Bad Directions
by Dave Gardner
Shaun Alexander’s fall from grace has left him with limited options now that the Seattle Seahawks have released him.
Shaun Alexander headed north and south this week in search of a new place to play football because for the last two years, he has had trouble doing that same thing on the field. The one-time NFL MVP had visits with Cincinnati and New Orleans in search of a new deal, less than a month after being released by the Seahawks.
Seahawks president Tim Ruskell said at the time that cutting him was “really sad” and called it a “tough decision.” While from a personal standpoint, that may have been true, from a football — and even a business — standpoint, it likely was not a difficult decision.
The embattled running back fell quickly from prominence following a 2005 season in which he lead the league in rushing with 1,880 yards and set an all-time NFL record (which was broken the next year) for the most total touchdowns in a single season with 28. He also led the Seahawks to an NFC Championship, but a loss to the Steelers in the Super Bowl left the team one game short of an NFL Championship.
That 2005 season capped off a string of five dominant seasons for Alexander who, along with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and offensive guard Steve Hutchinson, blossomed under the direction of coach Mike Holmgren. Together, the players and coaches created a renaissance of Seahawks football. The famed 12th man was only added to the roster after the Seahawks broke through the screen of mediocrity left behind by former head coach Dennis Erickson and became perennial contenders.
In those 5 years — from 2001-2005 — Alexander averaged more than 1,500 yards (4.5 ypc) and 17.4 touchdowns a season. Yet, until 2005, Alexander wasn’t a fan favorite. He wasn’t an aggressive runner, choosing rather to wait patiently for holes to open up and ending runs more often with a step out of bounds rather than a collision with a corner.
In March of 2006, the Seahawks faced looming contracts with Hutchinson and Alexander (as well as several other contributors, 15 in total). Hutchinson received the transition tag and then the famed “poison pill” contract from the Vikings. Alexander, who had played under the franchise tag in 2005, received an eight-year, $62 million deal — the highest ever for a running back.
“The contract was set up that you wanted to get at least three years,” Ruskell said. “So we didn’t get there. That part is disappointing.”
In fact, they didn’t even get close; Alexander was cut after only a fourth of his contract’s length, despite receiving over one half of the contract’s total value.
Ruskell said, “‘If you are going to bet on a guy, bet on a guy who’s not been hurt or had that propensity.’ That was the case with Shaun.”
After that now infamous offseason, the Seahawks have remained on top of the weak NFC West despite poor play from Alexander. No longer running through the gaping holes left by Steve Hutchinson, and hampered by foot and ankle injuries, Alexander has rushed for fewer yards in the past two seasons combined (1,612) than he did in 2005 alone (1,880). He has also struggled with his yards per carry (3.5 vs. career 4.6), and has found the end zone in consecutively decreasing quantities, with 7 touchdowns in 2007 and 4 last year.
The decline of Alexander has only be romanticized by the continued stellar play of Hutchinson. Since that critical offseason, Seahawks have regressed to the norm while remaining atop the weak NFC West, hampered by a lackluster running game and an aging offensive line. The Vikings, on the other hand, have continued to improve behind two stars at tailback and a dominant offensive line — one that is led by Hutchinson.
Now, with the draft in the rear view mirror, Alexander now is ready to move on.
“I am healthy, energized and looking forward to beginning the next chapter of my NFL career,” he said.
It’s unclear what kind of impact Alexander could have on a team at this point in his career. He has never been a legitimate threat as a third-down back because he has trouble as both a pass-catcher and a pass-blocker. The two teams that have expressed public interest in Alexander are the Bengals and the Saints.
The Bengals have injury problems at running back. They have Rudi Johnson as their starter, but his production slipped drastically last year due to injury. Behind Johnson is the oft-injured Chris Perry, and second-year player Kenny Irons, who tore his ACL in the preseason opener last year. Last year’s leading rusher Kenny Watson, who broke out last year in place of Johnson, is the only bright spot of this group.
The Saints have a lot of depth at running back, but that list doesn’t include a sure-fire starter. Deuce McCallister, their most talented running back, has well-documented knee problems. Behind him, they have Aaron Stecker, an aging veteran who was their uninspiring feature back for most of last season; Reggie Bush, who at this point in his career seems like an overpaid third-down back; and Pierre Thomas, a promising first-year player.
Just two years removed from that glorious season and the destructive offseason that followed it, the Seahawks and Shaun Alexander will travel by separate roads this fall, but they’ve both been following bad directions.
Contact Dave at theconstantgardner@newerascouting.com.