LOL. He'll be cut and picked up by the Pats.

The best part is that he says teams don't do that to foundation players. Last time I checked Tom Brady renegotiated his contract last offseason to make room for Moss.

He's living in his own little world if he thinks the Hawks should just stand pat in the run dept. They need to address the o-line, true, but they also need a back who doesn't fold like a cheap suit when he sees an opposing jersey. As a Hawk fan I am tired of finesse backs. For once, please, can we get a smash mouth runner? Please?

He's the fat Elvis, face falling off Michael Jackson of football. Thinks he's still the King while everyone snickers...He needs, and should get, a huge reality check instead of a paycheck.

You know what the best case scenario for Alexander and the Seahawks is? Trade him. Seahawks wouldn't have to take ANY cap hit....assuming someone is willing to take on his contract. Any takers for a 5th round pick?

Further proof that Shaun lives in his own little world.

I hope Shaun doesn't drown in that long Egyptian river he is clearly sailing on at present ...

Why would the O-Line want to block for this guy?? He is clearly laying the running game problems at the feet of the linemen. I am not saying they are not at fault, but they don't stop behind the line and reverse direction on third and one.

"Da Nile" isn't just a river in Egypt........

So should he lie? Should he say that the lack of blocking had no part in the failure of the run game? He also said that injuries to him, Mo and Weaver were at fault.

Let's face it, regardless of the health of Shaun, Momo and Weaver, this team needs to add a RB this year. SA is declining, and even if he returns to form he's still 31. Momo is a spot back, nothing more, and Weaver is just OK.

The foundation may still be intact, but it's cracking, at least. A RB of the future, a QBOTF, a LTOTF, and a TE should be at the top of the priority list.

But I said that about the TE position last year, and Timmay! passed on Kevin Boss and Ben Patrick in favor of future superstars Mansfield Wrotto and Jordan Kent, so what do I know?

Wow...uh, I seriously hope Timmay isn't drinking this Kool-Aide too. I long-term contract for Holmy or a primetime coach like Shottenheimer or Cowher better be paramount in his mind, vice keeping SA for any longer. I really don't care how unrealistic people think those two are; if Holmgren decides to step down (and I truly hope he decides to stay), then a new coach...NOT Mora...will be THE biggest acquisition in this team's recent history.

The guy is clearly delusional. I’d love to trade him, but I don’t think there’s much of a market for RBs in their 30s who are afraid of contact, injury prone, can’t catch out of the backfield and are poor to average at blocking.

There is not a team in the NFL that would take the Alexander contract off Seattle's hands. That's a pipe dream.

No team would take his contract, and even if so, that team only takes his salary, not the pro-rated bonus. So we would take the same cap-hit if he were traded, that we would if he were cut. Trading him, while impossible to begin with as a practical matter, saves zero money on the cap.

I'm not quite on the "can him" wagon yet. Yes, I was right there with y'all cursing at the TV when he would fall down on first contact this year. I hoped he would run tougher once the cast came off, but he didn't.

BUT! The fact that his injured wrist required surgery to fix tells me it wasn't just a boo-boo. I can certainly understand a guy cautious about putting that hand down to stay on his feet if a. it hurt like hell and b. it risked a longer-term and/or permanent injury.

So, I really think we can make some line adjustments and have a healthy Shaun as the first steps. If he still runs like a sissy and isn't effective, then the "cut him" talk makes more sense to me. Until then I still remember 2005...This guy was (and hopefully still is) a stud in the right offense.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

// Plus, I want more that 2 years use out of the Alexander jersey I bought dang it! ;)

Nobody will trade for him. If any of us were the GM for another team, would we trade for him? I wouldn't even trade a 7th round pick in a draft 100 years from now for him.

