By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
RENTON -- Former Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander will be in town to face his former team this weekend, but if head coach Mike Holmgren had his way, he might be playing for the home team.
Holmgren admitted during his Wednesday press conference that he wanted to bring Alexander back this season.
"I wasn't sure he'd lost his quickness," said Holmgren, whose Seahawks host Washington on Sunday. "The last two years, he was hurt, and that clearly affected him."
During a conference call with the Seattle media on Wednesday morning, Alexander said the only reason he isn't playing anymore is because team president Tim Ruskell didn't want him around.
Alexander said Wednesday that Ruskell told him shortly after the end of the 2007 season that he was no longer in the team's plans. The former Seahawks running back added that Seattle's coaching staff was not on board with the decision.
"Nobody was happy about that," Alexander said on Wednesday. "Coach Holmgren and (offensive coordinator) Gil (Haskell) did not get to make that decision."
Ruskell told reporters in late February that Alexander would be back. But after signing veterans Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett in free agency, he decided to let the 30-year-old Alexander go.
Alexander was coming off two injury-plagued seasons. The decision to release him looks like a good one, seeing as how Alexander spent the entire offseason without a job and has carried the ball just 11 times in four games with Washington.
Alexander said that offseason surgery to repair a broken bone in his wrist was a big reason why he spent so much time unsigned.
Asked what kind of reaction he expects at Qwest Field this weekend, when the Seahawks host Washington, Alexander chuckled.
"I'm the third running back," he said. "... So what are we talking about here? I think it won't even be a topic."
Alexander is behind starter Clinton Portis and veteran Ladell Betts on Washington's depth chart. He was brought in when those two veterans were struggling with injuries last month.
"When you're the man, then you're the man," Alexander said. "And when you're not, you're not."
