I'm not sure this'll make Shaun Alexander feel better about losing out on $4.5 million he was scheduled to make in 2008, but it's a nice gesture by the organization nonetheless. Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell releases statements:
"This was an extremely difficult decision. We thank Shaun for his commitment both on and off the field over the last eight years. He played a huge role in the renaissance of football in Seattle and for that we will always be grateful."ESPN.com's Mike Sando, a long-time Seahawks beat reporter, does a good job of putting the Alexander's swift downfall in perspective. He writes that the 2005 NFL MVP's exorbitant salary, age, lack of physicality, unwillingness to pass protect and inability to catch passes all led us to this point. But that's really just half the story:
If it's fair to hold Alexander accountable for those things, it's fair to ask hard questions about what the team could have done to maximize its investment in him. Losing Steve Hutchinson in free agency proved more problematic than anticipated because Floyd Womack wasn't a suitable alternative, and because former line coach Bill Laveroni was unable to develop Spencer and Sims. The Seahawks hired a more proven line coach in Mike Solari this offseason, too late for Alexander to realize the anticipated benefits.It's easy (a probably a tad lazy) to just paint Alexander as an overpaid, whiny has-been, but it's been scientifically proven that it's much harder to run behind an offensive line that can't block. The issue isn't that Alexander's production fell off a cliff about 15 minutes after he signed the eight-year, $62 million contract in 2006, but the fact that Seattle even offered him the contract in the first place.
Running backs are pretty easy to find, and why anybody would throw that kind of cash at a guy in his late 20s -- especially when NFL backs have a shelf life that promptly expires at 30 -- is, well, shocking. In any case, I'm guessing the Seahawks don't make that mistake again.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Thanks for everything Shaun. I love you, and I can't wait to see you in the HOF!
Posted at 11:01PM on Apr 22nd 2008 by Buvi Duvi
2. Again, Seattle didn't have a choice. Had they not given Shaun the contract after a MVP AND RECORD BREAKING SEASON, he would have gone elsewhere and Seattle would have been criticized just as harsh for losing their MVP.
He got injured, his O-line wasn't as productive, and he fell down the ranks on the production chart. There was no way the Seahawks organization could have known it would happen. And Mike had every reason to be pissed off that they lost Steve Huchy to the Vikings, he meant a lot to the O-line.
Posted at 10:11AM on Apr 23rd 2008 by Haydro
3. Love Shaun. best of luck. i do agree with seattles decision though. MADDEN SRIKES AGAIN!
Posted at 8:26PM on Apr 24th 2008 by CRUTCH