We have our LT of the future if we resign Locklear. He's still young too. He's had some work there before and has looked good. RTs are easier to come by than LTs. If Ray Willis were given a chance at RT, I think he would do well. If, gulp, Walt got hurt and Lock were at LT and Willis at RT --- I think we would still be fine. Losing Walt would hurt but the team could still have decent tackle play. It wouldn't be a situation where we lose the ice fisherman and his replacement is absolutely horrible and pathetic.

I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that Holms sticks around for one more year.

Does it not save us his salary? his vs a draftee - what would be the difference? Just asking, not arguing.

I've heard so many conflicting rumors about Shaun's cap number if he's released that I don't know what to believe anymore.

Frank - you're tight with Timmy!, is there anyway to find this out from the horses mouth?

I wouldn't expect Shawn to openly admit he's past his prime. So his reluctance to say as much didn't suprise me...however, I thought it was funny that he mentioned himself, Matt, and Mo, all taking "big shots". I can remember Mo and Matt both getting nailed pretty good, but when did shawn ever get hit? He's the only 230lb back I know to be consistently shoulder tackled.

Bobby - I posted this on the Times blog last week and I think it's pretty accurate:

(1) Keep Alexander (with no restructuring) cap hit ('08) = $6.775 mil

(2) Release Alexander (after June 1 or designate as post June 1st cut and release before) cap hit ('08) =$2.3 mil (The benefit of doing this for '08 is obvious but it will hurt in '09 when that $4.6 has to be accounted for)

(3) Release Alexander (before June 1) cap hit ('08) = $6.9 mil

Essentially, cutting Alexander will only result in an additional cap hit of $125 000 or possibly a savings in '08.

Thanks for the reposting of it. I appreciate it. I've just seen so many different numbers the last week that one doesn't know what to believe anymore. Where did you hear about this?

IF IF IF we are scheduled to have about $22 million under the cap (as Clayton clearly states, but again, who really knows) and then can drop Alexander after June 1 (after the draft to see if we really did get a RB in the first few rounds) things will be looking really good.
We can get a good, starting guard and will be able to afford to offer extensions to our guys whose contracts are getting close to coming to an end.

His annual salary is listed on NFLPA website and his signing bonus was $11.5 million which is divided over the 5 years of the contract. As a result $4.6 mill of the bonus is gone ('06, '07) which leaves $6.9 mill unaccounted for which would all hit this years cap (or spread over 2 years) if he is released. However, his base salary for '08 is $4.475 mill, plus his prorated signing bonus amount of $2.3 mil gets you the total for '08 (if he is on the roster) of $6.775 mil

Cut or trade Shaun period.

NO Cowher will never be our head coach period.

Mora is most likely are next coach period.

Now i would rather draft Mendenhall rather then Stewart (if we were to draft a RB in first round), Stewarts style of running has been compared to Shauns while Mendenhalls is more of a smash mouth style.

any word on a Holmgren press conference?

I wouldn't totally be upset if we signed someone like Julius Jones (who won't command a crazy salary) and focused on the defensive line with our first pick or two. Maybe take a RB, TE, or S in the third/fourth rounds based on value. This is all under the assumption we take care of the guard position in free agency. I don't care who our RB is next season, if there are no openings to run through that player is going to suck.

I love Jonathan Stewart, but look at his #'s. He doesn't catch passes. For Petes Sake! The Hawks have to find a back who is an above average pass receiver out of the backfield. I would take Felix Jones from ARK. Very little tred on the tires, plus he was excellent as a kick returner which would translate well to catching the ball in space coming out of the backfield.

any word on a news conference?

i still remember it. it was strange, but does anyone else remember the post game stuff after seattle won the nfc championship against carolina? as shaun was running around qwest with the trophy above his head, they cut to a shot of hutchinson leaning to one side, with what i took to be a disgusted look on his face. i'm not making that up. i had a feeling then, as bradshaw and others asked shaun if he was gonna stay a seahawk, that we would make a mistake trying to pay too much to keep him, after the year he had, and the money he would demand. we would've been much better served paying hutch, and letting any remotely skilled running back play behind that line. oh well, i know...hindsight.

