Fallout from Shaun Alexander's release

My buddy Jake over at Just Southeast of Northwest has an interesting take on the release of Shaun Alexander. Basically, he's saying that a lot of Seahawk fans are being fair-weather for turning on the former NFL MVP so quickly.

A number of Seahawk "Fans" rejoice today. We have people who burned their Alexander jersey's out of disgust for his lack of production the past two years. They're quick to forget that he played both seasons with nagging injuries, and ran behind a line that had lost Steve Hutchinson to the Vikings. They forget that Walter Jones, great as he is, is getting older. They are quick to remember his lousy games, though. I guess I just don't get it. And don't get me wrong, I'm with you on groaning over what seemed like a lack of effort on Alexander's part (especially this past year), but honestly, how do we just write off someone who brought so much to the Seahawks? Because of Shaun Alexander, it was cool to wear Seahawk stuff. People sported Seahawk hats rather than the typical 49er or Cowboy trash that was so obvious in the Pacific Northwest. Face it, you probably rooted for one of those teams. Or perhaps the Broncos. Or the Patriots, more recently. In short, Alexander helped make the Seahawks cool.

While he does make a valid point about how fickle fans can be, I think that this reaction would have been seen if Shaun had played on any NFL team, not just the Seahawks. It's not so much that his production went down, it's how it went down.

I would dare say that the offensive line really had a lot to do with Shaun's MVP season in 2005, not to take anything away from him (because he is money in the redzone), and it was the entire team's Super Bowl that made the team cool.

To kind of get a pulse of how many Seahawk fans are feeling, I got on ESPN's story about Alexander's release and looked at the comments that people left:

"I was still backing Alexander at the start of last season but after watching him run into the back of his offensive linemen and fall down at or behind the line of scrimmage all season, I started getting on the cut Alexander bandwagon. Most of the time he wasn't even getting hit by defenders before he would fall on the ground. I realize that the offensive line was not great but whatever team he plays for next season, it is almost assured that the O-line will be of lesser quality than Seattle's last year. John Clayton says Alexander has told teammates that he might have a job in Indy and Tampa Bay. On either team he is a number 2 back at best. There are O-lines that Alexander would excel behind if he could stay healthy. I wish him the best. He is definitely not done in the league but his best years are behind him."

I definitely fall in the same boat as this guy. You really can't knock the offensive line for the Seahawks this year and last because even though it wasn't as good as the Super Bowl OL, it was still one of the better units in the league. And Shaun couldn't produce behind them.

"He lead us to our first Superbowl. It truly is sad to see him go out this way, but I've got nothing but admiration for Shaun. Good luck."

You know, I admire Shaun for the way he took being released but (a) he saw the writing on the wall a long time ago and (b) it still doesn't make up for the fact that he was terrible these past two years. It would be like if you got fired for not showing up to work and then thanked the boss for being so gracious. That still doesn't negate the fact that you didn't show up for work.

And the way he thanked Seattle fans, it really made me do a double take. Remember when he was complaining about all the booing last season. It seems to me that, much like any press conference or sports interview is, it was just a blatant "save face" sort of quote. He did take the high road, but it doesn't make him a saint or anything, and I really doubt that he actually feels that way.

"Can we please start the Sean Alexander to the Carolina Panthers movement please."

I was thinking Oakland.

"Alexander should come to St. Louis his rivials so he can prove to Seattle that they never should of release him!!! Jackson and Alexander and Brian!! OMG"

... okay that last comment is why I hate St. Louis fans.