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Footballguy
MVP Alexander unleashes his best on hated Cardinals
By CLARE FARNSWORTH
P-I REPORTER
KIRKLAND -- Mention the Arizona Cardinals to Shaun Alexander and he becomes a Sybil of sorts.
When it comes to the Seahawks' opponent Sunday, there's "Angry Shaun" and "Let It Go Shaun" -- his labels -- and also "What If Shaun."
But mainly, there's "Productive Shaun."
Alexander has scored more touchdowns against the Cardinals (15) than any other team in the NFL and also has 886 rushing yards and four 100-yard games -- his second-highest totals against any opponent.
Part of it, of course, is that Alexander plays against the Cardinals twice a season because they're also in the NFC West. Part of it, however, also is the Sybil syndrome.
The league's reigning MVP and -- for now -- single-season record holder with 28 touchdowns doesn't care for the Cardinals.
"I think when my career first started, I was just really mad because they didn't pick me," Alexander said.
That was in 2000, when the Cardinals used the seventh pick in the NFL draft to select running back Thomas Jones -- leaving Alexander for the Seahawks with the 19th pick.
"I have had this anger against them my whole career," Alexander said.
Until last season, when "Let It Go Shaun," well, let it go.
What followed was a 173-yard rushing performance against the Cardinals in Arizona, highlighted by an 88-yard scoring run that ranks among the most creative of his career.
What can the Cardinals expect this time?
"I haven't decided which one I want to go with: 'Angry Shaun' or 'Let It Go Shaun,' " he said.
That also was the case, at least momentarily, in the offseason. Alexander had just become an unrestricted free agent and knew the Cardinals were in the market for a running back.
Alexander opted to re-sign with the Seahawks, and the Cards signed Edgerrin James.
But what if?
Alexander just lived through a slice of that scenario, when he was sidelined for six games with a cracked bone in his left foot.
"I just think if I had gone to Arizona and broke my foot, I'd probably be in a lot worse situation than I am here. I'm here with family. You break your foot, it's like, 'Ah man, Shaun broke his foot. OK, let's heal him up.'
"You go somewhere else and break your foot, they're like, 'We spent all this money on this guy?' " He added, "And I didn't want to put myself in any situation that could be like that."
Just ask James. He hasn't missed any games. He just hasn't been as productive as expected, averaging 3.2 yards per carry, scoring three touchdowns and producing his first 100-yard rushing performance last week.
There have been more than few grumblings of "We spent all this money on this guy?" in the desert this season.
"I know at the beginning of the season it was rough," Alexander said of his friend and friendly rival. "I called him a couple of times and said, 'Bro, just keep on playing. I don't know what's going on out there, just keep on playing.' "
That's what Alexander has done since his return. He started slowly, gaining 37 yards in San Francisco. Then he went off for 201 yards against the Green Bay Packers and, Sunday night, ran for 90 yards in Denver -- and scored the team's first rushing TD since Week 3.
That brings it back to "Productive Shaun." Just what is it about this guy, especially when he plays the Cardinals?
"When you're preparing to play Shaun, you watch him and he doesn't look that flashy," said defensive tackle Russell Davis, who played six season with the Cardinals before signing with the Seahawks in free agency.
"Then, all of a sudden, he breaks a 50-yarder. Maybe in the first quarter, he's not doing much. Then once he starts getting into that groove, he's breaking the long ones. He's very unassuming, until you get out there and you start playing against him."
There's another side of Sybil, er, Alexander: "Unassuming Shaun."
By CLARE FARNSWORTH
P-I REPORTER
KIRKLAND -- Mention the Arizona Cardinals to Shaun Alexander and he becomes a Sybil of sorts.
When it comes to the Seahawks' opponent Sunday, there's "Angry Shaun" and "Let It Go Shaun" -- his labels -- and also "What If Shaun."
But mainly, there's "Productive Shaun."
Alexander has scored more touchdowns against the Cardinals (15) than any other team in the NFL and also has 886 rushing yards and four 100-yard games -- his second-highest totals against any opponent.
Part of it, of course, is that Alexander plays against the Cardinals twice a season because they're also in the NFC West. Part of it, however, also is the Sybil syndrome.
The league's reigning MVP and -- for now -- single-season record holder with 28 touchdowns doesn't care for the Cardinals.
"I think when my career first started, I was just really mad because they didn't pick me," Alexander said.
That was in 2000, when the Cardinals used the seventh pick in the NFL draft to select running back Thomas Jones -- leaving Alexander for the Seahawks with the 19th pick.
"I have had this anger against them my whole career," Alexander said.
Until last season, when "Let It Go Shaun," well, let it go.
What followed was a 173-yard rushing performance against the Cardinals in Arizona, highlighted by an 88-yard scoring run that ranks among the most creative of his career.
What can the Cardinals expect this time?
"I haven't decided which one I want to go with: 'Angry Shaun' or 'Let It Go Shaun,' " he said.
That also was the case, at least momentarily, in the offseason. Alexander had just become an unrestricted free agent and knew the Cardinals were in the market for a running back.
Alexander opted to re-sign with the Seahawks, and the Cards signed Edgerrin James.
But what if?
Alexander just lived through a slice of that scenario, when he was sidelined for six games with a cracked bone in his left foot.
"I just think if I had gone to Arizona and broke my foot, I'd probably be in a lot worse situation than I am here. I'm here with family. You break your foot, it's like, 'Ah man, Shaun broke his foot. OK, let's heal him up.'
"You go somewhere else and break your foot, they're like, 'We spent all this money on this guy?' " He added, "And I didn't want to put myself in any situation that could be like that."
Just ask James. He hasn't missed any games. He just hasn't been as productive as expected, averaging 3.2 yards per carry, scoring three touchdowns and producing his first 100-yard rushing performance last week.
There have been more than few grumblings of "We spent all this money on this guy?" in the desert this season.
"I know at the beginning of the season it was rough," Alexander said of his friend and friendly rival. "I called him a couple of times and said, 'Bro, just keep on playing. I don't know what's going on out there, just keep on playing.' "
That's what Alexander has done since his return. He started slowly, gaining 37 yards in San Francisco. Then he went off for 201 yards against the Green Bay Packers and, Sunday night, ran for 90 yards in Denver -- and scored the team's first rushing TD since Week 3.
That brings it back to "Productive Shaun." Just what is it about this guy, especially when he plays the Cardinals?
"When you're preparing to play Shaun, you watch him and he doesn't look that flashy," said defensive tackle Russell Davis, who played six season with the Cardinals before signing with the Seahawks in free agency.
"Then, all of a sudden, he breaks a 50-yarder. Maybe in the first quarter, he's not doing much. Then once he starts getting into that groove, he's breaking the long ones. He's very unassuming, until you get out there and you start playing against him."
There's another side of Sybil, er, Alexander: "Unassuming Shaun."
I don't care who wins as long as SA goes off.
