Well, it looks like you are one of the last to sign Shaun, Julian Peterson has now signed his franchise contract leaving just well...you. So of course now everyone will begin screaming and making noise for you to sign your contract,well,forget that noise Shaun.
You know that Julian Peterson is respected by the fans and by the 49ers organization. The Niners clearly wanted him back and showed their support for him. Have the Seahawks ever thought to show you that they cared if you came back Shaun?
Funny isn't it, how Walter Jones was given the franchise tag and held out for three straight years and most Seahawks fans supported him throughout the process and welcomed him back with open arms? Where's your love? Why are they already on your case for doing what's best for your career?
Don't be in a hurry to sign Shaun, take your time, look around and see if you can work a trade; after all, what has the front office, coaching staff or for that matter, the fans, done to make you think you are valued, or wanted or needed? Screw em! Screw them all, Signing now won't stop the voices that repeat like some mantra, "he can't block, and he isn't a true west coast running back". You don't owe anything to an organization or its fans that treat you with such disdain and lack of respect.
No Shaun, you would be light years ahead by making them sweat, you know that they don't want to have to replace you by using a draft pick, and you know that Maurice Morris isn't anywhere near the halfback you are. You've got em over a barrel, just be patient.
Besides, if they loved you so much, then why have they never once tried to get you an extension over the four years you have been with this team? If they really loved you, then why let you, their only true superstar player, who has been as consistent and durable as anyone in the league, get into his final year without any kind of real commitment? Sounds to me like they are trying to take advantage of you, sounds to me like they have decided that they got what they wanted out of you and now are willing to throw you away like some prostitute.
No Shaun, don't crack under the pressure, I know that you feel a responsibility to this team and the fans and I know that you are a class guy, who feels like he owes something to this team and it's fans for having been given the chance to play pro football in Seattle. But really Shaun, you don't owe them nothin'.
In fact, after all those years of carrying this team, while their front office was a disaster and while they couldn't get a defense that could stop anyone and while their passing game was inconsistent year after year and while they took care of everyone else but you first and all the while you stayed healthy and durable you were the only consistent scoring threat on the whole damn team, I figure they owe you!
Amen!!!!
ReplyDelete"Here Shaun....let me get those...which is the carry-on?"
"Who's up!"
:-)
Ummm...I'm not sure Vinny, but I think you kinda missed the whole point. Either that or you were being sarcastic and I missed your point. Whatever. In either case, it's exactly your kind of attitude, you are exactly the kind of fan that as an agent of Alexander's I would be warning him of. You are the perfect example of the fan who is impossible to please and will never give credit where it's due. Alexander has been the best player on this team (except for Jones) and yet that has never been good enough for you or for the front office. He has been one of the best baks in the leauge for three years now and still the Seahawks and fans like you dissed him. Why should he sign his stupid contract? I wouldn't if I were him, I would tell fair weather fans like you to stick it and laugh all the way to the bank when I go to another team (one that actually cares about me and shows it) and laugh and laugh as pathetic Maurice Morris tries to replace me. And all the while, as the Seahawks struggle to finish 6-10, I would be telling myself, the fans deserve just what they got,a crappy team with no running game.
ReplyDeleteMonkey - a little cynical, even for an impatient East coaster like me, but overall I think you make some good points.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how a large portion of the fans base has "turned" on Shaun, when he has been an outstanding RB for the 5 years he's been here.
I think half of them are just externalizing their concern over potentially losing him, and the others are overlooking the wealth of talent under the guise of the requirements of the WCO.
There are some inconsistencies and flawed reasoning, though.
First, the Seahawks did show Shaun that they wanted him, or at least acknowledged his value, by slapping him with the Franchise tag.
The front office and the coaching staff, most recently Holmy in Hawaii, have expressed a strong desire to have him return.
You also take a leap by saying that the fact that he wasn't offered an extension beofore now shows a lack of love from the Front Office. Using that logic, then the FO had no lover for Hass, Walter or any of the other 16 free agents, which is absurd. (okay, I'll give you Brock Huard, but you know what I mean!)
And finally, if you really feel that Shaun "feels a responsibility to this team and the fans", and is a "class guy, who feels like he owes something to this team and it's fans", which very well may be true, then the cynical "fudge-'em" approach you take in your message just gives the Shaun detractors more fuel for their "he's an selfish egotist" rant.
The bottom line is that there's an element of true to both sides of the SA debate, which gets raised to a fever pitch by fan rhetoric and supposition.
The real truth is that both sides have taken a very business like approach to the negotiations, and really if he stays or if he goes, it's probably not as bad as we all are guessing it will be.
