14 Jan 11 Seattle Seahawks "Shaun Alexander's gone, which is reason to be neither happy nor sad"

The most polarizing figure in Seattle Seahawks history is gone, and – typically – folks have mixed feelings about it. Most figured the release of Shaun Alexander was a foregone conclusion – particularly after the team signed T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones last month. Many couldn’t wait for the team to get rid of Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
Alexander, who had suffered through two injury-filled, ineffective seasons since he was voted the league’s most valuable player in 2005 and then signed a $62 million contract. While the SA haters were many and vocal (they could be heard booing Alexander even in pre-game introductions at Qwest Field last season), there were plenty of fans who were sorry to see Alexander go because they remember what he did for the Seahawks.Alexander leaves as the team’s all-time rusher – numbers he compiled largely in a five-year run (2001-05) that was as productive as any running back in the history of the NFL. During that time, he averaged 1,500 rushing yards per season and scored 98 of his team-record 112 touchdowns. He also accomplished the following feats:–He became one of two players in NFL history to score at least 15 touchdowns in five consecutive seasons;–He became one of five players in NFL history to score at least 20 touchdowns in consecutive seasons;–He became one of five players in NFL history to rush for back-to-back 1,600 yard seasons;–He was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls (2003-05) and in 2005 became the first Seahawk to be named the NFL’s most valuable player. Alexander leaves Seattle with a team-record 9,429 rushing yards – 2,700 more than Chris Warren and Curt Warner. His 112 touchdowns are 11 more than Steve Largent had in his Hall of Fame career – and 50 more than Warner and 64 more than Warren. His 100 rushing touchdowns tie him with Marshall Faulk for seventh in NFL history.Alexander also set a couple of obscure NFL records: He had the most consecutive games of 100 or more yards rushing vs. division foes (nine) and also had at least one run of 10 or more yards in 64 consecutive games, topping the record of 60 previously held by Barry Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
Sanders (1995-98).Even with all of those achievements, though, Alexander still was not nearly as beloved as Warner was. And that’s because Alexander didn’t seem to play as hard as Warner did, because Alexander didn’t catch as well as Warner did, because Alexander didn’t put as much effort into blocking as Warner did, and, well, because Alexander just didn’t seem to be as good of a teammate as Warner did. Some say Alexander’s accomplishments were the product of a great offensive line, that he was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time as the Seahawks found that ever elusive synergy among their front five. But to think that Maurice Morris or some other second-tier runner could have accomplished what Alexander did – even behind a line that got better and better for five years – is to grossly misunderstand the talent Alexander brought to the field.There is a reason the Seahawks drafted him 19th overall in 2000 – and were ecstatic to have gotten him, even though they still had Ricky Watters at the time. When healthy, Alexander was (and is) elusive and shifty, with a weaving running style that made opponents think he was not running hard or fast. And he had such a nose for the end zone that it became a running joke – “If only Shaun ran as hard between the 20s as he does inside them ...” Alexander was talented – there is no denying it. But there’s also no arguing with the fact that his style was by its nature self-protective; he had a knack for avoiding serious injuries (until the last two seasons) because he would never take a big hit. But that often made him look soft, and fans and teammates did not like that. Too often, Alexander would make people cheer on one play as he busted off one of those touchdown runs only to make fans jeer on the next play as he went down a yard short of Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
the first-down marker.He was easily the most productive running back in Seattle history and for five years did things that few running backs have done in the history of the NFL, but Alexander did too many other things that prevented people from loving him as they might have. He was the most polarizing player in Seahawks history, and that’s why it’s hard to be happy or sad that he is gone.