His injury-marred season could be over. His career in Seattle could be over. But Ricky Watter isn’t about to panic.
By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND — After a horrific start to the 2001 season, the Seattle Seahawks battled their way back into playoff contention without the services of star running back Ricky Watters.
If the Seahawks are going to close the deal, they’ll have to do it without Watters again.
After originally believing that Watters had suffered a sprained ankle in Sunday’s 29-3 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Seahawks found out Monday that an MRI had unveiled a cracked bone. Watters is most likely out for the remainder of the season, and could go on injured reserve as early as today.
"I just feel bad for him," coach Mike Holmgren said Monday, the day after Watters rushed for a season-high 104 yards. "He had not been hurt in 10 years of playing football, and now he has had a couple of them this year.
"(Losing Watters) would be kind of a shock to the system if we hadn’t been through it for eight or nine weeks. We have been there. In fact, we have played the majority of the season without him. He will be missed, but we have done it already this year, so it won’t be that much of a transition."
Unlike Sept. 30, when Watters suffered a cracked bone in his right shoulder, this time the Seahawks know what to expect from his backup. Second-year player Shaun Alexander has already surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark this season and is tied atop the AFC with 13 touchdowns. He has proved to be a more than capable fill-in for the 32-year-old Watters.
But when Alexander has played, the offense has been more one-dimensional. Holmgren said that will not change.
"We will play the game the way we have when Shaun has been in there for the remainder of the season," Holmgren said. "We have three games left. If we are doing it the way I like to do it, he will carry the ball 25 to 30 times, and (the Seahawks will) throw about 25 to 30 passes, and that is it."
| By the numbers
33 at 100
Seahawks running back Ricky Watters’ 104 yards rushing against Dallas on Sunday was his 33rd career 100-yard game.
116
The 32-year-old Watters saw his streak of 116 consecutive starts – the longest among active NFL running backs – end with his Sept. 30 shoulder injury in Oakland. His streak ranked second among all running backs to the late Walter Payton (170).
10,643
Watters’ career rushing yards ranks 13th on the career list. He ranks 11th for career rushing touchdowns with 78.
5-4
The Seahawks’ record this season with Shaun Alexander as the starter.
2-2
The Seahawks’ record this season with Watters as the starter.
|
Then came Monday’s news, which surprised teammates.
"This is a tough blow for us," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "But this team has gone without him before. He’s a great player, and he’s tough to replace, but Shaun has stepped in before. He’ll be asked to do the same thing again."
There are a number of ironies in regards to Watters’ latest injury, most notably the fact that he had entered the season with a 113-game playing streak. There was also Holmgren’s controversial decision last week to re-insert Watters into the starting lineup ahead of Alexander, a choice that won’t have to be made again this year.
"Everybody went through all that rig-a-morrow about who was going to play and all that," Holmgren said of last week, "and now his season is finished."
Alexander left the complex before reporters were allowed in the locker room Monday, but it is safe to assume he’s happy to be back as the starter. Alexander had voiced polite displeasure last week when Holmgren announced that Watters would return as the starter.
As well as Alexander had played in Watters’ absence, his production began to fall off even before he was relegated to second string. After rushing for a franchise-record 266 yards in a Nov. 11 win over Oakland, Alexander ran for 93, 43 and 87 yards over the next three weeks. When Watters returned as a backup, Alexander was held to 28 yards on 12 carries while playing roughly 60 percent of the time.
He did not play until late in the third quarter of Sunday’s win, but Alexander might have had his most consistent effort in a month. He carried the ball seven times for 27 yards and a touchdown — all in the fourth quarter.
"Shaun got in the game (Sunday) and played very well," Holmgren said. "He was ready to go, and played. Now I expect him to play like he has played all season."
As far as Watters goes, there is the possibility that he has played his final game for the Seahawks. Watters’ current contract expires after the season, and Holmgren has indicated on numerous occasions that Alexander is the team’s back of the future.
On Monday, Holmgren was not ready to declare Watters’ NFL career over.
"That is going to be his call obviously," Holmgren said. "I don’t think there will be anything about the injury that will prevent him from continuing to play. That is up to the player, and he is going to have to decide what he is going to do."
NOTES: By Saturday afternoon, the Seahawks might be in control of their own playoff destiny. If Miami beats New England in a Saturday game, the Seahawks and Patriots would both have six losses overall, with Seattle holding one fewer loss in the first tie-breaker: games within the AFC. Essentially, a Patriots loss Saturday would mean the Seahawks could lock up a playoff berth by winning their final three games. The same scenario would apply in the unlikely event that Baltimore loses to Cincinnati on Sunday. … Holmgren said defensive end Matt LaBounty could be finished for the season because of a potential rotator cuff injury that the veteran suffered last week at practice. LaBounty only played two games with the Seahawks this season, as he was re-signed last month after being released at the end of training camp. … Cornerback Ken Lucas suffered a charley horse in Sunday’s win, but is expected to be back for this week’s game against the New York Giants.
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