I agree with Alba, if he goes we'll continue on, and win without him, and if he stays he has to put up another stellar year(even a better year) than last year to sell himself to the team and the league, so we'll get another great effort from him anyway.
ReplyDeleteSee...that's exactly the "well accept Shaun in spite of his greatness" attitude that drives people like Monkey crazy!
ReplyDeleteSee...that's exactly the "well accept Shaun in spite of his greatness" attitude that drives people like Monkey crazy! EXACTLY!!!
ReplyDeleteMy real reason for writing this piece was Bluefoots challenge, bot to be exact in my own feelings toward Alexander. THe truth is that I can understand many of the criticisms levied against S.A., there really are other RB's out there who are better suited to the west coast offense. And he really does tend to dance at the line of scrimmage at times. THose things I readily admit to, but here's where I get my undies in a bunch. Those flaws that Seahawks fans try so hard to find in S.A. can be found in EVERY SINGLE RB WHO HAS EVER LIVED! I could very easily point out flaws in Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Ladanian Tomlinson, you name the RB. But I never hear fans from the teams other RBs play on, ripping their guy the way Seahawks fans do.
Whatever, like I said, I wasn't writing this piece to be accurate in my feelings so much as trying to come up with a compelling defense for S.A. holding out and I thought that if I came at it from the perspective of his agent, I would make a good case.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletemonkey, my apologies, I get what you were doing, (told ya I changed meds)
ReplyDeleteBeing one of Shauns biggest supporters, I agree fully with the way monkey put it. I put together a graph last week, with what I considered to be the top 15 backs in the NFL, and what they were making, their stats, etc. Shaun, in my opinion, has every right to ask for the money and recognition he is asking for. Personally (and I know people will disagree with me) if you factor in stats, injuries, and the teams they've played on, I don't consider any back outside of Ladanian to be better than Shaun. When people like Clinton Portis (who I think we all agree only thrived because of the Denver system) sign 8 year 50 million dollar contracts, with a 17 million dollar signing bonus, it's understandable that Shaun wants similar. When Priest Holmes (the only back that has more touchdowns than Shaun over the last 4 years) sings a contract that pays him an average of 7 million a year back in 2001, why should Shaun ask for less?
ReplyDeleteIf I were Shaun, I would be doing the exact same thing he is, whether I truly wanted to stay in Seattle or not. As I said before, I want to stay at my job, but not if they pay me far below what I'm worth.
"Vinny said...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alba, if he goes we'll continue on, and win without him, and if he stays he has to put up another stellar year(even a better year) than last year to sell himself to the team and the league, so we'll get another great effort from him anyway."
Tell me you're kidding. so rushing for one yard less than the NFL leader, gettin one rushing TD less than the NFL leader, having a .2 yard average less than the NFL leader (not counting Michael Vick) and averaging only 5 yards less per game than the NFL leader,
all of this isn't enough for you?
Tell the truth. You just don't like him. For everyone else, it's about how much money he asks for. For everyone else, it's about whether signing him will cripple the team financially, and whether excellence on the field is worth it. For you, it's personal. And I just don't understand it.
Paulie. Don't br lazy, show us the numbers. I've had to do it to prove my case, I'm not cjanginging my mind till I see the proof. Just taking your' word for it wouldn't be my style.
ReplyDeleteAnd to throw a wrench in the works....Holmes is a better all around HB, he's tougher, a better reciever and a hell of a blocker.
Portis, he's a better reciever and a better team player, and since you mention teh success he had becaucse of Dnever's system, teh same could be said for Shaun and the Seattle system, if our O-line can do anything well, it's make holes and run block.(on the left side anyway)
Here's the problem, if Shaun was worth the money wouldn't someone have made a play for him by now? There are several teams that need a high quality HB, but he's still sitting here.
The simple fact is he's NOT an all around Back. And Ruskell has no room on the roster for egos, and Shaun's is huge.
Nope, dead serious!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's not personal per say, it's more the fact that he's a bad fit for the style of offense we run, and he's a poor fit for the type of players Ruskell wants in the organization(no malcontents, no egos, Shaun's a 'me' guy X2).
He made a comment that showed his 'TRUE' feelings about who was more important between he and the team. And he only took it back when he found out the furor it caused, but mark my words, he meant every word he said. He may wish he hadn't said them, but he did, and it was what he was thinking, and what he was feeling. So in my eyes, it's who he is as a player. And we don't need those guys on the team.
