Thursday, December 13, 2001
Watters in, Alexander out as starting Seattle RB
NFL notebook
The Associated Press
KIRKLAND, Wash. — Ricky Watters has won his starting job back from Shaun Alexander with the Seattle Seahawks.
Coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday that Watters, who returned last week after missing eight games with a shoulder injury, will start at running back Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys at Husky Stadium and in the team's three remaining regular-season games.
Holmgren said Watters proved he was healthy in Denver last Sunday night. He said he didn't want to divide the running back duties between Watters and Alexander (Boone County High School) as he did in the loss to the Broncos. Thus, he is benching Alexander, who has rushed for 1,009 yards and scored 12 touchdowns this season.
“They'll both play, but it's pretty hard to juggle both of them and split it up,” Holmgren said.
The Seahawks (6-6) probably need to win all four of their final games to make the playoffs. Holmgren said Watters, an 11-year veteran, gives his team a better chance to make the playoffs.
Watters has 141 career starts, while Alexander, the team's top draft choice last season, has 10, including nine as Watters' replacement this season.
“I think right now down the stretch, Ricky's experience, enthusiasm and fire and his versatility just made me go this way,” Holmgren said.
Watters is considered a better blocker and pass receiver than Alexander.
In the Denver game, Alexander rushed for 28 yards on 12 carries, while Watters gained 23 yards on six carries. The Seahawks lost 19-7.
Holmgren's decision was surprising because Alexander flourished after replacing Watters, rushing for a franchise-record 266 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over the Oakland Raiders in Seattle Nov. 11. The 266-yard effort was the fourth best in NFL history and included a franchise-best 88-yard touchdown run.
In addition, he rushed for 176 yards against Jacksonville and 142 against Denver. He has rushed for 11 touchdowns.
Watters is in the final year of his contract in Seattle and the Seahawks aren't expected to re-sign him.
“Shaun certainly is our back for the future,” Holmgren said. “Shaun is bright enough to know he's going to be around for a long time. But any decision that we make now is for this next game.”
BRONCOS:
Quarterback Brian Griese wasn't sure Wednesday whether a concussion will keep him out of next weekend's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It is your brain. You only have one of them,” he said. “Football is great and all that, but you have to look at the rest of your life.”
Griese worked out Wednesday so team doctors could assess his status.
“I need to go out there and strain myself a little bit, get a sweat going and try and see how my head feels after that,” he said.
BILLS:
The team isn't convinced injured quarterback Rob Johnson's season is over. Citing the most recent medical report on Johnson's broken collarbone, coach Gregg Williams held out hope that the quarterback could be ready to return to practice within two weeks.
But Williams wasn't sure if Johnson will be healthy enough to play before Buffalo's season finale, Jan.6 at Miami.
“Can't tell you that right now,” he said. “There's still some significant time before that would ever come up.”
Johnson was hurt when he was sacked in the fourth quarter of Buffalo's loss at New England Nov.11.
REDSKINS:
Darrell Green, in his 19th NFL season, could be hedging on his retirement plans.
During a confusing five-minute session in front of his locker, Green seemed to say at one point that he is still planning to retire, then indicated a few seconds later that he is thinking about returning because fans want it.
“It's been very overwhelming wherever we go,” Green said. “People are not saying, "Congratulations on your retirement.' They're saying, "Please come back.' I think any human being has to respond to that on some level. ... That means I have to think about it.”
VIKINGS:
With punter Mitch Berger questionable for Sunday's game against Detroit because of a neck injury, Minnesota signed Lee Johnson, 40.
The 40-year-old Johnson was in uniform Wednesday, taking snaps and holding for kicker Gary Anderson. He'll punt and hold for kicks against the Lions if Berger is unable to play.
LIONS:
Defensive back Robert Bailey, who played for six NFL teams and won two Super Bowl rings in his 11-season career, is retiring because of two herniated disks in his neck. He was injured in a loss to Green Bay Nov.22.
“I'm very disappointed, but my neck isn't giving me any options,” Bailey said. “The doctor only had to tell me once, though. I've seen too many guys that had to be carried off the field. I wanted to walk off.”
CHARGERS:
Receiver-punt returner Tim Dwight has been readmitted to a hospital for treatment of a collapsed lung and will miss Saturday's home game against Oakland.
Dwight was admitted on Tuesday to have fluid drained from the lung and will remain hospitalized for another day or so, coach Mike Riley said Wednesday.
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Watters in, Alexander out as starting Seattle RB
