Chris Matthews was almost an underdog hero for the ages in Super Bowl XLIX.
The former CFL wide receiver had never caught an NFL pass before finishing with four receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots. Had Malcolm Butler not shocked the football world with his goal line interception, Matthews could have gone to Disneyland.
Still, the Super Bowl was a huge boon to Matthews' career, a performance that firmly keeps him on the radar as the Seahawks put together their 2015 squad.
"My expectation is to compete and play as hard as I can and give a great effort for the team and help us win," Matthews said on 710 ESPN Seattle radio. "My expectation is for us to win. Our defense is No. 1 is the league. I believe wholeheartedly that the offense can be No. 1 in the NFL. We just have to work really hard. We have all the key parts."
Matthews, 25, was cut by Seattle at the end of the preseason last year and didn't find his way on the 53-man roster until the final month of the regular season. He had played just 28 snaps before his Super Bowl breakout performance.
"Last year was a lot of ups and downs for me," Matthews said. "I was just trying to figure out what was best for me. How can I fit in? The biggest thing was when I understood practice means a lot here. You practice hard, you play hard, is what a lot of people say here. I picked that up and embraced it."
Things couldn't have worked out better for Matthews this offseason. He remains in good position to work his way up the depth chart, and the Seahawks made life easier for all their wideouts with the acquisition of tight end Jimmy Graham. Matthews will get his chance to prove he's not a one-hit wonder.
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