His bouncing around in the backfeild is a direct result of theose feelins of 'me first', he doesn't hit the hole for fear of an injury, it's fairly simple to figure out. He's in a contrct year, he wants to be healthy at the end of the season, so what does he do, he plays it safe, hitting the line where he knows he's protected, I'd be willing to bet you 95% of his yards came behind Jones Hutch and Mack.
So to answer your' question, no it's not personal, but yes it is personal. If he's not a team player then personally I don't have ANY use for the guy no matter what his fantasy numbers are. By the way, do you play fantasy football?
Seattle hasn't had multiple backs be mentioned as probowlers, Denver has. Denver is a plug and play system, plug a guy in at halfback, and they can play. For numbers,
ReplyDeleteTotal Yards
C. Martin 1697
SA 1696
Average per carry
S Jackson 5.0
TJ Duckett 4.9
Chris Brown 4.9
L Johnson 4.8
SA 4.8
YPG
P Holmes 111.5
C Dillon 109
C Martin 106.1
SA 106
Touch Downs
L Tomlinson 17
SA 16
This is where Shaun ranks in the NFL last year, in all major rushing categories. The only ones I left off were attempts (third, in my opinion, should have been higher, he should have gotten the ball more) and long (not a telling stat if you ask me, one long run does not a season make). All of these stats come from espn.com
As for Holmes, he is a great back, but he also has an injury history that Shaun doesn't. I think that Holmes and Shaun are about equal, but simply for the injury issue,(longevity) I take Shaun.
Vinny, he did post the numbers didn't you read?
ReplyDelete"so rushing for one yard less than the NFL leader, gettin one rushing TD less than the NFL leader, having a .2 yard average less than the NFL leader (not counting Michael Vick) and averaging only 5 yards less per game than the NFL leader,
all of this isn't enough for you?"
There you go Vinny, numbers, what more do you want? Monkey 1 Vinny 0
And to use the same argument you use all the time,
"Holmes is a better all around HB, he's tougher, a better reciever and a hell of a blocker."
Really? Holmes plays behind the best run blocking line in the NFL maybe the best OLine period, I'd love to see what Alexander could do behind a great line like the Chiefs have in an offense that features the run. Monkey 2 Vinny 0
"Portis, he's a better reciever and a better team player"
Ummm...since when? He might be a better reciever but not by much if he is and as far as a team player? You've got to be kidding! The fact that he's NOT a team player is why Denver traded him! He was such a team player Vinny, that after only one good season (behind a great OLine, to use your stupid argument)he decided to hold out and demand more money. Oh ya! Real team player there Vinny! Monkey 3 Vinny 0
Here's the problem, if Shaun was worth the money wouldn't someone have made a play for him by now? There are several teams that need a high quality HB, but he's still sitting here.
Vinny, are you thick? Have you seen the number of great RB's available in the draft this year? Do you realize what it would cost a team to trade for Alexander when they could just draft a RB instead much cheaper? Also, have you ever heard of a great RB named Edgerrin James? Seems to me he's in the same exact position as SA so your argument is null and void. Monkey 4 Vinny 0
The simple fact is he's NOT an all around Back. And Ruskell has no room on the roster for egos, and Shaun's is huge. Really? Have you met SA? From everything I've ever heard about him, he is one of the most HUMBLE Christian men you could ever hope to meet. As far as huge egos, how about Holmgren's? I guess we should get rid of him too huh Vinny? monkey 5 Vinny 0
Vinny, you should really try using some new arguments, the ones you have been using (over and over) are badly flawed thus easily disproveable. Also it makes it far to easy to destroy your opinions when they are so completely inconsistent. For example you will talk about our great OLine and how SA's numbers are inflated because of the OLine then you will use guys like Portis and Holmes as examples and not apply the same logic to them. If this were a philosophy class or a debate, I would be kicking your ass VInny, Monkey 5 Vinny 0.
he's a poor fit for the type of players Ruskell wants in the organization(no malcontents, no egos, Shaun's a 'me' guy X2).
ReplyDeleteHe made a comment that showed his 'TRUE' feelings about who was more important between he and the team. And he only took it back when he found out the furor it caused, but mark my words, he meant every word he said. He may wish he hadn't said them, but he did, and it was what he was thinking, and what he was feeling. So in my eyes, it's who he is as a player. And we don't need those guys on the team.
You can't prove any of that! It's just your personal opinion of a guy you've never ever met and don't know the first damn thing about! EVERYONE who actually knows him, says that he is an extremely HUMBLE Christian man, the kind who supports charities speaks at BIlly Graham crusades and write childrens books. You are dead wrong about SA, you know NOTHING about him and about what kind of person he is, NOTHING!
