There is already speculation that Shaun Alexander will see a considerable drop in playing time – or even be released - due to the Seahawks signing two younger running backs that appear to have more years left in the tank. 

As many of you may already know, the 'Hawks signed Dallas Cowboys' running back Julius Jones, and T.J. Duckett, a burley 254 pound back who has played with the Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons. The duo of Jones and Duckett adds fresh legs in the backfield to accompany quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. But how did Alexander react to this whole situation? Alexander seems unfazed about all of the speculation surrounding whether he will play much or not this year.   

"I'm great. I'm doing well," Alexander said during a brief telephone conversation later in the day. "But then I haven't seen TV or read anything, because I've been in West Palm Beach and at Disney World."  If I was Alexander I think I would prefer to keep it that way. 

But what has actually gone down in writing since the acquisition of the two backs? "Absolutely nothing has happened," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said.  That is, yet. Undoubtedly, the Hawks will have to move Alexander over to make room for a younger backfield and for what looks to be a process of rebuilding the team that less than two and a half years ago was playing on the Super Bowl stage. 

The Seahawks can and should create some space in their salary cap by releasing Shaun Alexander by June. "The Seahawks can create $4.775 million of space under their salary cap by releasing Alexander after June 1, or earlier and designating the move a post-June 1 transaction. The post-June 1 release allows the cap hit from the remaining proration of the $11.5 million signing bonus that was part of his 2006 contract to be spread over two years -- $2.3 million this year and $4.6 million in 2009."  This is a wise move because Alexander has been fading in recent years due to injuries that have forced him to reduce his playing time, giving the stage over to Maurice Morris and Leonard Weaver.  




Dan Olson writes for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are his.