Jerry nixed trade for Shaun Alexander in 2004

[CIWhitefish]

Think about it for a second. Why would Seattle trade him for a second rounder? It's all about the $$$$$.

Alexander wants paid. Quite frankly there isn't a back in the NFL that's worth that type of cap hit, not Alexander, Tomlinson or anyone else.

The difference between a "pretty good" back and a "great" back on the field results in a miniscule difference in the W/L column but the difference between the team one can build when that back's not taking up eight million dollars of cap space is much greater.


RBs are replaceable, cap space isn't.

100% right on. In the video game or fantasy football world I'd obviously rather have Alexander than anything we have and would have wanted us to pull the trigger on any kind of trade to get him. However, in the real world of the salary cap I'd rather have the RB's we have at the salary they are at. That way we can afford the FA upgrades we need and the big $ we are obviously going to have to give Jason.

 

[jterrell]

Its not just the 2nd rounder its the monster contract.

 

[AbeBeta]

Regardless of whether or not Alexander would have been available for a 2nd you have to ask this -- is he a great back or is he a good back with a great line? The left side of that line has the best OT and OG in the league. The rest of the line is very good as well.

A good rule is that you don't trade a high pick for a guy who you have to turn around and give a new, big money contract to as well.

Alexander is very good -- but if you toss another quality back in there you would see similar results. I expect that if JJ played in that offense he'd have some pretty gaudy #s as well.