ATLANTA - The Atlanta Falcons long wait for new leadership on the field finally ended Monday when Seattle defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn was named the teams coach. Frank Thomas Jersey .The Falcons said Quinn will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday. Quinn replaces Mike Smith, who was fired following a 6-10 finish in 2014.The team did not release details of the deal, but a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press earlier Monday that Quinn agreed to a five-year contract.Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he was impressed by Quinns definitive plan for our football team and what it will take to win on a consistent basis.He also has a proven ability to develop players by maximizing their individual strengths, Blank said.The Falcons exercised patience while waiting for Quinn, who could not be offered a job until after Seattles 28-24 Super Bowl loss Sunday night to the New England Patriots.This felt like the right fit from the beginning, and I want to thank Mr. Blank for his resolve as this was an extended and complicated process, Quinn said in a statement released by the team. My goal is to build upon the foundation that has been laid here and to play a physical brand of football as we build a championship calibre team.Quinn, 44, helped Seattle reach back-to-back Super Bowls. Seattle beat Denver in last years championship.His strong record in his two years with Seattle won over the Falcons, who have struggled on defence while finishing a combined 10-22 the past two seasons. The Falcons allowed the most total yards and yards passing in the league this season.The Seahawks led the NFL in scoring defence, total defence and takeaways while winning the Super Bowl last season. Quinns defence shined in the Super Bowl win over Peyton Manning and the Broncos. He previously was defensive line coach for the Seahawks, 49ers, Dolphins and Jets.Seattle ranked sixth in total defence this season.Quinn followed Detroit defensive co-ordinator Teryl Austin as the second candidate to have a follow-up interview with the Falcons.Quinns second interview came in the bye week following the AFC championship game. Blank on Monday thanked Seattle coach Pete Carroll for granting Quinn permission for the follow-up meeting with the Falcons.I would like to personally thank Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for his patience and support during our head coach search, Blank said. Im sure the Seahawks will be sorry to see Dan leave, but no one has been more supportive of this opportunity for Dan than Pete.Carroll recently described Quinn as a great communicator and a fantastic teacher. Hes got a real toughness about him - innovative.Carroll said Quinn has tremendous relationships wherever hes been around the league. Hes been a guy that wherever he goes people rave about. We feel the same way.While the Falcons waited to complete their interview process with Quinn, other candidates, including Rex Ryan, were hired by other teams. Ryan, the former Jets coach, had one interview with Atlanta before accepting a job as Buffalos coach.Arizona defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles called off a second interview with Atlanta to become the Jets coach.The Falcons also interviewed New England offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels, Broncos offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase, former Bills coach Doug Marrone and Atlanta special teams coach Keith Armstrong.Quinn was the University of Floridas defensive co-ordinator in 2011-12 before taking over the Seahawks defence.Quinn, a native of Morristown, New Jersey, was a defensive lineman at and two-time co-captain at Division III Salisbury State in Maryland. He was inducted into the schools Hall of Fame in 2005.Smith had a 66-46 regular-season record in seven seasons, including two NFC South titles. He had winning seasons in each of his first five years with the team — bringing instant relevance to a franchise which previously had never enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons.The Falcons won only one of five playoff games under Smith.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Charles Odum on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CharlesOdum Harold Baines Jersey . Nick Young scored 17 points for Los Angeles, which lost five of its last seven before trouncing the Pelicans, who beat them handily last week in New Orleans. Jodie Meeks and Xavier Henry scored 15 points apiece for the Lakers, who led by 20 points in the first half before coasting to their 12th win in their last 13 regular-season meetings with New Orleans. Bill Melton Jersey . Ronaldo failed to connect on an ample number of opportunities at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. But Karim Benzema and Jese Rodriguez scored in each half for Madrid to come out of the first leg with the firm advantage. http://www.whitesoxteamshop.com/Customized/ . -- Chicago manager Darold Butler has a message for the Windy City.EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The next measuring stick for top-ranked Michigan State is No. 16 North Carolina on Wednesday as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. "Were going to have to play a lot better this week," Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo said after his team routed Mount St. Marys 98-65 Friday. "What a privilege and an honour to be able to play two of the most winningest programs in the history of the NCAA in Kentucky and North Carolina in a seven-, eight-game stretch." The Spartans (7-0) expect an equally tough challenge as they faced against then-No. 1 Kentucky which resulted in a 78-74 Spartans victory. "Theyre (the Tar Heels) a pretty good team," said Keith Appling who led the Spartans with 17 points off the bench. "Were going to be ready. Were going to need to do all the little things in order to come out with a win. We know how good they are." The Spartans wrapped up another successful early part of the season -- the last time they lost at home in November was to a David Robinson-led Navy team on Nov. 29, 1986. With Fridays victory, Michigan State has won 74 straight games against unranked non-conference opponents at home. Michigan State -- which is off to its best start since opening the 2000-01 season with a 12-0 mark -- did not start Appling, Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson due to showing up late to a required class. "Ive got a lot of jobs in this job, and one of them is to graduate guys and one is to stay accountable," Izzo said. "It was a minor little thing but it was over a class that they needed to be at. They were told that and they decided to try their way, and their way didnt work." It was the first time Appling missed a start at Michigan State since his freshman year. "It was really a wake-up call, lesson learned," Appling said. Carlos Rodon Jersey. "I was just glad that we were able to come out and play the way we did the second half and come out with the win." The Spartans also did not play leading-scorer Gary Harris to rest his ankle that has bothered him since injuring it during the summer. Harris, who averaged 17.7 points, sat on the bench in his warm-ups and is expected to play against North Carolina. The Mountaineers were able to lead twice by one point and kept it close before Michigan States three usual starters entered the game with 14:12 left in the opening half. The Spartans then went on a 33-19 run to take a 50-38 halftime lead -- the most points Michigan State had allowed in the first 20 minutes this season. "Michigan State, obviously the No. 1 team in the country, definitely played like it today," said Mountaineers coach Jamion Christian. "Quite honestly, watching them from afar for a lot of years you can see why theyre so talented and so good every year." Michigan State turned up its defence and began running at will in the second half en route to leading by as much as 33 points. The Spartans finished the game hitting 63.1 per cent of its field goals while Mount St. Marys was limited to 32.8 per cent shooting, including only 9 of 32 in the second half. Will Miller scored 15 points for the Mountaineers (2-6) who were facing the No. 1 team for only the second time in school history. Mount St. Marys lost to top-ranked North Carolina in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The Spartans held the Mountaineers two leading scorers, Julian Norfleet and Rashad Whack, to 13 and 10 points. The two came into the game combining for 33.7 points. The loss dropped the Mountaineers to 1-21 all-time against ranked opponents. Their win came in December 1995 against then No. 21 Georgia Tech. ' ' '