Alexander’s NFL future fading

Profootballtalk.com reported former Alabama star Shaun Alexander won’t get a shot with the Denver Broncos. That means Alexander has been passed over by the Seahawks (who released him), the Bengals, Saints and now Broncos.

Why is Alexander having such a tough time finding another NFL spot? Profootballtalk.com tackles that issue:

Alexander isn’t capable of offering the pass-catching, blocking or special teams usefulness that teams prize in their backups and two years of diminishing returns have tarnished his chances of gaining a starting job. So the bad news for Alexander is that he’ll need at least one of those three mishaps to get a job anywhere. The good news is that there’s a good chance that they will happen.

Alexander wasn’t a bad receiver out of the backfield during his college years or early pro career. If you look at Alexander’s receiving numbers his best year was 2002. Alexander caught 59 passes for 460 yards and two touchdowns. In 2001, 2002 and 2003, Alexander caught at least 42 passes each year. It wasn’t until 2004 that Alexander’s receiving numbers began sliding.

Alexander’s coach Mike Holmgren has had style issues with Alexander for eight years. From an AP story on cbs.sportsline.com:

“Would I like him to hit the holes a little quicker, get it up in there? I’ve said that from Day One,” Holmgren said Friday, the final full practice day for the Seahawks (3-2) before Sunday night’s home game against New Orleans (0-4).

“He’s known that for, how many years has he been here?” Holmgren said, chuckling. “But at the same time, his style has produced some wonderful things.”

That includes five seasons with at least 1,175 yards rushing, with a team-record 1,880 yards in 2005 while winning league MVP and leading the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl. He scored a then-league record 28 touchdowns that season.

“It’s like da-da-da (simulating hesitancy) — and then all of a sudden he scores a touchdown and I am happy,” Holmgren said.

You have to wonder how much of this background story is hurting Alexander’s job hunt.