Like Kevin Jones, Cedric Benson and Ron Dayne, Shaun Alexander is a high-profile, veteran running back looking for a job in the National Football League. Hard to believe — especially in Shaun’s case — considering he led the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl and was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player just three years ago. Some reports are saying that teams are shying away from Shaun because he’s more committed to his faith than he is football, but I’m not buying that. Anybody that knows Shaun knows that he will give 100% to whatever he is doing in life. But his faith is obviously important to him:

“I’m asking God to close doors that need to be closed and open up whatever needs to be open so I can go there, win a Super Bowl, impact the team, impact the community. That’s been my goal.”

Apparently, Shaun is in contact with seven teams but did not identify who they were. I can understand the interest in Shaun’s services, but I also understand the concern. And it has nothing to do with his faith. Shaun’s a 30-year-old running back without a lot of tread left on his tires. And his durability and numbers have dropped off the past two seasons. Not that it’s entirely his fault, but there is not a big market for aging running backs. The shelf life isn’t a long one and every running back knows this going in to their NFL career. Shaun will find a suitable home in 2008, but he’ll most definitely split time with another back (or two). Which is exactly what he needs at this point in his career. Divine intervention? Yes, I think so.

Source: Boston Herald

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Faith and Football for Shaun Alexander

Image details: Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Detroit Lions served by picapp.com

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Former Detroit Lions running back Kevin Jones may be unemployed, but he’s keeping himself busy preparing for his next job. Kevin has been rehabbing his surgically repaired knee (ACL procedure in January) under the supervision of a holistic medicine practitioner and sports agent. And while he has supposedly canceled his scheduled workout for NFL teams (it was slated for this Saturday), he seems to be ahead of the 10-month rehab schedule doctors initially gave him:

“I’ve never worked out like this. And I feel great. I honestly feel like I’m ready to play right now. I think I’ll get signed in the next couple of weeks. But it really doesn’t matter when it is — as long as it’s before the season.”

Kevin seems pretty confident he’ll be with a team shortly, but I beg to differ. By canceling his scheduled workout, I think Kevin’s best chance at NFL employment will now come when a team finds a need based on injury. That cancellation had red flag written all over it. And the ten teams that were reportedly interested in him (New England, Chicago, Green Bay, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Denver, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Buffalo and the N.Y. Jets) are now going to approach the situation with even more caution.

Source: New York Times

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Kevin Jones Rehab Ahead of Schedule

Buffalo Bills TE Kevin Everett is just one of many fantastic stories of courage and achievement that make up the 2007 class of The Ed Block Courage Awards.

It’s well-known that Kevin suffered a spinal cord injury covering a kickoff in the Bills’ season opener against the Broncos. The injury was life-threatening, but the outstanding work of the Bills’ training staff and team doctors saved his life. Kevin was told that he may never walk again. Through hard work and determination not only was he able to walk again, he was able to visit his teammates in Buffalo before their last home game of the year against the New York Giants.

Kevin is just one of many great stories of courage in this year’s class. Baltimore Ravens CB Samari Rolle gathered the courage to return to the football field after being diagnosed with epilepsy. Detroit Lions RB Kevin Jones was honored by his teammates for returning to action after suffering a season ending foot injury. When Kevin spoke at the Lions Courage House dinner, he told the crowd of a different hero. His stepfather, who had the courage to take-in Kevin, his brothers and sisters, and his mom when he was young. And how his real father was shot and killed when he was eight years old.

This year’s class also boasts three playoff quarterbacks. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Tampa Bay’s Jeff Garcia, and Seattle Seahawks back-up QB Seneca Wallace will all represent their teams. Listed below are all the 2007 winners:

• Arizona Cardinals, Bertrand Berry
• Atlanta Falcons, Alge Crumpler
• Baltimore Ravens, Samari Rolle
• Buffalo Bills, Kevin Everett
• Carolina Panthers, Mike Rucker
• Chicago Bears, Tommie Harris
• Cincinnati Bengals, Reggie Kelly
• Cleveland Browns, Gary Baxter
• Dallas Cowboys, Jay Ratliff
• Denver Broncos, John Engleberger
• Detroit Lions, Kevin Jones
• Green Bay Packers, Chris Francies
• Houston Texans, Anthony Weaver
• Indianapolis Colts, Ryan Lilja
• Jacksonville Jaguars, Greg Jones
• Kansas City Chiefs, Eddie Kennison
• Miami Dolphins, Andre Goodman
• Minnesota Vikings, Chad Greenway
• New England Patriots, Steve Neal
• New Orleans Saints, Roman Harper
• New York Giants, Amani Toomer
• New York Jets, Laveranues Coles
• Oakland Raiders, Justin Fargas
• Philadelphia Eagles, Montae Reagor
• Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger
• San Diego Chargers, Darren Sproles
• San Francisco 49ers, Eric Heitmann
• Seattle Seahawks, Seneca Wallace
• St. Louis Rams, Dane Looker
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jeff Garcia
• Tennessee Titans, David Thornton
• Washington Redskins, Marcus Washington

I’ll be posting more on these stories here at EMQB and talking with some of the players for the BPR NFL Podcast leading up to the award ceremony March 11. In the meantime, check out my interview with Cleveland Browns DB Gary Baxter.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Kevin Everett Highlights Courage Awards