Well, if we don't sign Trufant i expect to sign some big CB in first round. DT or TE if we sign. And hope to find some big smash FB-RB in 3.-4. round.

I'm not sold on SA, but...What did you guys expect him to say about restructuring his deal or his future? He's inviting management to come after his $ if he answers the question the way you want him to. Maybe he is in denile, or maybe it's just a business thing. He does make a good point at the end...if he plays hurt and can't get the numbers, he gets criticized...if he doesn't play because he isn't 100%, he gets criticized. I think the best thing would be to get a young RB in the draft and then see how SA does when he gets healthy. If he's running well, great. If not, the young RB gets a starting spot.

1. Foundation players don't restructure contracts.. Isn't it exactly the opposite? Don't the guys who make the most and are foundation guys the first to step up ? eg. Walt restuctured for Hutch, Brady for Moss. Peyton for cap space and so on.

2. SA says " I am the best RB ever in Seattle, So theres no extra emotion or oh I gotta do this or that" Quote from LT in Peter Kings article "Look at the great running backs in history. Look at Walter Payton, Jim Brown. What did they have in common? They were hungry. They ran hard every play, right up to the end of their careers. If you don't do that, you won't stay one of the great backs.''

Who would want to block for this guy? Cut him June 1. It would be addition by subtraction. That's not the mentality we need on this team.

I agree with everyone who thinks that it's time to replace Shaun Alexander. Hopefully, he takes a paycut and and stays on the roster and the Hawks draft a rookie. Otherwise, he needs to go.

As far as the interview, while I give him credit for being honest -- like calling out the O-line -- he failed to point out his own shortcomings. Injuries are one thing, but he needs to admit that he could've improved his blocking, receiving and running.

While I don't agree with how Shaun tooted his own horn), it wasn't any more classless than the fans who booed him at Qwest Field. At least show some appreciation for a player who had five very productive seasons (2001-2005) and aside from a postgame outburst after the season finale in '04, Shaun has been a model citizen.

Would you rather have someone like Travis Henry? Good RB, but can't stay off the weed and apparently never heard of condoms. (9 children from 9 different mothers? You kiddin' me????)

i want a RB with some HEART, TOUGHNESS, and a MEAN STREAK. It's nice to see other RB's on other teams come out of a pile talking smack or at least pissed off and jawing at opposing Defenses. I never saw this ONCE with SA. i want someone who shows they care on the OUTSIDE and not just claims to through lip service. SHOW me you care by jawing every once in a while or showing up the other team on occasion. His rocking the baby celebration dance made me cringe ever time i saw it. I want a BEAST as a RB, not a passive, always smiling RB.

I just saw on ESPN Breaking News by Jon CLayton. Holmgrens coming back!!!

all this talk is pretty funny. I know this a message board on a blog so i shouldn't have too high of expectations, but. What would make you guys happy? The only reason your down on SA now is because of how great he was his entire career through the 2005 season. And what he accomplished in that span was nothing short of amazing averaging over 1500 yards and 15+ TDs a year! Yeah he had a good line, duh, this is football a team game where no single player can make a difference unless he gets help from his team. It wasn't jim brown against 11 guys, it was brown and 10 other guys helping him run. Devin hester can only return a kick for a TD if he has 10 guys blocking for him.

And what are you expecting in a RB? LT widely considered the best player in the league period has had plenty of games where he simply doesn't show up, games where he has less than 50 yards rushing. Adrian peterson this year had games where he didn't show up. Any back we get is not going to be much of an improvement unless he has somewhere to run, and if thats the case (that there will be somewhere to run) then SA will do more than fine.

Put money on it we cut him he goes to New England and has a 18td season and 1300 yds. If we keep him we get another injury ridden season 6 TD's and maybe 700 yds.

i don't care whether shaun is on the team or not next year as long as i don't have to listen to him do another interview ever again...

