Morris to See More Playing Time as Alexander Sits

Posted by Matt Loede on November 15th, 2007 filed in News

 

The underlying tone in Seattle is that running back Maurice Morris may be taking some carries away from one-time NFL MVP Shaun Alexander. The Hawks back, who has been hampered with injuries for the past two seasons, sat out Monday night’s 24-0 home win over the 49′ers, and watched as Morris rushed for 89 yards on 28 carries. He sat out yet another practice on Wednesday with his sprained left knee and it’s not known how much, if at all, he’ll be able to go Sunday vs the Bears at home.

“I think it would be really unfair of me to put Shaun back on the field if he wasn’t right,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “That’s the tough thing. A player will tell you, ‘I can play.’ He wants to play. He doesn’t like to watch.” Right now Holmgren might not have a choice but to sit Alexander, as with the cast on his left hand it has limited him from catching the ball out of the backfield, as well as block in situations with QB Matt Hasslebeck drops back to pass. Will Morris see more time? That’s the way it sounds when Holmgren talked about it Wednesday. “I think Mo certainly deserves the chance to play. What I have to figure out is probably a way to use both of them.”