Shawn Alexander will hit jackpot in or out of Seattle (Dallas mentioned)
Making a run to the bank
Alexander will hit jackpot in or out of Seattle
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 1, 2006
Detroit - If you want to understand the predicament the Seattle Seahawks face with regard to the future of running back Shaun Alexander, imagine a big cash register going "Ca-ching" every time the MVP touches foot into the end zone.
The tab is running.
But this is the deal the Seahawks bargained 6 ½ months ago when they offered Alexander unfettered free agency if he would accept their one-year franchise offer. Sensing Alexander was digging his heels in for a long holdout, they promised not to slap the restrictive franchise tag on him for a second straight year provided he came to camp.
Given the franchise tag comes with a $6.32 million guaranteed salary, Alexander decided to accept the offer, figuring he would build a case for an even more lucrative long-term contract with a big year in 2005.
The gamble couldn't have paid off bigger for both sides.
The Seahawks earned a trip to Super Bowl XL largely on the strength of Alexander's league-leading 1,880 rushing yards and record-setting 28 touchdowns. Alexander raised his stock to a level that should result in him becoming the highest-paid running back in the NFL.
The big wrinkle in the happy outcome is that Alexander and the Seahawks might be together for the last time Sunday at Ford Field. Alexander said he would give the team first shot at re-signing him, but if there's no deal by March 3, the start of free agency, consider him gone.
"The Seahawks' organization loves me, and I love them," is all Alexander would say about the matter this week.
In some ways the Seahawks' decision to offer Alexander an unprecedented offer for someone of his stature was a gamble of major proportions. They were weighing the prospect of Alexander leading them to a Super Bowl this year vs. the running back derailing their chances with a protracted holdout.
Behind the scenes, however, the Seahawks didn't consider it that big of a gamble because they thought there were flaws in Alexander's game. Though he had broken the 1,000-yard mark in each of his past four seasons, topped the 1,400-yard mark in his last two and rushed for an eye-popping 60 touchdowns in 64 previous games, they weren't enamored of his blocking and pass catching.
His unwillingness to improve his blocking forced coach Mike Holmgren to take him out of the game on third downs for fear that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck would be laid out by a blitzing linebacker. His toughness on the goal line was unparalleled, but his desire to try to break long runs resulted in Alexander rarely running over defenders for a safe 4- or 5-yard gain.
What the Seahawks did know is that Alexander would be one motivated individual if he came back knowing his financial future was on the line. When he came into camp he was a man on a mission.
"He was able to put that contract business aside and play football as he can play football," Holmgren said. "In fact, he had his best year. He and I had a number of talks about how to do that and, to his credit, he did it. He became a great teammate, an even better teammate than he had been before.
"He improved his pass blocking skills and pass receiving skills. We have kind of been on his shoulders a good portion of this year."
As great as the relationship between the two sides seems now, it was not good after the end of last season. Alexander made the infamous comments that "I was stabbed in the back" after Holmgren failed to put him back in the game in the season finale after he fell behind in the chase for the NFL rushing title.
Then the Seahawks slapped the franchise tag on him, making it virtually a lock that no other team would make him a free agent offer.
Only the last-minute deal between the two shortly before training camp repaired the damage and created an atmosphere where both could benefit. But soon the ride will be over and the Seahawks will have another difficult decision to make.
They have had discussions with Alexander over a long-term deal, but the bar the 2005 MVP wants to clear is the eight-year, $60 million deal San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson signed in August 2004. It included $21 million in guaranteed money.
The Seahawks paid out $16 million signing bonuses to Hasselbeck and left tackle Walter Jones last year and face the prospect of re-signing Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson this off-season. Salary cap dollars are running out and Alexander isn't getting any younger. He turns 29 in August and there's no telling how many good years he has left.
"You can't do any more than what I've done," Alexander said after the NFC Championship Game. "I've already said everything about me wanting to be here. It just is what it is."
What it is a tough situation and the possibility exists Alexander could be running behind a different offensive line next season.
If the Seahawks don't win the Super Bowl, their gamble will have resulted only in a partial payout.
How many teams will bid for Alexander if he hits the open market?
It's hard to say. But the Minnesota Vikings have a new owner and salary cap money to burn ($18 million under). So do the Arizona Cardinals ($25 million under), who will be moving into a new stadium next year. And the Cleveland Browns ($24 million under) could be a player, too.
It's conceivable that a team like the Philadelphia Eagles or Dallas Cowboys, possibly one impact player away from Super Bowl status, could enter the fray.
Either way, Alexander stands to be a very rich man and the only question is whether the Seahawks will be the ones paying the tab.
