Truth is I never really liked Shaun, there is something self righteous about him that rubbed me the wrong way, that he flexed his Christianity as if he was privy to some type of secret that others were not. He was always almost too pure in a sort of goody two shoes way, he lived such an exemplary life off the field with his work in the community it almost seemed fake. But quotes like these:

The prevailing opinion was that Alexander is too ’soft’ to play in the NFL. “He doesn’t have anything left,” an NFC general manager told Judge. “People are always talking about the numbers, but the numbers don’t tell the story. There’s the injury factor. And the hands factor. And a desire and competitiveness that don’t seem to be there. He’s never been known as a very tough player, and there have always been questions about his attitude. I’m not saying that because he’s out there (unsigned) now. I would have told you the same thing four or five years ago. Basically, I don’t like him (as a back), and I don’t trust him.”

So Nfl Gm’s don’t believe in production? they must not believe in God? what do they believe in Hype? Even for me, someone who doesn’t like Shaun these quotes are a joke, too soft? the man has a 100 td’s  rushing in a 8 year career thats 12 plus avg per season, that average includes a rookie season where he only touched the ball 64 times and only started once. Last time I checked opposing defenses weren’t all soft and cuddly in their redzone.

You don’t trust his desire or competitiveness, I remember the image of Shaun dropping to one knee with QB Matt Hasselback, choking on tears watching the Steelers celebrate their Super Bowl victory, just in case you forgot, he rushed for 95 yards in that game on 20 carries thats 4.75 per, against the leagues top defense that year, in the biggest game. People in Seattle actually questioned his performance then too, the real story of the game was our defense which let Wille Parker run wild.

There’s the injury factor yes, Shaun has missed 9 games in last 2 years for a whopping total of 9 games in eight years that he hasn’t dressed, 4 of those years he carried the ball over 300 times.

The Numbers don’t tell the story, my personal favorite when potential employers stop looking at past production as a gauge of wether or not too employ you…  Wow

Here is Shaun’s employment history 8 years on the job, 2176 carries avg of 272 per year, which doesn’t account for the fact he only started one game as a rookie, and carried the ball 64 times. 9429 yds thats 1178 per season, avg 4.3 per carry, 100 td’s total, avgs to 12.5 tds per season, 214 receptions 26.75 avg for another 12 td’s an avg of 1.5 a year. Somehow this isn’t believeable? Numbers don’t lie, and the only other back with comparable numbers over the same period is Ladanian Tomlinson, nobody else is close.

Fans, Gms, quit believing the hype Shaun Alexander is not soft, he’s just not very likeable but that doesn’t mean he can’t play. In Seattle and around the league the signing of Julius Jones was applauded as it would help are ailing running game right?, Julius Jones carried the ball 164 times for 588 yds and 2 tds, started all 16 games on a team with one of the best O-lines in football, Shaun Alexander carried the ball 207 times for 716 yds and 4 td’s on a team with O-line issues, in 13 games. On a team that all but had to telegraph every run as they were most effective passing in three or four reciever sets, add to that he played hurt, but still managed to avg the same per carry as Julius Jones.

It amazes me that in the NFL world of super villans, with the likes of, Michael Vick, Pacman Jones, Marshawn Lynch, Ocho Cinco, Chris Henry among many others Shaun Alexander is quickly emerging as the least respected player in the sport, another article I found suggest he might be blackballed in part because of his Christian beliefs,

“This principle is partly what makes Alexander a pillar in his community and a pariah to some NFL general managers,” the Herald item states.  “Football is not Alexander’s first love.”

Enough is enough, you don’t have to respect his religion, hell you don’t even have to like him, but to question his numbers, that statistical history is somehow different when viewed through general dislike for the man, and to question the heart and desire, of the one of the greatest TD makers of all time?

You have to respect the man’s game, maybe for not what is now, but certainly for what it was..

 

 

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Last post (s) by Terry Shilton

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Tags: free agents, Julius Jones, NFL, Player anaylsis, Seattle Seahawks, Shaun Alexander