Give Alexander what he deserves

In the south end zone at Qwest Field last night a group of fans was holding up signs with messages that are beginning to make a lot of sense.

"Show him the money," the signs read, referring to Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.

It appears the Hawks are listening.

"We told Shaun and his representatives coming into the season, we wanted to assess everything, not just Shaun, but get a better feeling for me, for the new group coming in," new Seahawks president of football operations Tim Ruskell said. "What do we have as we go forward into the future.

"Obviously, Shaun's had a great season, and we're talking with his representatives. I'm not going to do it in the media, in terms of negotiations and everything, but as we talk, we'll see if we can get something done."

Alexander keeps getting yards under the radar. Keeps breaking tackles, keeps breathing life into long drives. Keeps scoring touchdowns.

Away from the spotlight that usually shines on running backs like Curtis Martin, Priest Holmes and Clinton Portis, all he does is gain more yards than just about anybody else in his profession.

He keeps making something out of nothing. Bouncing off the line of scrimmage like a Super Ball and turning a 2-yard gain into highlight reel.

Take the first quarter against Houston.

On first down in the Seahawks' first scoring drive, Alexander plowed into the right side of the line, bounced away from traffic, cut along the line of scrimmage, stepped out of one tackle, broke another and ran for 21 yards.

He scored the first of his four touchdowns, a 4-yard run, on the next play.

"I'm glad he's on our football team," coach Mike Holmgren said. "I thought he ran real hard. I think he's on track to have his best season with us if he keeps this going, and there is no reason to think he won't."

Alexander makes cuts like a slalom racer. He darts in and out of tackles like the star of his own video game. He isn't fast, but he's quick through the hole. He isn't fast, but he always seems to get the corner turned.

In the fourth quarter he ran through would-be Texans tackles as if they were so many blocking dummies on a 23-yard run for his 74th career touchdown, tying him with Earl Campbell and Leroy Kelly for 18th all-time.

"That thing he does around the goal line, in the red zone, you can't fully appreciate that until you're actually watching him live," Ruskell said. "Just the determination and the instincts he has for getting into the end zone. It's an amazing trait."

After six games, he leads the league in rushing yards with 715 and has scored 12 touchdowns.

"My favorite play by him all year this year was in the Atlanta game," center Robbie Tobeck said. "It was third-and-short and we needed a first down, and he ran over a guy and got the first down. I just kind of saw a little different twinkle in his eye."

In his sixth season, Alexander has been cover-boy good, as good at carrying the ball as anybody in the game. And he especially shines in prime time.

In five previous Sunday night games he had averaged 110.4 rushing yards. He gained 141 yards on 22 carries in last night's 42-10 win over the atrocious Texans.

Some columnists (me) suggested in the past that the Seahawks trade Alexander, get some value for him before he leaves Seattle in free agency.

He has always had a sort of love-hate relationship with this franchise. Never quite feeling fully appreciated. Sometimes seeming a little aloof in the locker room. Always feeling a little lost in the left-hand corner of the country.

Last winter, the Hawks designated him their franchise player, then Alexander signed a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the stipulation he couldn't be "franchised" next winter.

They bought some time to decide the future.

And the future, it turns out, also is their present, 28-year-old Alexander.

"They've been talking, so that's good," Alexander said. "I told them I want to be here, and I tell everybody the same thing. I was here when we were 6-10 and I saw a team that could barely beat anybody. Take the growing pains and then get to the playoffs and then win the division. I want to be here to see us win three or four Super Bowls, and that is my only goal."

Now the Hawks need to take the next step. Do for Alexander what the New York Giants did for tight end Jeremy Shockey last week. Give him an extension with a fat signing bonus. Give him what he deserves.

Teams that can run the ball win divisions, and nobody is running it better than Alexander.

The landscape has changed and the decision seems simple now. Give him his due and ride him all the way into the middle of January.

Steve Kelley: 206-464-2176 or skelley@seattletimes.com