Alexander will hit jackpot in or out of Seattle
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 1, 2006
Detroit - If you want to understand the predicament the Seattle Seahawks face with regard to the future of running back Shaun Alexander, imagine a big cash register going "Ca-ching" every time the MVP touches foot into the end zone.
The tab is running.
But this is the deal the Seahawks bargained 6 ½ months ago when they offered Alexander unfettered free agency if he would accept their one-year franchise offer. Sensing Alexander was digging his heels in for a long holdout, they promised not to slap the restrictive franchise tag on him for a second straight year provided he came to camp.
Given the franchise tag comes with a $6.32 million guaranteed salary, Alexander decided to accept the offer, figuring he would build a case for an even more lucrative long-term contract with a big year in 2005.
The gamble couldn't have paid off bigger for both sides.
The Seahawks earned a trip to Super Bowl XL largely on the strength of Alexander's league-leading 1,880 rushing yards and record-setting 28 touchdowns. Alexander raised his stock to a level that should result in him becoming the highest-paid running back in the NFL.
The big wrinkle in the happy outcome is that Alexander and the Seahawks might be together for the last time Sunday at Ford Field. Alexander said he would give the team first shot at re-signing him, but if there's no deal by March 3, the start of free agency, consider him gone.
"The Seahawks' organization loves me, and I love them," is all Alexander would say about the matter this week.
In some ways the Seahawks' decision to offer Alexander an unprecedented offer for someone of his stature was a gamble of major proportions. They were weighing the prospect of Alexander leading them to a Super Bowl this year vs. the running back derailing their chances with a protracted holdout.
Behind the scenes, however, the Seahawks didn't consider it that big of a gamble because they thought there were flaws in Alexander's game. Though he had broken the 1,000-yard mark in each of his past four seasons, topped the 1,400-yard mark in his last two and rushed for an eye-popping 60 touchdowns in 64 previous games, they weren't enamored of his blocking and pass catching.
His unwillingness to improve his blocking forced coach Mike Holmgren to take him out of the game on third downs for fear that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck would be laid out by a blitzing linebacker. His toughness on the goal line was unparalleled, but his desire to try to break long runs resulted in Alexander rarely running over defenders for a safe 4- or 5-yard gain.
What the Seahawks did know is that Alexander would be one motivated individual if he came back knowing his financial future was on the line. When he came into camp he was a man on a mission.
"He was able to put that contract business aside and play football as he can play football," Holmgren said. "In fact, he had his best year. He and I had a number of talks about how to do that and, to his credit, he did it. He became a great teammate, an even better teammate than he had been before.
"He improved his pass blocking skills and pass receiving skills. We have kind of been on his shoulders a good portion of this year."
As great as the relationship between the two sides seems now, it was not good after the end of last season. Alexander made the infamous comments that "I was stabbed in the back" after Holmgren failed to put him back in the game in the season finale after he fell behind in the chase for the NFL rushing title.
Then the Seahawks slapped the franchise tag on him, making it virtually a lock that no other team would make him a free agent offer.
Only the last-minute deal between the two shortly before training camp repaired the damage and created an atmosphere where both could benefit. But soon the ride will be over and the Seahawks will have another difficult decision to make.
They have had discussions with Alexander over a long-term deal, but the bar the 2005 MVP wants to clear is the eight-year, $60 million deal San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson signed in August 2004. It included $21 million in guaranteed money.
The Seahawks paid out $16 million signing bonuses to Hasselbeck and left tackle Walter Jones last year and face the prospect of re-signing Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson this off-season. Salary cap dollars are running out and Alexander isn't getting any younger. He turns 29 in August and there's no telling how many good years he has left.
"You can't do any more than what I've done," Alexander said after the NFC Championship Game. "I've already said everything about me wanting to be here. It just is what it is."
What it is a tough situation and the possibility exists Alexander could be running behind a different offensive line next season.
If the Seahawks don't win the Super Bowl, their gamble will have resulted only in a partial payout.
How many teams will bid for Alexander if he hits the open market?
It's hard to say. But the Minnesota Vikings have a new owner and salary cap money to burn ($18 million under). So do the Arizona Cardinals ($25 million under), who will be moving into a new stadium next year. And the Cleveland Browns ($24 million under) could be a player, too.
It's conceivable that a team like the Philadelphia Eagles or Dallas Cowboys, possibly one impact player away from Super Bowl status, could enter the fray.
Either way, Alexander stands to be a very rich man and the only question is whether the Seahawks will be the ones paying the tab.
posted by The Gryphon at 2:53 PM
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