Alexander cut

[Partial]

How the mighty have fallen.

[oregonpackfan]

It is interesting to note for the pro level running back, that once they hit the age of 30, their skills take a dramatic drop. There are certainly exceptions to this rule, but 30 appears to be the ceiling for NFL RBs.

[woodbuck27]

Shawn Alexander three and four seasons ago. DYNOMITE !

and this. . . WOW.

[Chubbyhubby]

Seahawks cut running back, former MVP Alexander

April 22, 2008

CBSSports.com wire reports

SEATTLE -- From MVP to vilified to unemployed in a little more than two years.

Shaun Alexander's free fall in Seattle was completed Tuesday when the Seahawks cut the running back who led them to their only Super Bowl appearance in 2006 and was rewarded soon after with a $62 million contract.

For Alexander, the two seasons since he received that eight-year deal have been filled with injuries, ineffectiveness and incessant boos.

"Yeah, it's sad, really," Seahawks president Tim Ruskell said while announcing the defending four-time NFC West champions released Alexander unconditionally, hours after the running back passed a physical.

[Carolina_Packer]

OPF, it seems to follow a pattern. I can't remember how many carries they say a typical RB has in them, but there is a benchmark number. 30 years old seems to be the typical highpoint of a high-level back too, and most of them drop off precipitously after that. Perhaps he'll find a suitor and latch on with them, but I don't see him ever being a feature back again.

[Phil03]

Anyone notice that he started sucking after Steve Hutchinson was signed by Minnesota and Minnesota's running game also magically improved in 2006

[woodbuck27]

Anyone notice that he started sucking after Steve Hutchinson was signed by Minnesota and Minnesota's running game also magically improved in 2006

That plus an outstanding young RB.

[Phil03]

Anyone notice that he started sucking after Steve Hutchinson was signed by Minnesota and Minnesota's running game also magically improved in 2006

That plus an outstanding young RB.

True but Chester Taylor looked pretty good in 2006 and 2007 and he's not THAT good

[Phil03]

Anyone notice that he started sucking after Steve Hutchinson was signed by Minnesota and Minnesota's running game also magically improved in 2006

That plus an outstanding young RB.

True but Chester Taylor looked pretty good in 2006 and 2007 and he's not THAT good

[woodbuck27]

Anyone notice that he started sucking after Steve Hutchinson was signed by Minnesota and Minnesota's running game also magically improved in 2006

That plus an outstanding young RB.

True but Chester Taylor looked pretty good in 2006 and 2007 and he's not THAT good

Good point.

[Tarlam!]

Anyone notice that he started sucking after Steve Hutchinson was signed by Minnesota and Minnesota's running game also magically improved in 2006

Good catch, Phil.

I say we sign him! TT obviously knows the guy well. If we do sign him, TT has to have the inside straight on what he can and can't do...

[HarveyWallbangers]

Minnesota's rushing offense only went up from 3.9 yards/carry to 4.1 yards/carry from 2005 to 2006. It wasn't until they got an All-World talent in Adrian Peterson that they really took off. Interestingly, Maurice Morris averaged 4.1 yards/carry in 2005 and he averaged 4.5 yards/carry last season. It looks as much like Alexander fell off and Minnesota got Peterson more than anything else. I'm sure Hutchinson helped, but I think there's much more to it than that.

[TheCheese]

I just hope we stay the hell away from Alexander. Even if he is number four on the depth chart, I really am not too fond of that guy.

[Guiness]

For some reason, I never really liked the guy, even after his big season. The year after his big season, I drafted LT #1 overall in a FF pool

Can't put a finger on it, he just never did it for me. And after that monster season, I remember thinking Seattle was screwed because they were going to have to give him the bank.

Of course, an eight year deal was a pipe dream So what the heck kind of a cap hit is Seattle taking on him???

Just checked - $15 mil signing bonus (not bad, really) which means they take 6/8ths of that, or $11.25mil hit this year. Ouch is all I can say.

On to the present - although I never considered him a top flight talent, does anyone really think he's washed up? He had to injuries these past two years, but they were a broken foot and a broken wrist - neither soft tissue. If his knees are still good, I think he could probably still be an effective back.

[Lurker64]

Stay away form Alexander. He's big and slow (now) so he can't hit holes that are closing quickly, and he doesn't really break tackles. He can't catch the ball out of the backfield, he doesn't appear to want to block, and he won't play on special teams (not that he'd be any good at it.) I'd rather have Noah Herron than Shaun Alexander at this point, and I'm not that high on Herron (but at least he'll play ST, and he'll do everything he's asked to do to the extent of his limited ability).