Tag: Shaun Alexander

Rashaad Penny, Shaun Alexander welcome Kenneth Walker III to Seahawks

Walker is getting a warm welcome from a couple of his predecessors.

Few teams have had more success at running back than the Seattle Seahawks over the last 20 years. From Shaun Alexander to Marshawn Lynch on down the line, a lot of special athletes have come through VMAC at this position.

The newest member of the club is Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III, who Seattle selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft last night. Walker is getting a warm welcome from a couple of his predecessors. Late-blooming superstar Rashaad Penny shared this on Twitter last night:

Meanwhile, former league MVP Shaun Alexander had this to say:

Walker should likely project as the team’s primary backup RB behind Penny in the wake of Chris Carson’s neck injury.

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Alabama Football History: The top 20 all-time leading rushers

Check out the all-time leading rushers in Alabama Football history!

Alabama has been able to stay at the top of college football for so long because of the program’s ability to adapt. One thing, though, has remained the same over decades of Crimson Tide football: a strong run game.

Former Alabama running backs regularly find their way into the NFL and cement themselves as some of the greatest to do it.

The Crimson Tide program currently has four Heisman trophies in the trophy case, two of them came in back-to-back years just recently with quarterback [autotag]Bryce Young [/autotag]and wide receiver [autotag]DeVonta Smith[/autotag]. However, before them Alabama only had two, and they belonged to running backs [autotag]Derrick Henry[/autotag] and [autotag]Mark Ingram[/autotag].

We break down the top 20 passers in Crimson Tide history. A group that includes a Heisman recipient, a handful of first-round draft selections and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Seahawks: Who are the top 14 scoring leaders in franchise history?

Seahawks: Who are the top 14 scoring leaders in franchise history?

Kickers are often overlooked until something goes wrong. Truth is, they’re usually the players who score the most points for their teams in the long run and can be important, especially in close games. Look no further than the Bengals’ ascent to the Super Bowl this year, which is in part thanks to the exploits of their rookie kicker Evan McPherson, who is 12/12 on field goal attempts in the playoffs.

The Seahawks have had some exceptional kickers themselves over the years. Along with some of the most outstanding backs and receivers ever to suit up for Seattle, they dominate this list of the 14 players who have scored the most points in franchise history.

Seahawks: Who are the top 11 rushing leaders in franchise history?

Here are the top 11 rushing leaders in franchise history.

Rashaad Penny finished the 2021 season on a tear unlike anything we’ve seen from a Seahawks running back before. Considering all the great names that have played the position for Seattle, that’s really saying something. Let’s check in where Penny ranks all-time.

Here are the top 11 rushing leaders in franchise history.

Seahawks legend Shaun Alexander shares support for Rashaad Penny

Mr. Touchdown shared that fact on Twitter to show his support for Penny.

The Seahawks have a proud history of big-bodied, explosive running backs leading their rushing attacks even before the Pete Carroll era. The best of them was Shaun Alexander, who had a relatively short career in the NFL but did things no other Seattle back has done, even Marshawn Lynch. Alexander remains the only league MVP in franchise history – which he won for a ridiculous 2005 season that saw him post 1,880 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.

The next power back to take up the torch appears to be Rashaad Penny, who is coming off an incomparable finish to the 2021 season. Among other things, Penny became the first Seahawks running back since Alexander to post 130+ rushing yards in three straight games.

Mr. Touchdown shared that fact on Twitter to show his support for Penny.

Penny later shared his thanks in return.

Most of Penny’s career has been slowed by injuries and inconsistency. However, over these last five games he’s proven that not only can he be a quality starter, he might just be the best rusher in football.

Seattle did not pick up Penny’s fifth-year option, which means he’ll become a free agent in a few weeks. If there’s one offensive player they absolutely have to bring back, it’s him.

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Former Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander snubbed for Hall of Fame

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander has been snubbed from the 2021 Class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Every year, the NFL inducts new legends into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For the 2021 class, the finalists were named on Tuesday. The class includes several first-time eligible icons such as quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Calvin Johnson, and defensive end Jared Allen.

However, there appears to be a glaring omission among the 25 finalists . . .  Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.

Alexander is perhaps the most underappreciated, great running back. He is a former league MVP, an All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler, a member of the 2000’s Hall of Fame Team, and a former cover athlete for the popular Madden franchise. Despite playing in geographically isolated Seattle in the era before social media, Alexander was certainly a household name.

 

Alexander was the undisputed face of the Seahawks, and during his MVP year of 2005, he carried Seattle to its first-ever Super Bowl appearance with 1,880 yards and a then-NFL record 27 rushing touchdowns.

During his career, Alexander dominated the league en route to 100 career rushing touchdowns, which is tied with current Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk for No. 8 all-time in NFL history. Every other running back who has more touchdowns than Alexander is all enshrined in Canton, OH with the exception of Adrian Peterson, who is still actively playing football.

Alexander may only have 9,435 rushing yards over his career, but it is more than Hall of Famers Earl Campbell, Jim Taylor, Larry Csonka and Terrell Davis.

Unfortunately, what is probably hurting Alexander’s chances the most is the fact he does not have a Super Bowl title next to his name, which is rather unfair to judge greatness in regards to a championship ring considering other running backs in the Hall currently do not have one either.

Alexander has been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2013. It is high time he is given serious consideration for the highest honors the league can bestow upon a player.

The Seahawks currently have 12 players attributed to the team who are currently in the Hall of Fame. However, of those 12, only four would be considered as true Seahawks legends, as the others are better known for their play with other teams, and only spent a short while in Seattle, such as wide receiver Jerry Rice.

