He’s not ‘The Man’ anymore
Former Seahawks star rides the bench
RENTON, Wash. – Shaun Alexander’s recent career trajectory has resembled a bungee jump – straight down.
In just three years, the Seahawks’ former franchise running back went from MVP to “Where is he?”
Perhaps the most accomplished third-stringer in the NFL, Alexander hopes to make the most of any opportunity when he returns to Seattle with the Washington Redskins on Sunday.
After all, a bungee jump does have a little upward bounce at the back end.
“When you are ‘The Man,’ you’re ‘The Man.’ And when you’re not, you’re not,” Alexander said with his familiar chuckle Wednesday during a phone interview from Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va.
Once on top of the league as a cover boy for a best-selling NFL video game, Alexander is just glad to have a job on a winning team with a chance at a Super Bowl title. The former Seahawks star said that’s the only jewel missing from a career that began when Seattle drafted him 19th overall out of Alabama in 2000.
In Washington, he has 11 carries for 24 yards in four games. He’s far behind the dynamic Clinton Portis, the Redskins’ indestructible 1,000-yard rusher.
The only reason former Seahawks quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn signed Alexander last month was because backup Ladell Betts was hurt. Alexander is familiar with Zorn’s offense, which has roots in the one Alexander ran in while rewriting Seattle’s record book for coach Mike Holmgren.
Seattle basically booed him out of town last season. He was its civic lightning rod, the man blamed for everything.
Sunday, Alexander returns humbled but seemingly at peace. The Seahawks’ all-time rusher (9,429 yards) and touchdown scorer (112) wonders if anyone will notice him. No. 37 will be buried deep on the Redskins’ sideline inside a stadium where he was once loved, then scorned.
“Well, I mean, I’m the third running back. I mean, what are we talking about here?” Alexander said, laughing again. “I think it won’t even be a topic.
“There’s not like a taunting thing that can go on. And there’s not a jovial thing that can go on. I’m just a part of the system out here. I was an impact to the system in Seattle.”
In Washington, he’s fine with his current role – not thrilled, but fine.
“I’ve always been a person that’s been real upfront with the situation and what’s going on,” he said. “I don’t go into the game thinking, ‘Oh, man! I do this one thing and I’m going to be the guy that gets 30 carries!’ No, that’s not reality.
“Hoping it will happen again one day. But Clinton is playing well. You’ve got to ride that horse so you can take it as far as it can go.”
Zorn said there’s a chance Alexander won’t be on the active list for Sunday’s game. The Redskins’ fourth-string running back is Rock Cartwright, who has to play because he’s the kickoff returner.