Monkey 6 Vinny 0
he's a poor fit for the type of players Ruskell wants in the organization(no malcontents, no egos, Shaun's a 'me' guy X2).
ReplyDeleteHe made a comment that showed his 'TRUE' feelings about who was more important between he and the team. And he only took it back when he found out the furor it caused, but mark my words, he meant every word he said. He may wish he hadn't said them, but he did, and it was what he was thinking, and what he was feeling. So in my eyes, it's who he is as a player. And we don't need those guys on the team.
You can't prove any of that! It's just your personal opinion of a guy you've never ever met and don't know the first damn thing about! EVERYONE who actually knows him, says that he is an extremely HUMBLE Christian man, the kind who supports charities speaks at BIlly Graham crusades and write childrens books. You are dead wrong about SA, you know NOTHING about him and about what kind of person he is, NOTHING!
Monkey 6 Vinny 0
I want a point or two please?
ReplyDeleteOne last thing, you cannot argue time and time again that someone like KRob deserves chance after chance in spite of the fact that he has been nothing but a bad apple for over three years now, then turn around and assasinate the character of SA, a man who Billy Graham called one of the most humble people he'd ever met.
ReplyDeleteSorry Vinny, but you don't know SA or KRob and yet you can make opinions on their character? Not only that but you are trying to tell me that the biggest jerk on the entire team, maybe in all of team history is a great guy who deserves another chance while a truly class act guy like SA should be run out of town for making a remark in the heat of the moment?
Once again Vinny, your arguments are all flawed, all inconsistent and full of circular reasoning and logic fallicies.
Monkey 6 Paulie P 4 Vinny 0
I gave you 4 points Paulie, how's that? ;)
ReplyDelete"So in my eyes, it's who he is as a player. And we don't need those guys on the team."
ReplyDeleteBut we do need someone like KRob Vinny? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
You are sooooo busted! This just proves how illogical your opinions on SA are. You throw out PROVEN facts and accept conjecture. You dis completely the character of a GREAT human being and defend the biggest jerk on the team. When has KRob EVER been the kind of player who Ruskell ould want on this team? So to use your words Vinny,
KRob has for over three years PROVEN what a selfish player he is, "So in my eyes, it's who he is as a player. And we don't need those guys on the team."
Monkey 8 Vinny 0
"So in my eyes, it's who he is as a player. And we don't need those guys on the team."
ReplyDeleteBut we do need someone like KRob Vinny? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
You are sooooo busted! This just proves how illogical your opinions on SA are. You throw out PROVEN facts and accept conjecture. You dis completely the character of a GREAT human being and defend the biggest jerk on the team. When has KRob EVER been the kind of player who Ruskell ould want on this team? So to use your words Vinny,
KRob has for over three years PROVEN what a selfish player he is, "So in my eyes, it's who he is as a player. And we don't need those guys on the team."
Monkey 8 Vinny 0
By the By, one more number for you, Shaun scored 20 touchdowns this year, more than anyone else, including Ladanian Tomlinson (18)
ReplyDeleteRobinson isn't the one that made the 'stabbed in the back' comment.
ReplyDeleteAlexander is not an all-around HB.
Alexander is an ego maniac,(refering to himself as an elite Back, which is not the case, an elite back catches the ball and blocks)
Alexander is a wuss, proof is in his style of play.(failure to pick up blitzers, failure to hit the line of scrimmage without a blocker.
Seems to me we have a couple of Pro Bowl run blockers on our team, so the Broncos excuse doesn't fly with me.
And finally, you haven't answered my last question...Do you play on fantasy football leagues?
And another thing, when did you prove me wrong on the fact that he doesn't pick up blitzes, or that he doesn't hit the line, or that he's got a head full of himself? Must've missed those posts. The facts you're giving me are stats that still didn't end up with us winning. Holmes carried his team by being consistantly the best payer he could be, playing his heart out on every down. Something Alexander has not and does not do.
ReplyDeleteAnd to straighten you out, my comment was on Alexander's blocking, Holmes is a GREAT blocking HB, Alexander's average at best.
The proof is there in watching him play and listening to his comments.
And, charities don't make someone a quality guy, you say that Koren's not a good guy, but he's involved in as many charities as Shaun.
Here's an invitation to the others out there taht think I'm wrong, please, feel free to chime in and jump on the Shaun Wagon.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as someone give's me more that numbers as a reason to like Shaun for this team, I'll gladly shut my trap. :)
As soon as someone give's me more that numbers as a reason to like Shaun for this team, I'll gladly shut my trap.
ReplyDeleteThey did. It didn't work.
Point by Point.
