Interested in Shaun Alexander?

[HPF Bob]

Alexander is getting cut by the Seahawks (some discrepency about if he's a June 1st cut or an immediate cut). Any interest from Texan fans? There's been talk that Ahman Green is already destined to hit the June 1st scrapheap.

Are you just replacing one aging injury-prone RB with another or do you say Shaun was such a great back that it is worth the gamble to see if he can regain his old glory?

[Joshua]

Granted, I didn't watch Seattle much last year but everything I've heard/read on Alexander is that he has mailed it in ever since getting his big contract. It was also rumored that Seattle was concerned about this very possibility and that was why they drug their feet for so long before giving him a big deal.

I think I would pass.

[dadmg]

Interested in Shaun Alexander?

At this point in his career, I'm not sure why anyone would be.

His MVP/Super Bowl season may have been the highlight of his career, but it also pretty much ended it. He ended up with 370 carries in the regular season, which is too much of a workload on its own (just ask Football Outsiders and their "Curse of 370"), but what really drove the nail in his coffin was the additional carries he got because they made it all the way to the Super Bowl. As a result he ended up with 430 total carries by the time the offseason came around, the 9th most in history. The list above him does not look kind - Jamal Anderson in '98, Eddie George in '00 (his last semi-effective year), Terrell Davis (twice in a row - there's a reason his knees died). Emmit's got two earlier in his career (the second of which was his final season as an elite back and his YPC dipped a yard the next year). Riggins survived another year at roughly the same level, which is beyond amazing because he was 34 at the time. Then again it was the first 300+ carry season of his career and had many low-carry seasons earlier in his career, so he probably had more tread on the tires than your average 34 year old. Just below Alexander on the chart is Larry Johnson two years ago and we all know how that worked out for him.

I think Alexander's age and gradually increasing load of the previous few years put him in a precarious position and the overload of that season left him worn out. Even before his foot injury the next year he was ineffective and he's continued to be ineffective (his YPCs have been an anemic 3.6 and 3.8, in comparison Maurice Morris ran for 4.5 and Leonard Weaver 4.4 behind the same line last year) and injury-prone ever since. Which is exactly what you would expect of a RB given an insane workload at an age when RBs tends to decline. He's finished. I'd honestly be surprised if he made it out of training camp.

Note: For those who are curious, Ahman Green's 2003 season ranks just a bit further down that list in 25th with 355 regular season carries and 403 total.
He averaged 5.3 YPC in racking up his 1883 yards that year. The next year it dropped off to 4.5 and 1163. The year after he averaged a mere 3.3 YPC (granted his Oline had been gutted) before he tore his Achilles. In his return, behind a better Oline, he managed 4.0 and a 1059 yards. We all know how that tale ended up (6 games, 3.7 YPC).

[Mike]

I think his best days are behind him. He looks like he runs tentative now. I would rather draft a young player and add him to the mix. Heck, Darius Walker is just a guy, but he runs hard and is young. Might was well keep Ahman around this year if he makes it through training camp healthy. Swapping Green for Alexander is like swapping deck chairs on the Titanic IMO.

We have more old/injured backs than the local chiropracters office.

[papabear]

nope.......

[TexicanMexican]

No interest. I prefer getting a RB through the draft.

[Vinny]

I'd love to see him here for the right money. He has a bit of a OJ Anderson style since he doesn't have the burst he used to have but he still has more than Dayne ever had.

[Wolf]

I'd love to see him here for the right money. He has a bit of a OJ Anderson style since he doesn't have the burst he used to have but he still has more than Dayne ever had.

good point Vinny

[Dennis2112]

Shaun may have more left in the tank than Dayne but at what cost?

Will Shaun want big bucks for half the production he normally gave in the past?

I would lean toward drafting a RB than signing another older one

[Keith]

Shaun Alexander > Chris Brown

With $800k already invested in Brown though on a 2-yr contract (not to mention the money sunk in Ahman Green), I'm not sure the Texans would bite on Alexander.

Too bad though. Yeah, Alexander's been a tentative shell of his former self, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had one more good year left in him.

[lebowski]

Alexander looked like a great running back when he was running behind the best offensive line in football. Probably not a coincidence that his production dropped like a rock after Steve Hutchinson left for the Vikings. Alexander is past his prime. I'd rather have a younger, less expensive, healthier back.

[Froback]

Alexander has always had tremendous talent, yet there are many stories (and have been for years) that he tended to care more about certain off-the-field things more than football.

That is not to say he mailed it in, but more that now that he is getting older, it takes more "dedication" to preparing and playing the game, and he doesn't seem to have the "want to" like you have seen in other players as they get older.

I would pass on him for that reason. I think if he had a better history of work ethic, I would feel differently. But then, I think if he had that, he wouldn't have been let go by the Seahags.

[papabear]

I guess I'll clarify my "nope". If we didn't have Green and Brown I would be all for bringing in Alexander. As it is we have two vets who,if healthy, should give us plenty in the running game. If we brought in Alexander that doesn't leave many carries, or a roster spot, for a younger back to develop. I'm still curious about Taylor, and some people like Walker. Now throw Slaton in the mix. Either Taylor or Walker doesn't make this team. I suspect it is Walker because Taylor could me an emergency fullback as well, but it could go either way. That still leaves you with Four RB's. I don't want to add another one who is over the hill.

If Green gets cut then it might be worth a look, but only for cheap. I'm OK with a situation of two vets and two youngsters for when/if the vets get hurt.

[Froback]

If given the choice I would choose Rhodes (who was released by Oak) over Alexander.

But as Papabear stated, I don't see either being an option unless Green or Brown are dumped.

[Keith]

Some Alexander notes from John Clayton:
Shaun Alexander's two-day meeting with Cincinnati allowed each side to get to know each other, and it could lead to a signing down the road. ... Alexander will go to New Orleans for a visit Wednesday. There is 50-50 chance of a visit to the Denver Broncos later in the week.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3382955&type=blogEntry

A visit to Denver...? Seems reasonable that had maybe the Texans not signed Brown that a visit to "South Denver" might have been a possibility.

[Mike]

Maybe we can shed "South Denver" with all of the Hokies. We can be the Houston Branch of the VT campus.

[Froback]

Maybe we can shed "South Denver" with all of the Hokies. We can be the Houston Branch of the VT campus.

I would not want that reference.
With Weary re-signed, it would be too easy to change that too, "The Houston Branch of the VD campus."

[NBT]

One very simple reason why not..... if we passed on Mendenhall in the Draft, why would we then go after Alexander and his high price, when we have a stable full of horses now?

[KJ3]

One very simple reason why not..... if we passed on Mendenhall in the Draft, why would we then go after Alexander and his high price, when we have a stable full of horses now?

exactly.

but that's a reason that took some thought!!! give yourself the credit!!!

the simple reason is because shaun alexander sucks. he couldn't run through a hole if ladanian tomlinson gave him his strong hand...