And Jones admitted he'll feel weird seeing his former teammate on the other sideline in a different uniform Sunday when the Seattle Seahawks play host to the Washington Redskins at Qwest Field.

The 12-year offensive lineman has been a Seahawk his entire career, helping to open up holes for Alexander as he earned league MVP honors in 2005 during the team's Super Bowl run. Jones was one of the mainstays on an offensive line that paved the way for Alexander to gallop for franchise records in yards (9,429) and touchdowns (100) in his eight seasons in Seattle.

But now Alexander is a reserve running back for the Redskins, while Jones and the Seahawks have struggled through a surprisingly bad 2-8 season.

And although Alexander has been a lightning rod for criticism by Seahawks fans who sometimes questioned his effort on the field, Jones says he expects more cheers than boos from the Qwest Field faithful.

"He did some great things out here, so there shouldn't be no boos," said Jones, who still keeps in touch with Alexander. "Things happen. But when he was here, he put up good numbers. So you've got to cheer for that, you know what I'm saying?"

Alexander will return to Qwest for the first time since the Seahawks released him in April after an injury plagued final two seasons that saw him play in only 23 of his final 32 regular-season games in Seattle.

Alexander, 31, said during a 20-minute conference call with Seattle-area reporters Wednesday that Seahawks team president Tim Ruskell told him that the team was moving in a different direction at running back in February, eventually deciding to bring in Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett to compete for time with Maurice Morris.

Alexander, who signed a $62 million deal that paid him $15 million the first season after his superb 2005 campaign, said Ruskell told him he was the odd man out.

"Nobody was happy about the decision," Alexander said. "Coach (Mike) Holmgren and (Seattle offensive coordinator) Gil (Haskell) did not get to make that decision, and it is what it is."

Holmgren said he wanted Alexander around, and still believed that Alexander had some of the quickness that would allow him to be productive in Holmgren's offense if he could get healthy.

"That happens with personnel," Holmgren said about Alexander leaving. "Not everyone agrees on everything all the time and the reasons for it."

But injuries and Alexander's age led to Ruskell releasing him. After signing the lucrative contract, Alexander suffered a cracked bone in his left foot that led to him missing two months during the 2006 season. He cracked a bone in his wrist early in the 2007 season, which forced him to carry the ball with his right hand. Alexander finished with a combined 1,612 yards in those two seasons after rushing for 1,880 yards in 2005. His yards per carry also dropped from 5.1 in 2005 to 3.5 in 2007.

Alexander didn't get picked up until midway through the season by Washington. He had been staying in the Seattle area and training at the University of Washington. However, Alexander said he wasn't ready to play until the regular season started because he was still recovering from offseason wrist surgery.

In four games with Washington, Alexander has played just a few snaps as the third running back behind starter Clinton Portis and backup Ladell Betts. Alexander has 24 yards on 11 carries in four games. He knows his role, but Alexander said he believes he could be productive carrying the ball 20 times a game if given the opportunity.

His current coach, former Seattle quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn, agreed.

"I believe this: in his heart, he believes he can bring the same type of production," Zorn said. "I think he believes that. He just hasn't had the chance. So in his situation, everybody who wants to get on that field has to be a little bit frustrated, and to be honest with you, you kind of want them that way, because then they want to practice, they want to get better so they can actually get on the field."

Alexander likely will not get that chance Sunday, relegated to the unfamiliar role of watching from the sideline and waiting for a chance to get an occasional carry in place of Portis and Betts. But he's not complaining.

"I've always been a person that's been real up front with the situation and things that are going on," Alexander said. "So I'm not coming to the game like, 'Aw, man. One thing and I'm going to be the guy to get 30 carries.' That's not reality. So I'm hoping that it will happen again one day. But Clinton is playing well. And when a person is playing well, you've got to ride that horse so it can take you as far as you can go. And that's what we're doing right now."

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Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437

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