Alexander Breaks Foot; Saints March to Victory

The Seahawks' shield against the hex of the Super Bowl loser has its first crack: Shaun Alexander broke his left foot, and will be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks.

Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that a bone scan revealed Alexander sustained a "small crack" and "displaced fracture" on a non-weight-bearing foot bone sometime during the Seahawks' 42-30 win over the New York Giants on Sunday.

Already nursing soreness in his foot from a bone bruise, last year's league MVP ran for 47 yards on 20 carries while wearing new shoes with special inserts before sitting out the fourth quarter, which began with Seattle leading 42-3.

Alexander missed practices last Wednesday and Thursday because of the bone bruise from the season opener at Detroit, which led to the small crack, Holmgren said.

Last season's NFL rushing leader was on crutches inside team headquarters Monday, a special player's off day following their third straight win, the coach said. Alexander had departed the facility by the time Holmgren made his announcement.

"You lose the MVP for a while, it's a hit," Holmgren said. "Let's face it, he's the MVP. We're not going to sugarcoat it."

The test of whether this crack becomes the void that has derailed the previous five Super Bowl losers begins Sunday night at Chicago, which is also 3-0. Maurice Morris will make his fifth career start for Alexander.

Seattle has its bye the following week before playing at division rival St. Louis on Oct. 15.

"I don't think it will be real lengthy," Holmgren said. "Now, he just has to stay off of it and let it heal."

Holmgren said he could not yet specify how long Alexander would be out.

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New Orleans 23, Atlanta 3
More than 70,000 people welcomed football back to New Orleans last night as the Saints played their first game at the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina hit a year ago. The Saints improved to 3-0 with a 23-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons, coming off a franchise-record 306 yards on the ground against Tampa Bay, managed just 117 yards rushing on the inspired Saints. Vick had a miserable game, completing 12-of-31 for 137 yards.

Deuce McAllister handled the bulk of the ground attack, with 19 rushes for 81 yards. Brees was 20-of-28 passing for 191 yards. His favorite receiver was rookie Marques Colston — the fourth-to-last pick in this year's draft — who grabbed seven passes for 97 yards.


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