LoungeMachine
03-06-2006, 04:53 PM
Posted on Mon, Mar. 06, 2006
NFL NOTEBOOK
Agent: Seahawks and Alexander reach deal
Mercury News Wire Services
NFL most valuable player Shaun Alexander has agreed to a $62 million, eight-year contract to remain with the Seattle Seahawks, his agent said Sunday night.
Jim Steiner said the deal is the richest ever for an NFL running back and will pay the league's leading rusher over $15.1 million in guaranteed cash, through signing and other bonuses and 2006 base salary.
Steiner told the Associated Press of the signing in a telephone interview, minutes after the NFL pushed back the start of the free-agent signing period to Wednesday.
The league still must approve the contract, and Alexander has yet to sign it.
The team is waiting for the contract to become official before announcing the deal, though a news conference at team headquarters could come as early as today.
``They definitely wanted to do this,'' Steiner said of the Seahawks bringing back Alexander, who set an NFL record with 28 touchdowns last season. ``And Seattle was Shaun's first choice all along.''
Last month, in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Steiner said the two sides had ``a long way to go'' in getting a deal done.
Yet in the aftermath of Seattle's Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh, team owner Paul Allen, Coach Mike Holmgren and Alexander all said they believed the franchise's career rushing leader with 7,817 yards over six seasons would remain with the Seahawks.
Steiner declined to reveal exactly how Alexander's $62 million is structured.
NFL NOTEBOOK
Agent: Seahawks and Alexander reach deal
Mercury News Wire Services
NFL most valuable player Shaun Alexander has agreed to a $62 million, eight-year contract to remain with the Seattle Seahawks, his agent said Sunday night.
Jim Steiner said the deal is the richest ever for an NFL running back and will pay the league's leading rusher over $15.1 million in guaranteed cash, through signing and other bonuses and 2006 base salary.
Steiner told the Associated Press of the signing in a telephone interview, minutes after the NFL pushed back the start of the free-agent signing period to Wednesday.
The league still must approve the contract, and Alexander has yet to sign it.
The team is waiting for the contract to become official before announcing the deal, though a news conference at team headquarters could come as early as today.
``They definitely wanted to do this,'' Steiner said of the Seahawks bringing back Alexander, who set an NFL record with 28 touchdowns last season. ``And Seattle was Shaun's first choice all along.''
Last month, in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Steiner said the two sides had ``a long way to go'' in getting a deal done.
Yet in the aftermath of Seattle's Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh, team owner Paul Allen, Coach Mike Holmgren and Alexander all said they believed the franchise's career rushing leader with 7,817 yards over six seasons would remain with the Seahawks.
Steiner declined to reveal exactly how Alexander's $62 million is structured.