WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama can appreciate a team overcoming long odds. Carmelo Anthony Rockets Jersey . Welcoming the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to the White House on Wednesday, Obama took note that some football analysts hadnt seen Seattle as a top-tier team. A die-hard fan of his hometown Chicago Bears, Obama nevertheless said he felt a certain kinship with the overachieving Seahawks. "As a guy who was elected president named Barack Obama, I root for the underdog," the president joked. The Seahawks clinched their first Super Bowl victory in the history of the franchise in February by beating the Denver Broncos 43-8. The distinction for the team and by extension for the NFL came a day after a group of retired players accused the league in a lawsuit of turning a blind eye to the use of painkillers by teams that later led to serious complications. Obama has expressed misgivings about the violence of the sport, saying in an interview with the New Yorker published early this year that if he had a son he would not let him play pro football. Next week, Obama will hold a White House meeting on concussions and sports safety at the White House that will include young athletes, professional athletes, parents, coaches and health experts. In a nod to that controversy, Obama took note of Seahawks owner Paul Allens charitable foundation that has donated millions of dollars to research traumatic brain injuries. "Obviously this is a concern of the NFL, but is also a concern of our troops," Obama said. Obama singled out the teams outspoken cornerback, Richard Sherman, for being a role model to young people. Sherman was born in Compton, California, once a centre of gang activity and a city that suffered from severely underperforming schools. Sherman however was a standout student who attended Stanford University on a scholarship. "If he seems a little brash, its because youve got to have attitude sometimes if you are going to overcome some of this adversity," Obama said. He also recognized Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who many scouts believed would be too small to succeed in the NFL only to set a record for most wins in two first seasons by any quarterback. "He also became only the second African-American quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl," Obama said. "And the best part about it is nobody commented on it, which tells you the progress that weve made, although weve got more progress to make." Tracy McGrady Rockets Jersey . Smith, an eighth overall pick, had two goals in only 276 minutes of playing time over 16 appearances last season. The left side midfielder played only 43 minutes in three games this season. Marquese Chriss Jersey . -- The Denver Broncos locked up a shutdown cornerback, only his name wasnt Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Gerald-Green-City-Edition-Jersey/ .5 million. The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2.The Grey Cup has the attention of the entire nation this weekend, however the staff of Ottawa RedBlacks is focused on an event that is a few weeks away. With the December 16th expansion draft less than a month away, Ottawa is yet to hire a head coach but general manager Marcel Desjardins plans to use this weekend to rub elbows with prospective head coaches. "We all know how important this hire is going to be. So we have to put in our due diligence," Desjardins told the Ottawa Sun. "Without getting into specifics, there are some coaches interested who you may be familiar with from the past and some not quite as familiar; some are intriguing, some are not." A source told The Sun the RedBlacks have spoken with former Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach and current TSN analyst, Paul LaPolice. Also on the list of candidates are former Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, who joined the Blue Bombers as offensive co-ordinator in mid-season and Calgary Stampeders offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson. Bellefeuille is fromm Ottawa, went to Ridgemont High School and later played, then coached with the Gee-Gees. Russell Westbrook Rockets Jersey. . Desjardins is prepared to let the timing of the coaching process play itself out. "In an ideal world, wed have somebody in place (before the expansion draft)," he told the Sun. "But we could go into January without a coach. Its not like we control all the elements. Its not like were the only team whos looking for a coach." Desjardins has an idea of his criteria for the next head man. "(Whoever we hire) has to have CFL experience, not necessarily as a head coach," he said. "That doesnt mean he has to have been a coach this year. Were not going to reach out to people we know dont have a chance of getting the job. "Its a three-step process. First, theres an informal get-to-know interview. Then, theres a more detailed discussion, more specific to football. Give us reasons why we should hire you. In some cases, weve had to combine steps 1 and 2. In step No. 3, we get into more detail." ' ' '