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oh well, at least its looking like the Seahawks will be back very strong next year. Hopefully, we can get Alexander the the rest of the important pieces signed.

KIRKLAND – Shaun Alexander thinks the Seattle Seahawks should be able to re-sign all of their top free agents.
Will the MVP running back be among them?

“It’s not an issue where everybody can’t get what they deserve,” Alexander said Tuesday as players cleaned out their lockers and headed into the offseason. “It’s not going to be an issue.

“So, the question is, ‘Are we just going to do it, or are we not?’ ”

Free agency begins March 3.

Alexander, guard Steve Hutchinson and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard lead Seattle’s list of potential free agents.

The Seahawks have exclusive negotiating rights with their potential free agents until March 3, at which point Alexander and 14 others will be eligible to sign elsewhere.

Alexander led the NFL in rushing last season while setting a league record with 28 touchdowns. He has scored at least 15 touchdowns in five consecutive seasons, another league record.

“No one has ever done it before, so it kind of sets the stage,” Alexander said.

Last February, the team paid separate $16 million signing bonuses to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and left tackle Walter Jones. The Seahawks were unwilling to commit similar money to Alexander.

Alexander said those deals should not define his market.

“I’m the only one in history to do what I’ve done,” Alexander said. “It didn’t matter what Matt and Walt did. They do their jobs and they do their jobs very well. Their price is their price and they got what they deserved.”

Alexander said he wasn’t implying that his contract should exceed the ones Hasselbeck and Jones signed. He sounded amenable to a deal that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid running back by one of several measures.

“How?” Alexander said. “In signing bonus? Or in (total payout over) three years or two years or four years or seven years?

“There are so many different things. I think in different categories the answer could be ‘yes’ and in different categories the answer could be ‘no.’ …

“I just can’t say you can put me in the same class as average running backs.”

The Seahawks’ career rushing leader said his age shouldn’t be held against him, even though running backs often become less productive around age 30.

“I turn 29 at the beginning of next season, so that is a reality that you’re older,” Alexander said. “But at the same time, with our offensive line and the shots that I haven’t taken this year, I think that most 29-year-olds probably don’t feel the way I feel.”

Alexander cited New York Jets running back Curtis Martin, who led the NFL in rushing in 2004 at age 31, and New York Giants running back Tiki Barber, who finished second to Alexander last season at 30.

“There’s three more years and I’ll still be close,” Alexander said. “So, if you think about putting in three more great years, that would probably in itself handle some things.”

Alexander has never missed a start to injury. He left Monday for the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, but a sprained right foot might keep him out of the game. Alexander said the injury occurred during Super Bowl XL, but that he didn’t notice it until the foot swelled Monday.

Alexander is one of seven Seahawks headed to the Pro Bowl.

“I’m going to get some treatment on it and if I can play, then I’m going to play and have fun with six of my friends for one more time and hopefully not the last time,” he said.

The Seahawks’ list of potential free agents also includes fullback Mack Strong, free safety Marquand Manuel, receiver Joe Jurevicius, running back Maurice Morris, punter Tom Rouen, linebacker Kevin Bentley, defensive lineman Rodney Bailey, tight end Ryan Hannam, safety John Howell, cornerback Jimmy Williams, receiver Peter Warrick and defensive end Joe Tafoya.