When Alexander eventually gets his due, he will be the sixth, and his No. 37 jersey will hang from the rafters of Lumen Field alongside the likes of Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy, Kenny Easley, and Walter Jones – the man who helped pave the way for Alexander’s legendary career.

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Alabama football countdown: 37 days until kickoff

We are 37 days from Alabama football kicking off its season on the road against the Missouri Tigers to start a 10-game, SEC only schedule.

There has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding college football over the last couple of weeks, but as of right now, the season still looks like it’s a go for the SEC, ACC and Big 12.

So, what does that mean? It means that we can continue the Countdown to Kickoff en route to the Crimson Tide — and the rest of the SEC — getting things underway on Sept. 26.

With it now being Aug. 20, we are officially 37 days away from the start!

No one is currently wearing the No. 37 for Alabama, but there have been several notable players to wear it in the past. Former safety Robert Lester wore it from 2009-12, but the most famous former Tide player to rock it was Shaun Alexander in the late 90s.

Sep 27, 1997; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Alabama Crimson Tide tailback Shaun Alexander (37) in action against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

2020 Alabama football schedule

  • Sept. 26 at Missouri (Columbia, Mizz.)
  • Oct. 3 vs. Texas A&M (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Oct. 10 at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
  • Oct. 17 vs. Georgia (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Oct. 24 at Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.)
  • Oct. 31 vs. Miss State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 14 at LSU (Baton Rouge, La.)
  • No. 21 vs. Kentucky (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 28 vs. Auburn (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Dec. 5 at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

Stay tuned for more updates from Roll Tide Wire, part of the USA TODAY Sports College Wire network!

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Is Shaun Alexander Seahawks best player not yet enshrined in Hall of Fame?

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander could very well be the team’s best player not yet enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will have to wait another season before being enshrined, as this year’s ceremony was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak across the nation.

But for some players, the wait continues for the formal invite to Canton, including former Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.

Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports recently put together his list of each team’s best player who has yet to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. His criteria were as follows:
  • The player must have played more than half of his career for the franchise
  • The player must be currently eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame

DeArdo’s easy choice for Seattle was Alexander. 

“While his prime was relatively short, Alexander enjoyed a highly productive five-year run that saw him win one rushing title while leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns twice,” DeArdo writes. “Alexander also earned three Pro Bowl selections during this span while being named the 2005 Offensive Player of the Year. Alexander’s success that season helped Seattle reach its first Super Bowl.”

Alexander is tied with Marshall Faulk for the eighth-highest total rushing touchdowns in NFL history. During his career with Seattle, Alexander averaged 1,501 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns per year.

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Alabama legend Shaun Alexander congratulates cousin Devonta Smith

Former Alabama RB Shaun Alexander took to twitter to congratulate his cousin, Devonta Smith who just committed to the Crimson Tide on Monday

Former legendary Alabama running back Shaun Alexander took to twitter to congratulate his cousin, Devonta Smith, who just committed to the Crimson Tide on Monday. Smith committed to the Tide after his decommitment from Ohio State last week.

Alexander, who is the Tide’s second leading rusher of all time, recorded an incredible 3,565 yards rushing for 41 touchdowns, and 4.9 yards per carry. Alexander also had 798 yards receiving for another 8 career touchdowns.

Smith, who is a four-star wide cornerback from Cincinnati, Ohio, is ranked No. 30 as the nation’s best cornerback, according to 247Sports.

Smith shared about his cousin Shaun with BamaOnline.com:

“What was crazy was my cousin Shaun, he didn’t even know I had an offer from Alabama. The first time I ever spoke to Coach Saban, he actually called Shaun and told him he needed me to be on his team and needed me to be a part of Roll Tide. (He said) The leadership skills and my talent and everything that I bring would bring up the team’s potential.”

But that’s not all Smith had to say. He even admitted Alabama was his dream school all along:

“I can’t even lie to you. Bama has always been my dream school. I’ve always looked up to Coach Saban. He’s my idol. He’s the best ever to do it in my eyes and I’m pretty sure everyone else’s eyes, too. There really wasn’t much of a pitch. His resumé puts it out there for you. There’s nothing he promised me or nothing he can promise me. I’m going to go in there and put my head down and go to work like I always do. I’ve never been handed nothing in my life and I don’t plan to get anything handed to me now. I’m going in to work for everything I need and want.”

There’s no doubt that Alabama nation is so excited to see what Smith can do.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you up to date on the very latest!

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Notre Dame Players Meet with Another Former NFL MVP

Running game coordinator Lance Taylor who we’ve discussed for his connections at length already this week, arranged another meeting Friday, this time with his stable of running backs.  

Notre Dame players have recently had the benefit of meeting with a couple of former NFL stars.  New tight ends coach John McNulty arranged a meeting with Hall of Famer Kurt Warner a week or so ago and earlier this week he had a video conference arranged for his tight ends with former Irish great, Anthony Fasano.

Running game coordinator Lance Taylor who we’ve discussed for his connections at length already this week, arranged another meeting Friday, this time with his stable of running backs.

A couple thoughts here from Shaun Alexander talking to a room of Notre Dame running backs.

I wasn’t able to legally drink when Alexander won his MVP in 2005 and am now 34. I wonder if the players on this call are aware of how great he was considering they were all probably about six or seven years old in Alexander’s prime.

How great would it be to be able to have a giant poster of yourself on the Madden cover to put up in your home office?  Power move.

If you’ve forgotten, go check out Alexander’s career numbers.  He averaged more than a touchdown a game over a five year span.

Also noteworthy is the former Notre Dame running back who is looking to get drafted next week that regrets not jumping on the call today.

It’s cool to see Notre Dame taking advantage of this strange time and making the best of a bad situation.  Now we’re curious what former NFL star will be next to meet with a one of the 2020 squad’s positional groups.