ReplyDeletePoint 1:
"And finally, you haven't answered my last question...Do you play on fantasy football leagues? "
I apologize for missing this question before, but yes, I do. Now, before you bring up the argument that everyone does, that stats don't translate into wins, I want you to refute this. Touchdowns directly affect wins. shaun led the NFL in touchdowns last year. Yards lead to touchdowns. Not every time, not every back with big yards has big touchdown numbers, but for the most part, they do. Case in point, Shaun had 1 yard less than the NFL leader, and had more rushing touchdowns than all but one runningback. So yes, I do play fantasy ball, and I believe that the stats I get from Fantasy ball do translate into wins. Some stats, like Touchdowns, translate directly.
Point 2:
Koren Vs. Shaun
I don't believe this point even merits discussion. Koren made personal choices that kept him off the field during the Seahawks push for the playoffs. Words are words, actions are actions. Koren could have helped the team, but his personal choices kept him off the field, there's nothing that says "team player" less than that.
Point 3:
"Alexander is an ego maniac,(refering to himself as an elite Back, which is not the case, an elite back catches the ball and blocks)"
That might be your definition of an elite back, I think most people would classify that as an all around back. Shaun is an elite runningback. We've discussed this before, but his stats (even though you won't acknowledge them) put him in the elite.
Point 4:
"Alexander is a wuss, proof is in his style of play.(failure to pick up blitzers, failure to hit the line of scrimmage without a blocker."
First of all, no one who chooses to play football for a living is a "wuss". but, to address what you say, Shaun is an intelligent runner. His elusive style not only picks up yards (as evidenced by his *gasp* stats), but also provides him a longer career than if he played smashmouth. As for picking up blitzers, I don't have a good answer for that, he's working on it, but it's not a strength yet.
Point 5:
"Seems to me we have a couple of Pro Bowl run blockers on our team, so the Broncos excuse doesn't fly with me."
Not even worth commenting on. Comparing Seattle's line to Denver's is an excercise in futility. The line in Denver is better, the system is different, the coaching staff has been together longer. Denver made Olandis Gary look like a star. Seattle's line, while good, could never do that.
Point 6:
"...he's got a head full of himself"
As monkey says, the one thing most people say coming away from meeting Shaun is that he is extremely humble. This also relates to point 3. Hve you personally met Shaun? I know multiple people who have and they all say "he's just like a regular guy, you'd never know he was a football player". I personally have not met him, hopefully I'll get the chance to this season, but in this case, I'll take the words of people who have.
Point 7:
" The facts you're giving me are stats that still didn't end up with us winning. Holmes carried his team by being consistantly the best payer he could be, playing his heart out on every down. Something Alexander has not and does not do.
And to straighten you out, my comment was on Alexander's blocking, Holmes is a GREAT blocking HB, Alexander's average at best."
I made this point long to point out your habit of contradicting yourself. You say that Shauns abilities and stats don't translate into winning, but then say that Holmes is an improvement. Last season, Holmes' Chiefs ended the year at 7-9 and out of the playoffs, while Alexander's Hawks ended at 9-7 and hosted the first round playoff game. I've said before I can't comment on Shaun's blocking, only hope that it gets better, but as far as his receiving, he also had 4 receiving touchdowns, the third most among running backs (behind Westbrook and Cooley) another stat that directly translates into winning.
Point 8:
"The proof is there in watching him play and listening to his comments."
I assume by this you have multiple comments, meaning more than the "stabbed in the back" incident. Because if you take 9 years in the football spotlight (counting his time with the Tide) and boil it down to one comment, than you have no ground. He has been positive and team oriented his entire career, and for you to say that one comment in the heat of the moment ruins that, is wrong.
I apologize for the long post, I just wanted to be sure I answered all of your points,
(by the by monkey, that should be worth at least a few more points, shouldn't it?)
ReplyDelete"...he's got a head full of himself"
ReplyDeleteAgain Vinny, how do you know, have you met him? Are you calling Billy Graham a liar Vinny? As I previously said, Billy Graham called him one of the most humble men he'd ever met, gee Vinny, I guess I'm pretty safe in taking his word over yours on this one! Especially since youv'e never met SA and don't know anything about him.
BTW Paulie P, I count at least 8 more points, so what is that, Paulie 12, monkey 9 Vinny 0.
ReplyDelete"...he's got a head full of himself"
ReplyDeleteAgain Vinny, how do you know, have you met him? Are you calling Billy Graham a liar Vinny? As I previously said, Billy Graham called him one of the most humble men he'd ever met, gee Vinny, I guess I'm pretty safe in taking his word over yours on this one! Especially since youv'e never met SA and don't know anything about him.