He is so clueless...although it makes sense to say such things from a business standpoint. I guess just the idea that he still thinks he is elite really pisses me off. He is anything but. I can't wait to see Jonathan Stewart or Rashard Mendenhall in Seahawk blue next year. I'm gonna be hugely pissed if that doesn't happen. Maybe if it's Fred Davis I'll be ok.

Totally dellusional. The guy lives in his own little world. Get rid of him. Its because of Alexander that the Seahawks are known as a "soft" team.

running backs on bill belicheck's teams do not rush for 1000 yards. shaun alexander is not going to change that. laurence maroney is a million times better and fresher than shaun, why would he have such a great year with them? i know being from seattle we expect him to go do great things elsewhere, but this is more like a vin baker situation. this guy is done. anyone that takes him will be the fool, not us.

the most annoying part of that interview was shaun's nervous laughing when answering a tough question. "so what if the team decides to draft a running back in the 1st round?" shaun: "i trust tim. we went to the superbowl in his first year. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahha!"

what? there was nothing funny about that shaun.

There is no way to say we would be better off with stewart or any other drafted running back. There have been way to many busts in the early rounds of the draft to count on anything. especially to count on anything in the first year.

The finances of the team and SA's contract don't allow for Ruskell to even play with this decision for very long. The will not cut him and probably can't trade him for anything that is worth more than his presence on the team considering how much cap room his contract will tie up if he is cut/traded. So, we keep him on the team. Hopefully the Hawks will get him to renegotiate his contract, but SA has the leverage in that deal because he has very little financial incentive (though some) to make any changes, but maybe his 'team player' mentality that he espouses will show itself to be real.

So, all of that to say, this is the year that we start looking for Mo's replacement. At the start of next year he'll be a 29 year old back who has never gone into an NFL season as a starter. What that looks like is grabbing a RB in the 4th round of the draft like Patrick Allen from Oklahoma or some even have Steve Slaton ranked as low as the 10 back on the board, which is about what would be left with the Hawks 4th round selection. The running back field is so rich this year that Yvensen Bernars from Oregon State is looking like an undrafted free agent. He runs hard, putting forth Marion Barber type of efforts and can be had for a song. With the talent that will be available in the third, fourth and even fifth round of the draft the first two or even three rounds can be dedicated to DT, TE, and maybe (I'm dreaming here) one of the three stud centers out there in this draft to serve as our backup to Spencer and push him a little if he doesn't take the next step.

Alot of turds on this blog, sheesh man Shauns a high caliber person and gave us 6 years of highest quality at his position. Do you now expect him to roll over and die, or not have any pride in his ability?? no confidence?? To just give up?? don't be stupid!!!! I agree that we need a up and commer or some to step right in and compete for shauns time. But you can't just dump on the guy and have any credability, And if a rookie or a veteran comes in and takes his job I don't think you would hear any crying from Shaun. Shaun is a true Man and has above the rest character, he only has one mode and thats a positive attitude and a can do personality. You yoyo's out there aren't in his class, and should keep your lil boy complaints and sarcasm in the 7th grade where you hangout.

shaun has always tried to say the right thing, but this time i think he actually crossed a line. to say that the seahawks are "too classy" to ask to renogotiate is pretty unclassy of himself. the seahawks have every right to ask him to renegotiate after what has happened the past two years. they have every right to cut him. doesn't mean that they should, but it also doesn't mean that they would be "unclassy" for doing so. i know it wouildn't be smart from a business standpoint for him to change his contract for the better of the team, but it wouldn't make the seahawks any less of an organization for attempting to do so. it felt like a challenge from shaun today, like this statement may be looked back upon in the very near future.

i think the seahawks draft a RB early and give him the opportunity right at the start of camp to take shaun's job. if he does outperform, but shaun shows some relative effectiveness, trade 37. if shaun does nothing, cut him. if shaun miraculously comes out on a rampage, ride him till the wheels fall off.

