Q: What is the next step for Shaun Alexander? Will the Seahawks try to shop him around in the offseason due to his lack of production and injuries?
— Scott, Ashland, Ore.

A: Shaun Alexander isn't going anywhere. The Seahawks signed him to an eight year, $62 million contract before the 2006 season. Getting rid of Alexander this early in the contract would be counterproductive from a salary cap standpoint.

He wouldn't have much trade value as an aging back with a high cap number coming off a bad season. Besides, there still is a decent chance Alexander will come back strong next season. He's the type of back who doesn't run well when something is bothering him, like his fractured wrist. If he's healthy, he still can be one of the league's most productive backs.

Q: What's the status on Marvin Harrison? He's not listed on the injury report on the Colts' Web site.
— Cherise J., Dayton, Ohio

A: The Colts have not said much about Harrison's knee injury, probably by design, but maybe because they aren't quite sure about his availability. Harrison is known for not being the most communicative guy in the locker room.

It's very possible even the Colts coaches and trainers don't have a good feel for how much longer Harrison will be out. Based on what is known, it wouldn't be surprising at all if Harrison were to miss the rest of the regular season.

Q: If Derrick Ward is out for the year, will the Giants rush Brandon Jacobs back?
— Doug, Yonkers, N.Y.

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A: They won't have to. Jacobs is ready to return after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury.

But the Giants will miss Ward, who has been their leading rusher up to this point. The retirement of Tiki Barber still may turn out to be the undoing of the Giants. Even though they have replaced Barber with productive players, they haven't replaced him with healthy ones. Ward will have missed eight games by the end of the season. Jacobs already has missed five. Maybe it will be Reuben Droughns to the rescue.

Q: Should the NFL penalize punting out of bounds?
— D.P., Chicago

A: Excellent question. Yes, I believe the NFL should penalize punting out of bounds.

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The punt out of bounds denies the viewing public of one of the most thrilling plays in sports and prevents dynamic players like Devin Hester of the Bears from doing their thing. That is not good for the NFL.

Punting out of bounds has become a more frequently deployed strategy throughout the league. Chris Kluwe of the Vikings has punted out of bounds 14 times this year. Seahawks punter Ryan Plackemeier has punted out of bounds 13 times.

The rule I would like to see adopted would penalize a team for punting out of bounds only on the fly. Punters like Jeff Feagles of the Giants should not be penalized for bouncing a ball out of bounds — that is a skill that deserves to be rewarded, and Feagles is a virtuoso.

The penalty should be 15 yards from the point the punt goes out of bounds. A re-kick would lengthen the game — nobody wants a longer game.

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