Seattle coach Pete Carroll stands by decision to pass

PHOENIX (AP) - Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is standing by the decision to throw on the 1-yard line in the closing seconds of the Super Bowl and defending offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, giving credit to Malcolm Butler for making the clinching interception.

Carroll spoke Monday before the Seahawks left Arizona for a disappointing return trip to the Pacific Northwest a day after their 28-24 loss to New England. Seattle reached the Patriots 1 in the final seconds before Russell Wilson was intercepted by Butler in the end zone on a pass intended for Ricardo Lockette.

Carroll says the clock and the Seahawks' timeout situation dictated they would have to throw once and possibly twice from the 1. He says both Butler and fellow cornerback Brandon Browner deserve credit for jamming up the play.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL