is misunderstood.

"He's very misunderstood," said Wagner. "He's a great guy off the field. He's always talking to us. He's always laughing. He's helped me a lot in my game. He's always coming back and asking me what I see on this and, 'This is how I play it if I see a linebacker in this position.' He's definitely helped me grow as a player. All of the outside stuff is wrong in my opinion."

K.J. Wright

1. He Thinks The Seahawks Just Breed Athletes

After the Seahawks topped the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII last season, Denver went on an offseason mission to improve their play on the defensive side of the football, signing safety T.J. Ward, pass rusher DeMarcus Ware, and cornerback Aqib Talib.

Photos of the Seahawks media events on Monday.

The Broncos showed improvement on that side of the ball this past season, but couldn't return to the NFL's biggest stage like the Seahawks have. Wright was asked to reflect on what makes the Seattle defense so different.

"We just breed good guys, just breed athletes," he said. "I believe one thing that makes us really special is that we hold each other accountable to what we're doing on the football field. When you're out there playing you don't want to let the other guy down next to you. You can feel it. You can sense it. That's why we practice so good and communicate so well on the football field.

"Our walk-throughs are serious and our practices our serious. We know how to separate fun from go-time. That's what makes us so good - playing for one another and not wanting to let each other down."

2. He Thinks Super Bowl Media Day Will Be Fun

Wright said he sees last year's experience with the Super Bowl media frenzy as a positive, as most players now know what to expect when they enter U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix for Tuesday's "Media Day" featuring reporters from all walks of life.

"It'll be fun," Wright said. "Last year was really fun actually. We had a great time out there. It's just something to get the fans excited, get the media - I know all you guys get excited about it, too. So it's cool."

The Seahawks are scheduled to meet with the media from 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. PT tomorrow. We'll stream live coverage of the event right here on Seahawks.com.

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