Alexander Prepared to Sit Out

[Hostile]

Monday, July 4, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 AM Seahawks

Alexander won't sign $6.32M tender

By José Miguel Romero

Seattle Times staff reporter

Always one to speak his mind, Shaun Alexander's message came through loud and clear. He won't play unless he gets a long-term contract, but he remains confident that will happen.

Otherwise, Alexander is prepared to sit and wait, even into the regular season.

Alexander said signing the team's $6.32 million franchise tender is "out of the question." When asked if it will come down to not playing without a long-term deal, he replied, "Pretty much, yeah."

"I'm pretty strong about my principles," the Seahawks Pro Bowl running back said yesterday at the Adonai Hood Classic basketball tournament at Seattle's Garfield High School. "We're all under the same understanding. It's not like a bitter thing. I've told them that I love playing for Seattle. To me, it's not about money, it's just about a principle."

Alexander refuted any notion he and coach Mike Holmgren have a strained relationship, in part because Alexander fell 2 yards short of the NFL rushing title last season. Still he seems intent on standing fast, despite the fact he wants to be in Seattle and the team has expressed a desire to keep him. The Seahawks gave Alexander the franchise tag this offseason to keep him from becoming a free agent.

Alexander wanted to have his contract extended earlier in his career, he said.

"I told them three years ago that I love playing here and let's do something now. Let's meet," Alexander said. "It was just me and Mike [Holmgren]. There were no agents involved. I said, 'You know what? My wife's here. My family's here. I want to be here until I retire. It's really funny because back then I would have worked for peanuts.

"Two Pro Bowls and 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns later, now it's time to talk? And I'm like, 'Why would you do this?' So now it's just one of those things where I say, 'Let's do what's right.' I'm not trying to be evil or greedy or anything, let's just do what's right."

The Seahawks are forbidden to reopen negotiations with Alexander until July 15, per NFL rules. Until then, Alexander will wait. He is high on the roster additions made by new team president Tim Ruskell, but has informed Holmgren of his convictions regarding a new contract.

"I honestly believe that they're going to make a great deal for me," Alexander said. "I'm going to end up signing and it's going to be no big deal. [But] I'm not naive to think that you can make a deal like that overnight."

 

[CoCo]

So if I understand him right, he wants a multi-year deal for probably $6mil+/yr seeing as that is the top 5 average per the tag. But its not about the money.

So I would assume that Seattle would be willing to put a $3mil per year multi-year deal on the table pronto if that would satisfy Alexander's "principle."

I'll give Alexander the benefit of the doubt and assume he really is a fair and principled guy. But would someone please tell these athletes to quit using the line "its not about the money" until they can back that up with very clear evidence to support it in the eyes of the working class. Because their words say one thing but their actions totally contradict it.

I don't begrudge him getting paid his market wage one bit. But PLEASE stop saying its not about the money. Or at least advertise it big time when he signs the deal and then gives a large portion of it to charity.

 

[Alexander]

I'll give Alexander the benefit of the doubt and assume he really is a fair and principled guy. But would someone please tell these athletes to quit using the line "its not about the money" until they can back that up with very clear evidence to support it in the eyes of the working class. Because their words say one thing but their actions totally contradict it.

You obviously have not struggled to feed your family on that kind of money.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Ty Law says anyone saying it isnt about the money is lying.

To me it is all about the signing bonus. That is all that really matters with contracts that arent guaranteed.

 

[KDWilliams85]

I'm in complete agreement with Alexander about this one. If Alexander was all about the money, he would have signed that tender because it is guaranteed. $6.32 million in guaranteed money is enough to make anyone's head spin.

Alexander says he wants to be in Seattle and he even made the effort himself to ensure that he wanted to. He didn't get his agent involved. He made the preemptive strike and wanted to negotiate. Seattle didn't wanna play ball.

Now they're gonna pay for it and Alexander will see to it.

 

[CoCo]

That's a bit oversimplified but not too far off the mark.

Signing bonus is both money in your pocket and security from being cut in the form of cap pain if its large enough.

 

[CoCo]

I'm in complete agreement with Alexander about this one. If Alexander was all about the money, he would have signed that tender because it is guaranteed. $6.32 million in guaranteed money is enough to make anyone's head spin.

Alexander says he wants to be in Seattle and he even made the effort himself to ensure that he wanted to. He didn't get his agent involved. He made the preemptive strike and wanted to negotiate. Seattle didn't wanna play ball.

Now they're gonna pay for it and Alexander will see to it.

I can guarantee you that even a below market multi-year deal for a RB of Alexander's stature will have far more guaranteed money than $6.32mil.

So if it really is about something else besides money, lets just say that he won't have to make any financial concessions while standing up for his conviction.

 

[HardHittin'Witten]

if it's not about the money, Seattle should offer him the same 6.32 mil and stretch it out over 5 or 6 years. That way he gets his long-term deal. My guess is he won't take that either.

 

[KDWilliams85]

if it's not about the money, Seattle should offer him the same 6.32 mil and stretch it out over 5 or 6 years. That way he gets his long-term deal. My guess is he won't take that either.

Haha, I see where you're going. However, that isn't necessarily indicative of Alexander but rather his agent.

 

[Yeagermeister]

If it's not about the money he should sign for the min and prove it.

 

[KDWilliams85]

If it's not about the money he should sign for the min and prove it.

Again, that isn't necessarily indicative of Alexander. His agent gets some of that money too.

 

[HardHittin'Witten]

I know, but I think it's funny when athletes say "it's not about the money".

 

[Hostile]

I know, but I think it's funny when athletes say "it's not about the money".

In the immortal words of Jim Rome..."whenever athletes say it's not about the money, it's about the money."

 

[KDWilliams85]

In the immortal words of Jim Rome..."whenever athletes say it's not about the money, it's about the money."

I think that applies more widely to the selfish players. Not so much who wanted to put the good of the team ahead of what's good for him. Alexander wanted to get his extension done early so they wouldn't have to worry about it later on.

I guess Seattle is kicking themselves in the testicles for not getting him done when they had the chance.

 

[Nav22]

Beautiful. Guess who has him on his fantasy team? (slams head thru window)

 

[dargonking999]

Thats why i got players i know are playing Julis Jones, LT, Curtis Martin

 

[Nav22]

Thats why i got players i know are playing Julis Jones, LT, Curtis Martin

I'm in a keeper league...I picked Alexander before last season.

 

[dargonking999]

I'm in a keeper league...I picked Alexander before last season.

Yea those always are hard, when things like this happen

 

[Hoov]

In the immortal words of Jim Rome..."whenever athletes say it's not about the money, it's about the money."

well. its like the person that assures you, "i dont write bad checks"......wait a minute, why would you even say that as your writing me a check....sends off a silent alarm. i mean, who in thier right mind would even say that unless they were feeling some inner conviction or guilt about it.

And guess what, the check bounced the next day, as the persom had moved from philly to cali and there was no forwarding address...so much for me expecting a person to give an honest days wages for more than an honest days work.

 

[Boy's fan in Giant land]

Beautiful. Guess who has him on his fantasy team? (slams head thru window)

Oh man, I sympathise with you. But if I'd have had a mouthful of beer when I read that, I'd be takin' a paper towel to my screen/keyboard instead of typing this right now.