Report: Seahawks release RB Alexander

NFL wire via Yahoo! ^ | 04/22/2008 | staff

[BJClinton]

CARSON, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) —The Seattle Seahawks evidently have cut ties with star running back Shaun Alexander.

The Seahawks have released Alexander, according to a report Tuesday by the NFL Network.

The 2005 league MVP, Alexander has been hampered by a variety of injuries over the last two seasons.

Alexander, 30, is recovering from offseason wrist surgery and underwent a physical this week. The all-time rushing leader in Seahawks franchise history, Alexander appeared in 13 games - 10 starts - last season, rushing for just 716 yards and four touchdowns.

Those numbers constituted Alexander’s lowest rushing and scoring totals since his rookie season in 2000. It also marked the second straight season that Alexander missed significant time since signing a $62 million contract in March 2006.

The Seahawks indicated their intention to cut ties with Alexander earlier this offseason when they brought in free agent running back Julius Jones, who signed a four-year deal on March 7.

A three-time Pro Bowler, Alexander arguably was the NFL’s most productive running back over a five-year stretch from 2001-05, rushing for at least 1,175 yards and scoring at least 16 touchdowns every season during that stint.

Alexander capped that run in 2005 with the best season of his career when he ran for 1,880 yards and 27 TDs, an NFL single-season record at the time.

But after signing the eight-year contract which made him the richest running back in NFL history, Alexander struggled with injuries during the 2006 campaign, rushing for 896 yards while missing six games to nurse a broken foot.

The 19th overall draft selection in 2000, Alexander has spent his entire eight-year career with Seattle, rushing for 9,429 yards and 100 TDs.

[BJClinton]

Man, how the mighty have fallen.

[BJClinton]

ping!

[kingattax]

from the penthouse to the outhouse.

[GOP_Raider]

And to think that we almost drafted him instead of Sebastian Janikowski...

[darkangel82]

The drunken Polish placekicker. I saw this coming, but how many Seahawks can you name besides Hasselbeck and Alexander?

[GOP_Raider]

Oh, there’s Mack Strong and Itula Mili for a while (who I don’t think plays for them anymore) and then I get to hear all about the great Jim Zorn and “oh hey remember when Shawn Alexander ran all over you in that Sunday night game in 2001 at Husky Stadium???!?!”

(Can you tell I live in de facto Seahawks country?)

[Proud_USA_Republican]

“and underwent a physical this week”

Something tells me this didn’t go well because the Seahawks could of used him as major trade bait in the draft.
I’m sure Sean can still contribute in a backup capacity and score some touchdowns for the right team, but that wasn’t going to happen in Seattle. He’s always been soft when it came to blocking to help the team. Give that and his injuries, he needs to go to a team that won’t demand he block at times. Holgrem had enough of that crap.
He’s only effective in situations where you have a left side offensive line that can open up huge holes. Worked great in Seattle when we had both Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson to create a hole you could drive a semi though. Steve’s signed with Minnesota and Sean lost his yellow brick road.

Thanks for the memories Sean and that magic 2005 season.

[darkangel82]

Yep, but aren’t those two career backups? I get it down here, but for college ball. I thought I’d NEVER hear the end of it after OSU collectively wet their pants against the Gators.

[GOP_Raider]

Pretty much. But I usually say something like “oh what was that, I couldn’t hear you over the sound of our 3 Super Bowl rings clanging together.” :) That makes them angry and then they go for more Starbucks lattes...

[BGHater]

Steve Largent..:)

[Perdogg]

ping!

[red irish]

You sound just like my son,he’s a sports broadcaster down in Bowling Green,Kentucky. We were talking about Sean today. He is a hometown boy here,he went to school with my daughter and they were friends,so I really wanted to see him do well.

[scott says]

NFL PING

FReepmail scott says to be added to, or to be taken off the NFL Ping list...

This is a fairly high volume ping list

[scott says]

Don’t step on my toes Dogg....shesh. Bad timing.....

[Perdogg]

Fine, I’ll just get my posse after you! ;)

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Don’t forget he also was addicted to Rohypnol, the date rape drug. A player only Al Davis could love.

Seahawks sent 6 players to the pro-bowl in 2008:

Julian Peterson - 4th Pro Bowl
Walter Jones - 7th Pro Bowl
Patrick Kerney - 2nd Pro Bowl (2008 = 13 sacks, Defensive player of the month, 26 qb hits)
Marcus Trufant - 1st Pro Bowl
Matt Hasselbeck - 3rd Pro Bowl
Lofa Tatupu - 3rd Pro Bowl(every year he’s played in NFL so far)

[Pharmboy]

That's five more than the Giants sent. Teamwork does count (and a bit of luck doesn't hurt, either).

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Sean was loved up here for years, but I think his career is coming to an end. He might be able to contibute to some team in need, but not as the starting RB. Something tells me that broken foot he had is never going to be 100% which is going to make him even more relunctant to use his body to help with some blocks. Its a hard injury to come back from if your a RB.

I wish him well. He was a classy guy and never got into trouble off the field, unlike that dumb drunk idiot Jerramy Stevens.

[Alberta's Child]

I never understood why an NFL team — especially in the salary cap era — would spend an exorbitant amount of money on a player at a position where careers are notoriously short.

[The Pack Knight]

If I had to pick active players that are a lock to get in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, Jones is on my short list.