PHOENIX — Act like you have been there before.

A palpable change in demeanor washed over the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday. Gone were the colorful sunglasses and floppy hats, the jokes with international media dressed in superhero outfits and the general laid back atmosphere of Media Day was replaced by a far more business-like approach to the media availability at the team’s hotel at the Arizona Grand.

It was “competition Wednesday,” and time to kick-start the practice schedule leading up to Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday.

“This is finally the day we get into the week routine, practice-wise,” coach Pete Carroll said. “It should feel very comfortable for the team.”

Competition Wednesday is a central theme of the Seahawks’ in-season weekly schedule, when the focus shifts away from the previous game — and the media — and returns to the on-field work.

“We focus on competing on this day. Not necessarily on the opponent, but this is really to leave what has happened before … to put us on course for the week,” Carroll said. “We keep score. Somebody is going to win, somebody is going to lose today.”

When a reporter inquired about the late afternoon practices scheduled for Seattle, the ever-positive Carroll was quick to spin it to his team’s advantage. The Seahawks are scheduled to practice at 4:29 p.m. local time Wednesday and Thursday, which mimic’s Sunday’s kickoff time.

“I think that’s where our season is made, how we practice,” said quarterback Russell Wilson.

The air of a team that has been there before is certainly present, limiting the headline-making quotes. So the most attention continues to be heaped on the star who says the least. A throng of media again descended on running back Marshawn Lynch, who stiff-armed the press yet again with a brief appearance dotted with a string of, “You know why I’m here.”

Lynch’s teammates have been left to defend him, but the front office does not appear concerned by any potential distraction created by Lynch’s refusal to engage with the media. General manager John Schneider said on Tuesday that he “kind of loves” Lynch’s act, and his head coach was blunt in his take on the media standoff.

“I think you’re seeing a demonstration of a guy being himself and not being what everyone else wants him to be,” Carroll said. “He’s trying to do the best job he can of being him. Maybe you don’t feel it’s what he should be doing, but that’s what’s going on.

“He’s an incredible team member, so this environment just isn’t the one where you see him the way you want to see him.”

In his short appearance in front of the media Wednesday, Lynch again donned the “Beast Mode” hat that reportedly has him in the crosshairs of yet another fine from the National Football League.

“Sometimes we focus on the little details that don’t matter,” said Wilson. “There’s times that I don’t think he should be fined, that’s for sure. The guy loves the game. Sometimes people try to take certain things away from people.”

–Schneider has acknowledged he expects there to be a strong market for cornerback Byron Maxwell in free agency, and the team is facing an offseason in which it must address extensions for Wilson and middle linebacker Bobby Wagner.

“I honestly haven’t thought anything about it,” Wilson insisted about his pending contract negotiations. “I’m just blessed to be on this football team.”

The prevailing wisdom is Wilson and Wagner are the priorities to lock up, but the team may be forced to part with Maxwell, among others. That will inevitably create opportunities for younger players such as second-year cornerback Tharold Simon, who could be in line to start opposite Richard Sherman next season.

“I’m going to be ready when (Maxwell) is gone,” Simon said. “I might go with the loose jersey that he wears.”

Simon missed his rookie season due to a foot injury and was back home in Louisiana when the Seahawks won their first Super Bowl over the Denver Broncos. He returned this season to emerge as a regular contributor in the Seahawks’ secondary. There have been ups and downs, including getting beat for a pair of touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round of the playoffs. But he considers himself a full-fledged member of the Legion of Boom.

“Oh yeah, definitely,” he said. “I’m learning a lot from those guys.”

Simon said he will return to Louisiana for about three weeks following the Super Bowl before returning to Seattle to begin his offseason work with Sherman and others.

–This time last year, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane was answering questions about being a key cog in the league’s top-ranked defense. This year, he’s off to the side, offering “an extra pair of eyes and ears” as he continues from a torn groin muscle that landed him on injured reserve.

Mebane was cleared to begin core training work two weeks ago, but said he is not yet ready to ride a bike or run on a treadmill. Still, he expects to be ready for the offseason program and is not concerned about any long-term effects from the injury.

This week, his focus is on enjoying the experience and living a bit vicariously through the likes of Kevin Williams, a 12-year veteran preparing for his first Super Bowl who has been a vital part of the line rotation in Mebane’s absence.