Seahawks' Alexander expects to return for NFC title game

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- A smiling Shaun Alexander said Monday he expects to play in Sunday's NFC championship game against the Carolina Panthers after Seattle's playoff win over Washington with a concussion.

"We've got to wait and see," Alexander said after seeing doctors and passing more tests Monday. "But it looks pretty good.

"It is what it is. We play a violent sport."

The league rushing champion and MVP said he has not had any lingering symptoms from the blow to the side of his helmet he took while two Redskins tackled him 10 1/2 minutes into Saturday's game.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said doctors and the team will continue to monitor Alexander. But the coach expects Alexander to practice Wednesday, the Seahawks' next work day.

"It feels great," Holmgren said of Alexander's apparent return. "He's the MVP of football ... but more than (that), anytime you see a guy go down like that, you get nervous about him more than as a football player."

The Seahawks, like all teams, don't hit in practices this late in a season. So there is little concern Alexander will be endangered before Sunday.

"He didn't get tired on Saturday," Holmgren said, smiling while referring to Alexander's six carries. "So he should be pretty fresh."

Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, whose running and passing led Seattle to the win after Alexander left, also expects to have his record-breaking runner back.

"He's playing, as far as I'm concerned," Hasselbeck said. "Why wouldn't you? It's a big game."

Holmgren said game film appeared to show Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington hit Alexander in the side of his helmet with a knee.

Alexander spent an half hour or so seated on Seattle's bench wearing a team coat with the hood pulled up and rarely interacting with anyone. By the second half, the new league record holder with 28 touchdowns this season was leading the cheers for his top-seeded team.

He said he remembers getting hit -- and then nothing until he was sitting by himself on the bench.

"I looked up and saw Matt on the scoreboard (video screen)," he said. "And I looked down the bench and saw all the linemen gone. I said, 'Did I get knocked out?'

"I was out for about 20 minutes," the former Alabama star said. "For about 20 minutes there, I didn't know if it was me. I didn't know if we were, you know, playing the Auburn Tigers.

"I started catching what was going on in the middle of the second quarter ... Probably about the third quarter, I really felt a lot better and could get involved."

Jets reportedly hire Mangini

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Eric Mangini has accepted an offer to become the next New York Jets coach, a person familiar with the situation said Monday night.

The person spoke condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made by the team.

Mangini, who turns 35 Thursday, becomes the youngest head coach in the NFL. He replaces Herman Edwards, who left for Kansas City after five seasons.

The Jets moved quickly to hire Mangini after interviewing former Vikings coach Mike Tice earlier in the day.

Raiders interview Marinelli

The Oakland Raiders interviewed Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line coach Rod Marinelli on Monday, the third candidate brought in to discuss the team's coaching vacancy. Marinelli just completed his 10th season as assistant head coach and defensive-line coach for the Bucs.

-- From wire reports