KIRKLAND – The range of reactions that had already intermingled through shock, disappointment and anger settled on another emotion Sunday morning.
Uncertainty.
Now that the Seattle Seahawks’ 2004 season is officially over by way of a 27-20 playoff loss to the St. Louis Rams, the future looms large. And there are a lot of question marks.
“It’s their season now,” Seahawks offensive lineman Floyd Womack said Sunday of the Seahawks’ front office. “They’ve got to make the right play calls.”
The Seahawks are scheduled to have 17 unrestricted free agents, the most notable of which are quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, running back Shaun Alexander, left tackle Walter Jones and cornerback Ken Lucas. Even the head coach’s future might not be certain, although Mike Holmgren still has two years left on his contract.
For owner Paul Allen, president Bob Whitsitt and general manager Bob Ferguson, the coming days, weeks and months could define the future of this franchise.
“I wouldn’t want that job right now,” defensive tackle Rocky Bernard said. “They’ve got too many unrestricted guys, and who knows what the future holds?”
The first decision could deal with possible changes on the coaching staff. Special teams coach Mark Michaels may well be the first to go, as his unit struggled all year. The futures of most other assistants could hinge on Holmgren’s status.
Holmgren has a 50-49 record in six years with Seattle, having taken the team to three postseasons. Yet Holmgren still hasn’t won a playoff game.
Whitsitt told the USA Today last week that the organization would wait until the end of the season to evaluate Holmgren. That time has come.
“I don’t see why not, from what he’s accomplished on the field and everything he brings to this organization,” veteran wide receiver Jerry Rice said when asked whether Holmgren should be back. “He’s a great coach. There are a lot of young players here right now. These players are going to learn as they go.”
The next step has to do with Seattle’s impending free agents, none of whom can negotiate with another team until March 2. The two names at the top of the list belong to Hasselbeck and Alexander, both of whom went to the Pro Bowl last February.
“You can’t really afford to lose players of that caliber,” defensive end Grant Wistrom said. “You talk about we-can-replace-this or we-can-replace-that, but you really can’t. Those guys are two special players, and for us to make the run that we want to make next year, we need to have those guys back.”
Based on the 2004 season, Hasselbeck and Alexander may have affected their marketability in far different ways. While Alexander finished one yard short of the NFL rushing title, Hasselbeck was eighth in the NFC with a 83.1 quarterback rating.
“I heard Chris Mortensen (of ESPN) say something today like, ‘He had a lousy year,’” Hasselbeck said Sunday. “I thought, Did I have a lousy year? I didn’t accomplish all my goals, but I accomplished some. I could have played a little better. I don’t know.
“It’s a good question (of whether the season will affect his marketability). I got hurt, which isn’t fun. It’s over now, so I can’t do anything about it.”
Hasselbeck said that he would like to be back in Seattle next season, but he made no promises.
“I expect to have something done,” he said. “And mostly I say that just because I feel like I’m pretty reasonable. But who knows? You really don’t know.”
Alexander expressed similar allegiances, adding that he’ll use the next two days to pray and then not worry about his future.
“I think I’ll be back,” he said. “I don’t know how it’s going to all work out, but I’m Mr. Optimistic. I think everything will work out fine.”
Alexander understands that there is a perception that he would rather change teams, based on marketability and geography, but he claims to have no such preconceived notions heading into free agency.
“I think people have ideas about me more than I have about my own self when it comes to things like that,” he said. “I really kind of enjoy where I’m at, no matter what’s going on.
“Do I need a bigger market? I don’t really understand that. Would that be something to think about? Of course it would. But it’s not something I’ve even thought about yet.”
Teammate Heath Evans, Alexander’s closest friend on the team, also denied the opinion that the Pro Bowl running back wants to leave town.
“I think what appears as him not embracing this city or not embracing this coaching staff and this team, is just false,” Evans said. “This team has been impressed with the way that, this year, he has really bought into the team aspect. Shaun had been thinking one way for a while, and then once it came into light, he said, ‘OK, I see, now I’m going to fix it.’
“He and (wife) Val love it (in Seattle). First and foremost, I think he would want to be here. But it’s a business deal.”
If Alexander does have concerns about coming back, they were apparent in his end-of-the-season media session Sunday. He said he believes the Seahawks still have some personnel issues that need to be addressed.
“We’re not there yet,” Alexander said. “We have a lot of holes on this team. It’s one of those things where we’ve known it for a while.”
Lucas, a cornerback who was tied for the NFC lead with six interceptions during the regular season, is also wondering what the future might bring. Before leaving the Seahawks’ facility for what could be the final time Sunday, he expressed the kind of uncertainty that was hovering in the air.
“I don’t know what they’re thinking right now,” he said of the Seahawks’ organization. “I don’t even know how they feel about me. They haven’t talked to my agent right now, so I don’t know. Let them take care of it. I’m just going to relax, and whatever happens happens.”
Over the next three months, a lot will happen within this organization.
“There are 17 free agents,” Evans said, “and that can change the face of a team in a heartbeat.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
