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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 17, 2006 Seahawks: Alexander improving By Greg Bell The Associated Press KIRKLAND, Wash. — Instead of a walking boot protecting his broken left foot, Shaun Alexander was wearing flip-flops. "Walking around in flip-flops is a good thing," the league MVP said Monday with a big smile. And doctors, who earlier warned that the Seahawks running back might be out until December, gave Alexander his best news yet. The bone he cracked on Sept. 24 showed "very, very great" healing in X-rays Monday, the player said. "Pain is gone," Alexander added. Yet, instead of the 2005 league rushing leader returning for Seattle against Minnesota on Sunday — as coach Mike Holmgren hoped — the team is now estimating Alexander will miss perhaps two more weeks. "I met with him today," Holmgren said. "And he is feeling great and really is chomping at the bit to come back, thinks he could practice. That's with Shaun. "Now meeting with the doctors ... it's right on schedule, but they're going to be safe about it." So Holmgren said "it's unlikely he will be ready to go — in fact, he probably won't be ready to go this week." Now Alexander's tentatively scheduled return is Nov. 6 against the Oakland Raiders, after what would be the first four missed games of his seven-year career. And he's OK with that. When asked if he was quietly targeting the Oct. 29 game at Kansas City for his return instead, Alexander said of his coaches and doctors, "It's totally their decision. We're all in agreement. "Could I (play?) Yes, but I told the doctors and trainers that I totally trust them and whatever they think is best ... They're not going to just throw me out there because I feel good — even though I told them that would be wise. They love me." The NFC West-leading Seahawks (4-1) are 1-1 without Alexander following their 30-28 win on the last play Sunday at St. Louis. Backup Maurice Morris ran for 74 yards, but lost a fumble at the Rams 11 with 2:54 remaining to kill what could have been a clinching drive. St. Louis took a 28-27 lead five plays later. For Alexander, two more weeks is better than two months-plus. He said that is what doctors initially told him could be his absence after he broke the foot he had badly bruised in the Sept. 10 opener. "You know, I'm not the smartest person in the world, but I'm pretty intelligent. If you broke something, you broke it," he said, laughing. "I'm excited. I definitely feel if this was the Super Bowl or the playoffs, I'd definitely be out there — but since it's not, then it's going to be whatever they say." The Seahawks fell behind 21-7 Sunday and the offense was running to nowhere through the first half, before Matt Hasselbeck's key throws opened some running room for Morris. But Seattle still had pass protection issues, with four more sacks allowed. Hasselbeck has been dumped 17 times through five games as opponents exploit Alexander's absence and Seattle's reduced rushing threat. When Alexander romped to 1,880 yards in 2005, Hasselbeck was sacked just 27 times in 16 games. Yet Holmgren is resisting the temptation to bring back Alexander quickly. "Even though some players are known as fast healers on different types of injuries, this, the crack has to knit. The bone has to knit," Holmgren said. Alexander had not missed any of his first 99 NFL games before this injury. Last season, he scored a league-record 28 touchdowns. This season, he has just two scores and 187 yards rushing in three games, with an average of 2.9 yards per carry. His career average is 4.5 yards per rush, and it was 5.1 last season. "I suppose some people have put players out on the field a little earlier," Holmgren said. "In Shaun's case, because he is a running back and because we can't afford to have him reinjure that if we can avoid it, we are going to try to err on the side of caution." Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.