Oh yeah, that "stabbed in the back stuff" he threw at Holmgren and "tell him I mean that in the nicest way" in his temper tantrum he threw after the Altanta game in 04 because he didn't get his precious rushing title (and it meant more to him than the team getting a home playoff game) was real class. It showed his real character, which is selfish. This two-faced bible thumper is as phony as a $3 bill. Cut this bozo ASAP and designate him as a June 1st cut.

A back who is big and catches very well out of the backfield that doesn't get mentioned much is Cory Boyd from South Carolina. He'll probably go in the 4th or 5th round. And a guy that might not get drafted but is big and catches well is Tim Hightower from Richmond. I don't think we necessarily need to go RB in the 1st round. But we need a new one, and send Leon packing. He's a waste of a roster spot as well as of oxygen.

After cooling off and thinking about his interview for a few days I'll say this (I Feel I can since I'm 35 and vividly remember Curt Warner, Ricky Watters, John L Williams, Mack Strong, Steve Broussard, Lamar Smith, and Chris Warren)

Shaun Alexander historically is the "best" running back Seattle has ever hard. The stats and records prove it.

However, having said that, Shaun Alexander your time in Seattle is up.

Your moronic comment about only "role players" renegotiating contracts, and the "Seahawks being to classy" is totally over the top.

You've done it, and now you must leave. You're time here has run out. Go get picked up by the Patriots to back up Moroney in the "prime" of your career! LOL

We don't need you here anymore, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, but on a final note. Thanks for what you've done for this franchise, thanks for the records, the super bowl run, and your TD record, and your MVP season...Thanks Thanks Thanks...I said it. Thanks.

NOW LEAVE!

My .02c.

PS Tom Brady, and Payton Manning have restructured their contracts Shaun. They've won superbowls Shaun. Enough said. BuBye~!

ive been reading the blog lately and listening to people bad mouth SA. these are probly the same people that booed him when he was tackled behind the line of scrimmage because of poor blocking and probly the same people who booed him when he ran for short gains to the left when he had his huge cast on his wrist. Probly the same people who praised his name when he scored the 28 touchdowns. But the facts are these last two seasons have been full of injuries for the first time in his career. Not to mention the loss of steve hutchinson, mack strong, and robbie tobeck. I mean sure alexander didnt put of multi-million numbers, but he also lost about half of his blocking. point being alexander didnt live up to his huge contract and should revise it, but if seattle gets soem decent blockers you'll see he's still got some gas in the tank.

First just becasue he said that in an interview doe snot meen he will not. By saying he would he pretty much looses any negotiating points eh may or may not have had. I mean why negotiate in the press. I bet when an dif ht eteam approaches him he will restrcuture the contract.

I think the thing with Shaun is that is getting injured on the first game of the season if different areas of his body. What does that mean? He is breaking down, remember all those great seasons we rode his tread to the playoffs well guess what, it is kicking his @ss. I think we should drop him obviously after June 1st to spread the cap casualty amongst 2 years. I think if he could stay healthy he could get his handful of touchdowns and plenty of yards but at this point he is injury prone.
We should look to the 2-3 rounds possibly the 4th for a RB. What we need is a TE that can block and catch, since Fred Davis got injured in the Senior Bowl he might come cheaper than expected. We also need a fatty, a Marcus Tubbs who is not a perennial IR. He looked injured in the offseason, so i am not sure why we let him get back on the field. he was clearly putting too much stress on the left leg and then there goes the ACL. With that much meat on the bones, you cant rush injuries. His career might be done by a poor medical clearance. Sorry still makes me angry.

Oh my god, i apologize to everyone who had to read my first sentence. What i was trying to say. Shaun is getting injured in the first game of the season and in different areas, bone bruises becoming cracks, etc. He is injury prone after taking so much abuse. Sorry for the ESL