News / Sports
Seahawks Dump Alexander
Shaun Alexander led the Seattle Seahawks to their only Super Bowl appearance in 2006 and was rewarded thereafter with a $62 million contract. Since then, his career has been filled with injuries and ineffectiveness on the field. Seahawks President Tim Ruskell announced the release of Alexander just hours after he passed a physical.
It wasn't very wise for the Seahawks to sign Alexander to an 8 year, $62 million contract. In fact some say it was one of the worst contracts in NFL history. It was irresponsible for the Seahawks to give so much money to someone his age coming off a brutal 370-carry season. However, he'll still be receiving a $4.6 million salary cap in 2009, even after he's gone.
Alexander went to three Pro Super Bowls but was never the most liked player on the Seahawks. He may have had some popularity during the 2005 season when he set an NFL record with 28 touchdowns and a franchise mark of 1,880 yards rushing while leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl and becoming the teams first MVP. However, many feel that he doesn't have anything to bring to the team any more.
The team now feels that there is no benefit to keeping Alexander around. The Seahawks are making one last run at winning a Super Bowl and Alexander obviously wasn't willing to restructure his deal to help the team get over the hump and bring in more players to help out. It appears as if he's on the downside of his career, not a team player. He is now more injury prone than ever and has never been able to catch the ball out of the backfield.
There is speculation that the Seahakws are looking at collegians such as Serna who cheaper and more eager. Some feel that Alexander is a washed up Running Back making way more than he is worth. Now, for the first time since they drafted him out of Alabama 19th overall in 2000, the Seahawks and Alexander going separate ways.
Even though his last 2 seasons have been his worst, Alexander said he is not retiring. “I will be playing for another NFL team this fall, and doing everything I can to contribute,” said Alexander. “I am healthy, energized and looking forward to beginning the next chapter of my NFL career.”
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