Wednesday, July 06, 2005
KEEP SHAUN
Shaun Alexander is Mr. Consistency. Just look at the numbers:
2001-2004 rushing stats: 1283 carries, 5,624 rushing yards, 60 TD
2001-2004 receiving stats: 1268 yards, 10 TD
In the last 4 years, Alexander hasn't missed a game. As a matter of fact, he hasn't missed a game in his 5-year career. I still don't understand why some fans just can't give Alexander the credit that he rightfully deserves.
Last season, if it weren't for Alexander, the Seahawks aren't a playoff team. Matt Hasselbeck didn't have a great 2004 season, but Alexander did. He led the NFC in rushing (1,696 yards). Sure, there was the controversy that surrounded the final game of the season against Atlanta where he missed out on the NFL rushing title by one yard. But as I've documented here before, he had his chance to earn the rushing title at previous points of the season. I was just proud of the fact that a Seahawk led the conference in rushing. Consider that Alexander led a conference in rushing that features such backs as Clinton Portis, Ahman Green, and Deuce McAllister. That seems pretty impressive to me.
It's now early July. Alexander won't sign the $6.32 million tender the Seahawks pegged him with in February. In other words, the franchise tag. Let's see, if he were to sign that deal right now, he would be risking a lot. Remember, the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately?" type of league. If Alexander were to sign the tender and get hurt sometime this season, he's screwed. I'm with Alexander on this issue. I sure as hell wouldn't sign the tender either.
I swear, when I hear/read criticism about Alexander, it drives me insane.
"Alexander is overrated, the Seahawks can put anybody behind the offensive line, just like the Broncos!"
"Alexander doesn't want to be in Seattle, he wants to go to Miami!"
"All he cares about is scoring touchdowns!"
1) Alexander is overrated? How? A RB that runs for 1,696 yards is not overrated. By the way, the Seahawks' offensive line isn't as good as some people think it is. The left side of the line with Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson? The best left side in the game, definitely. But the right side? You're telling me that Chris Gray and Chris Terry are considered to be solid players? I don't think so. Hell, the Seahawks released Terry earlier this offseason, so the whole "the Seahawks offensive line is great" nonsense was thrown out the window then, if it wasn't already thrown away.
Oh, and the Broncos' offensive linemen are a bunch of cheap-shot artists. Next?
2) All along, Alexander has said that he wants to stay in Seattle. The Miami deal came up when he was asked whether he wanted to play in Miami. He said that if things didn't work out in Seattle, then Miami wouldn't be a bad place to play. Besides, the whole thing is a moot point anyway: The Dolphins have their running back now in Ronnie Brown. And Ricky Williams may come back soon.
3) Isn't it a running back's job to score touchdowns? I'm not going to argue with the numbers, folks. 60 rushing touchdowns in the last 4 years.
I expect a long term deal to get done after July 15, the day when the Seahawks and Alexander can start negotiations again. There's no way in hell that Alexander misses a regular season game due to his contract issues. If he hasn't missed a game in the last 5 years, then why would he start missing games this season?
Alexander is the best running back for this team. I'd hate to think about a future without him. Somehow, I don't think I'll have to worry about that.
KEEP SHAUN!
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