Ex-Seahawk Alexander to meet with Bengals
Published 9:42 pm Saturday, May 3, 2008
KIRKLAND — While the Seattle Seahawks are spending part of their current minicamp trying to find Shaun Alexander’s replacement, the team’s all-time leading rusher is trying to find a new home.
According to a report in the Cincinnati Enquirer on Saturday afternoon, Alexander will be in Cincinnati today and Monday to visit with the Bengals. He is a native of Florence, Ky., which is across the border from Cincinnati.
Alexander, 30, was released by the Seahawks two weeks ago. He has been plagued by injuries in each of the past two seasons after being named the NFL’s most valuable player in 2005.
In a statement put out when the Seahawks released him on April 22, Alexander said that he believed he would continue playing in the NFL.
“I will be playing for another NFL team this fall, and doing everything I can to contribute,” Alexander was quoted as saying in a release put out by his public relations firm 12 days ago. “I am healthy, energized and looking forward to beginning the next chapter of my NFL career.”
Alexander grew up a Bengals fan, often citing Ickey Woods as one of his favorite players.
Cincinnati’s starting halfback, Rudi Johnson, missed five games last year because of a hamstring injury. Kenny Watson led the Bengals with 763 rushing yards last season. Both players are still on the roster, along with 2004 first-round pick Chris Perry.
Alexander has played every game of his NFL career with the Seahawks. He rushed for a franchise-record 9,429 yards in eight seasons with Seattle. During his 2005 MVP season, Alexander had a Seahawks record of 1,880 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns.
He has missed nine games over the past two seasons due to wrist, foot and knee problems. After averaging 4.6 yards per carry over his first six NFL seasons, Alexander has averaged just 3.5 per attempt in the past two.
Former Dallas Cowboy Julius Jones has the inside track on Alexander’s starting job, while veterans T.J. Duckett and Maurice Morris are also in the mix.
