Seattle earns three rewards for Pro Bowl
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Shaun Alexander is going back to the Pro Bowl, and he’s bringing his two favorite bodyguards with him.
Alexander, the NFC leader in rushing and touchdowns, is one of three Seattle Seahawks who was invited to the NFL Pro Bowl on Wednesday. Tackle Walter Jones and guard Steve Hutchinson were also selected to the NFC team after paving the way for much of Alexander’s yardage on the left side of the Seahawks’ offensive line.
“When you’ve got people like Walt and Hutch, it makes my job a lot easier,” said Alexander, who went to his first Pro Bowl last February after New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister backed out because of injury. “And then having them come to the Pro Bowl, which they definitely deserve, is going to make it a lot more fun.”
They were the only three Seahawks named to the February All-Star game, which included five Seattle players last year.
The number could grow over the next few weeks, as four Seahawks were named alternates: quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, fullback Mack Strong, cornerback Ken Lucas and kicker Josh Brown.
Lucas was a bit disappointed at not being named, while Strong was surprised to get the news that he had been chosen at all. Hasselbeck wasn’t too shocked at missing out on a second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl, mainly because his numbers are down.
The three Seahawks who were named to the Pro Bowl have had deserving years. Alexander is 14 weeks into a career year, thanks in large part to the two big guys clearing the way on the left side.
He has a career-high 1,462 rushing yards and is on pace to challenge personal bests for carries and TDs. Alexander is 84 yards away from breaking Chris Warren’s 10-year old franchise record for rushing yards in a season.
“It’s clear to me that he came into this year with the idea of having his best season, and he went after it,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “He’s practiced well, he’s done it, and it’s worked for him.”
As offensive linemen, Jones and Hutchinson had a few factors working in their favor. Alexander’s numbers helped their cause, as did the fact that they went to Hawaii last February.
They have also been part of an offensive line that has allowed 28 sacks, the third-lowest total in the NFC. The Seahawks allowed 43 sacks last season, 40 of which came in the first 14 games.
“They’ve set a standard for themselves, and giving up a sack is less than that standard,” offensive line coach Bill Laveroni said. “So when they give up a sack, it really upsets them.”
Jones hasn’t been too upset this season, seeing as how he has yet to give up a sack. Hutchinson allowed one – and that came when Miami cornerback Will Poole blitzed and dragged down a scrambling Trent Dilfer.
Jones, 30, went to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 1999 and has been named to the past three.
“I enjoy it every time I get the chance to go,” he said.
Jones has missed training camp in each of the past three seasons. That didn’t stop him from playing at a Pro Bowl level during the regular season.
“Maybe that’s the deal,” right guard Chris Gray joked. “Maybe that’s what’s going on here. Maybe I should miss camp.”
Gray wasn’t too surprised to hear that his two linemates were named to the Pro Bowl.
“As long as they play, I don’t see why they shouldn’t be,” Gray said. “It was the same thing (when Gray played) in Miami, where we had Richmond Webb and Keith Sims, year after year after year, until they got separated. I see (Jones and Hutchinson) going as long as they stay together.”
Hutchinson, a first-round draft choice like both of his Pro Bowl teammates, is in his fourth NFL season and has two trips to Hawaii to show for it.
“It’s a great honor to be voted on by your peers around the league, and the coaches and fans,” said Hutchinson, who was an alternate last year that got added to the roster when New Orleans’ LeCharles Bentley underwent knee surgery. “It’s the top individual honor you can get, and I’m pretty proud of it.”
This marks the 12th time that the Seahawks have had more than two players selected to the Pro Bowl. They had a franchise-high seven in 1984.
Of those who didn’t make the cut, Lucas seemed the most disappointed. He was so excited about a possible Pro Bowl invitation that it kept him awake at night.
“I was kind of sleepless in Seattle (on Tuesday) night. I was like a little kid on Christmas Eve, hoping and nervous,” said Lucas, who has a career-high five interceptions and his first NFL touchdown this season. “I just wish they never would have told us (when the announcement would be made). Just come and surprise us with it.
“I still have work to do. It’s an honor to be mentioned with the elite, but I want to be on that first team.”
The 33-year-old Strong was surprised to hear his name mentioned. Green Bay fullback William Henderson was selected to represent the NFC, with Strong as the No. 1 alternate for the first time in his 12-year career.
Strong had career highs in rushing yards (174) and receptions (29) in 2003, and his numbers (122 and 19) are slightly down this year. He’s also struggled in short yardage – the Seahawks are 20 of 39 in short-yardage conversions on third and fourth downs this year – and therefore did not expect to be considered for the Pro Bowl.
“Stat-wise, I thought I had a better chance” after the 2003 season, Strong said. “This year was completely out of the blue, to be honest with you. I didn’t really expect anything, especially with us being 7-7. Typically teams with the better records send more people. So that was a nice surprise.”