Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The numbers say Shaun Alexander let down the Seahawks after signing a lucrative contract following his 2005 MVP season. That is the easiest part of the Alexander story to understand. A case could be made that the Seahawks let down Alexander as well. They failed to keep their Super Bowl line together, and they hired a proven line coach only recently, after young prospects Chris Spencer and Rob Sims appeared to regress.
Releasing Alexander makes sense given his $4.475 million salary and declining production. Alexander turns 31 this summer. Injuries have slowed him for two consecutive seasons. He doesn't always run aggressively. He isn't physical. He is not an eager pass protector. He does not catch the ball consistently. Those last four things matter more when the rushing yards and touchdowns aren't piling up.
If it's fair to hold Alexander accountable for those things, it's fair to ask hard questions about what the team could have done to maximize its investment in him. Losing Steve Hutchinson in free agency proved more problematic than anticipated beacuse Floyd Womack wasn't a suitable alternative, and because former line coach Bill Laveroni was unable to develop Spencer and Sims. The Seahawks hired a more proven line coach in Mike Solari this offseason, too late for Alexander to realize the anticipated benefits.
Neither the Seahawks nor Alexander could stop age and injuries from finally catching up with fullback Mack Strong. Strong's decline and eventual retirement played a role in the ground game's struggles, even as Leonard Weaver grew into the position.
In the end, Alexander ran out of time. His production was no longer great enough to cover for his shortcomings, and the team decided to cut its losses.
Alexander leaves the Seahawks with 100 touchdowns and more than 9,000 yards. He far exceeded any reasonable expectations, playing a leading role in the team's first Super Bowl appearance. His place in Seahawks history appears secure, even if the last two years failed to meet expectations he helped to establish.
