Numerous sources are reporting that Alexander has agreed to re-sign with Seattle for $62 million over 8 years with an estimated $15 million of it guaranteed. The total value of the deal is in the range of contracts signed recently by LaDanian Tomlinson, Clinton Portis, and Deuce McAllister.
The Tacoma News Tribune's Mike Sando has more detail on the deal at his Seahawks Insider blog. Sando mentions that he understands that the guaranteed money in the deal can only be spread over four seasons, as per the current collective bargaining agreement. He describes those terms as "locked in" (i.e., NOT subject to any subsequent extension of the CBA). Hence, the deal appears to be front loaded, with most of the guaranteed money paid out early in the life of the contract. Seattle's rather healthy cap situation apparently allowed for this kind of deal, one that at first glance looks like a win-win. Alexander's bonus money--as I understand it, and I may very well be incorrect about this--is less than the bonuses paid to Hasselbeck and Jones but won't be stretched out over as many years.
Seattle certainly appears well positioned to now re-sign Steve Hutchinson, lock up other priority free agents, and potentially even dabble a bit in the market.
You really have to give a lot of credit to Seattle's front office for making the tough decisions necessary to put the financial house in order (e.g., cutting Sharper and Dyson) while at the same time understanding the need to take care of key people. This was a horrible offseason for Alexander to be on the market with so much cap uncertainty around the league and a reasonably deep crop of running backs available in free agency and the draft. Seattle could have easily waited him out and probably re-signed him to a similar, perhaps even slightly smaller deal, but not without building in a lot of acrimony in the process. Keeping Alexander off the market was, in my opinion, not only a class move but the right move for everyone involved.
Now, I'd love to see the team get something done for Hutch. However, Hutch may personally be better off actually testing the market after the CBA is extended.
Gotta agree, on all points.
ReplyDeletePosted by JoSCh
Me too...though I dont like Dyson going away...im still holding out hope they get him for less...would be nice if we could get a more physical cover guy, like Lucas was to compliment Trufant...but Dyson was good in coverage
ReplyDeleteThat said...honestly, I think if Shaun tested the market, he would get a chunk less then he ended up with...knowing him and records, he probably wanted the record deal more then a huge contract overall...Seattle gave him a nice deal, and the record deal...but he wont be seeing it, and im sure he knows that...
Best part is...Shaun deserved a big contract, not even Vin can deny it...in a world of sports where laziness is even rewarded, Shaun was very deserving, and very patient, which has to be applauded
ReplyDeleteLike he said on his site...God is good :D
I'll wait to judge the signing after I see his performance in the '06 season.
ReplyDeleteAnd after I see the Hawks sign Hutch, if they don't, I'm not for this contract, because it may have cost us a better/more important player.
Posted by Vin
In the Will Alexander Stay post i said that i din't think he would stay but boy i am i glad that i was wrong. But in the past few weeks with the CBA and what not i kind of thought that he would stay.
ReplyDeleteDC i agree with ya.
Posted by meezy