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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Seattle sets aside distractions



 (The Spokesman-Review)
Tim Korte Associated Press

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren hoped to move ahead Tuesday and focus on this weekend’s playoff game against St. Louis, rather than rehash Shaun Alexander’s caustic comments from last weekend.

Sorry, coach.

Alexander’s claim – that he was “stabbed in the back” and denied the NFL rushing title by Holmgren – was a popular topic during the coach’s weekly news conference.

There were plenty of questions, too, about Holmgren’s handling of trouble-prone receiver Koren Robinson.

“Shaun’s situation came and went. It’s over,” Holmgren said. “Koren’s situation? We haven’t had Koren much in the last six weeks. We’ve been playing without him. Would I like to have Koren? Yes, I would. But we’re moving forward.”

Holmgren said he hadn’t received an apology from Alexander. The running back claimed after last Sunday’s 28-26 win over Atlanta that a 1-yard quarterback sneak had cost him the NFL rushing title.

At a Monday news conference, Alexander apologized to fans for his comments, but said he didn’t need to apologize to Holmgren or his teammates – saying they know him well enough to realize he doesn’t value statistics ahead of wins.

“It’s a non-factor,” fullback Mack Strong said. “Nobody even brought it up today, which I think is the right thing to do. Shaun did what he had to do yesterday, in a press conference and a formal apology. As far as I’m concerned, it’s done.”

Holmgren said he didn’t know Alexander was one yard short of tying the Jets’ Curtis Martin for the NFL rushing title when he called for Matt Hasselbeck’s decisive TD sneak, which put Seattle up 28-20 with 4:28 to play.

“Honest to goodness, you guys, I suppose this is interesting,” Holmgren said. “To me, it wasn’t that complicated. No one was intentionally doing anything. Inches? Quarterback sneak. That’s it.”

Dealing with Robinson is more complicated, since Holmgren must decide whether the standout receiver will play against the Rams. He sent Robinson home before kickoff last weekend for violating an undisclosed team rule.

“He is practicing today,” Holmgren said. “I haven’t made the decision on what his role will be. My players’ committee is involved in this as well. I’ll make a decision by the end of the week.”

Robinson, who declined interviews, missed six of the final seven games: two for breaking team rules and four after an NFL suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Holmgren repeated his position that he feels obligated to help his players if they have personal problems. He said Robinson isn’t receiving special treatment and hinted there’s more to the issue than he can disclose, but it’s a private matter.