Shaun Alexander

Shaun Alexander is having a great year, and is a great running back. These points are obvious and not up for debate.

However, the urgency of signing this great running back is very much a point for debate.

Conventional wisdom argues that he should be signed soon: the sooner the better, and the Hawks are already behind the curve.

I do not agree with this line of thinking. There is no urgency to this signing for some very good reasons.

Alexander's stock is already at its highest point. He's scoring virtually every game, he's on course to win the rushing title, and flirting with a 2000 season. The organization won't save any money by signing him now, unless they can spread any potential signing bonus any further.

Alexander isn't as amazing as his numbers suggest. It's difficult to prove this point, but there are solid indicators. The offensive line is doing an amazing job of controlling the line of scrimmage, opening gaps, and giving Shaun a clear vision. His talent is in finding the cut backs, bursting through the holes and finding the end zone. He is not put in a position to make something from nothing on a regular basis.

Holmgren's pass first offense and the Seahawks relatively easy schedule has also contributed to Alexander's success this season. The Hawks have spent much of this season holding leads and feeding Alexander the ball to run down the clock. Many of these defenses had virtually given up, allowing the Hawks to run up the ground yardage, and the score. The Cowboys proved that when defenses focus on stopping Alexander, his numbers suffer. Hasselbeck and the receiving corps don't permit defenses to do this because the Seahawks are always a threat from the air. In spite of Alexander's numbers, they remain a pass first offense.

Shaun Alexander is an elite running back, and he should be paid as such. He is not, however, inherently greater than the other elite backs of the league, and the success of the Seattle Seahawks is not dependent on his presence.