Thoughts on Shaun Alexander Winning NFL MVP Award

Large, long and loud congratulations to Shaun on winning the MVP for the 2005 NFL season! Hopefully, this will get the Hawks fired up for their first playoff game next weekend in the divisionals (opponent yet to be named). He has been such a leader for the team this year, not only in statistics, but personally, that I--for one--would have been terribly disappointed if Peyton had won again over Shaun.
Of course, this also brings up the issue of what the Front Office will do vis a vis keeping the aforementioned Mr. Alexander here in Seattle for the 2006 season. He agreed to accept the franchise tag and its $6+MM contract for one year only, and that year is almost over (hopefully not for another month and 3 days, though).
Shaun and his representatives are "playing coy" right now about what stage contract extension talks might be at, and the front office's response is, typically, "no comment."
Let's face it, if they don't get the job done soon and he shines even more brightly in the playoffs, there will be a line a "mile" long outside his door as soon as the season is over, offering him plenty of money and other perks to play elsewhere.
He has indicated on numerous occasions that he would like to stay and play in Seattle for the foreseeable future, but WILL go elsewhere if that is what it takes to get what he is looking for.
Shaun is good for the community, providing a positive role model for young men through his Foundation's mentoring programs. He always has a smile on his face, and his faith is publically proclaimed and acted upon. In short, someone we should WANT to keep around for as long as he will stay.
So, once again I reiterate what I, and countless thousands of other Hawks fans, have been saying all season: Pay the man--NOW--or face losing him sooner than later. Todd Leiweke and Tim Ruskell, are you listening?