Pro Bowl running back Shaun Alexander has frequently expressed optimism about securing a long-term contract agreement. The Seattle Seahawks have consistently talked about taking a wait-and-see approach. Now comes this: FOXSports.com, citing sources close to Alexander, reported Sunday night that the sides recently exchanged contract proposals for the first time, and that the coming days could be crucial for the health of negotiations. Recent comments from first-year Seahawks president Tim Ruskell reflected less urgency. ?For the long term, I wanted to get through a good portion of the season to see what my feelings were about Shaun and how he interacts and works with this team as we go into the future,? Ruskell said Saturday on the team?s Web site. ?It?s a very big decision. The running back market is a very tough market. That?s why all these guys are seemingly in limbo.? Ruskell was referring to Indianapolis? Edgerrin James and Philadelphia?s Brian Westbrook, among other NFL running backs whose contracts expire after this season. ?So it?s a very tough thing to deal with,? Ruskell said. ?We?re talking with (Alexander?s) representatives, and if we could work out something long term at this point of the season, that would be great. If we can?t, we won?t give up on it. ?It?s certainly not going to be easy. There?s not a quick solution, and there are a lot of different factors involved.?

Seattle Seahawks safety Ken Hamlin has been released from the hospital, one week after he was severely beaten outside a nightclub. Hamlin sustained a fractured skull, a blood clot on the brain and a fractured hand in the fight Oct. 17. He was released from Harborview Medical Center over the weekend, hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg-Hanson said Monday. She declined to provide additional details. Without Hamlin, the Seahawks beat the Dallas Cowboys 13-10 Sunday. It was the first game Hamlin missed since he entered the league as a second-round draft pick in 2003. Marquand Manuel started in his spot. Although he couldn't be with his teammates, Hamlin had a videotaped message delivered to them. Players saw it Saturday night. "He said he's there for us, watching for us and praying for us the whole time," cornerback Marcus Trufant said. "He's in everybody's hearts, and he'll be there in spirit with us at the game."

Ken Hamlin of the Seattle Seahawks was in serious but stable condition at a Seattle hospital with a blunt trauma injury after a fight outside a nightclub. Team physician Stan Herring said that Hamlin, a safety, was in the intensive care unit with a fractured skull, a small blood clot and bruising of the brain tissue. "Right now, he is awake intermittently and talking to us," Herring said. "We're going to need more time to see if there is residual problems from bruising of the brain." A police report said Hamlin, who was with his girlfriend at the time, was in a fight as he left the club several hours after the Seahawks defeated the Houston Texans the night of Oct. 16. The girlfriend told officers that Hamlin placed his hand on another man's back and said, "Excuse me." The man told Hamlin to stop pushing, and the two men began shoving each other.

Mike Holmgren told KJR-AM radio yesterday that the Seahawks will wait until the end of the season to evaluate the possibility of a long-term contract for RB Shaun Alexander, currently the NFL's leading rusher. The coach said he would not be opposed to having Alexander back for years to come. Team president Tim Ruskell had said in training camp that Alexander's contract situation would be examined during the season.

Strong safety Michael Boulware was removed from the field on a stretcher midway through the second quarter after hurting his lower back. He was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays. "The scans and X-rays were negative," coach Mike Holmgren said. Boulware, a second-round draft pick in the 2004 draft, was down for several minutes after Rams guard Tom Nutten blocked him and then fell on him with 7:08 to go.

After a second opinion on a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee, Darrell Jackson and the Seattle Seahawks are debating whether or not to go through with the operation that would leave their star wide receiver out for four weeks. Holmgren said on Wednesday that Jackson would not play Sunday. Jackson has caught 29 passes this season, third most in the NFL.

With starters Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram battling injuries, Seattle re-signed WR Jerheme Urban on Tuesday. To make room on the roster, Seattle released defensive end Alain To clear room on the roster, the Seahawks released defensive end Alian Kashama.

Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson missed practice Friday after experiencing soreness in his right knee. Jackson was added to the injury report as probable for Sunday's game at Washington, but he is expected to play. "I don't think it's serious," coach Mike Holmgren said. "But just to be on the on the safe side, so his mind is right, we sent him over there. ... I'm pretty sure he's going to play."