Seattle's Alexander OK for NFC title game

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren removed all doubt Wednesday: NFL MVP Shaun Alexander will play in Sunday's conference championship game against Carolina.

The league rushing champion sustained a concussion last Saturday in the first quarter of Seattle's win over Washington. Alexander later said he was unconscious initially and then "out" of it for about 20 minutes.

But Holmgren said Wednesday the All-Pro back will be ready for the Panthers.

"Shaun's full go," the coach said. "He passed some tests we gave him [Tuesday]. He participated in our walkthrough this morning. He's going to be fine."

Alexander, who rushed for a team-record 1,880 yards in the regular season, joked he learned something about himself over a four-day battery of doctors' tests.

"I took all the tests and realized the guy knocked some sense into me," Alexander said of Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington, who appeared to hit the back of Alexander's helmet during a 1-yard loss Saturday. "I am actually smarter than I was before."

He also apparently has his sense of perspective back.

The potential free agent said on a conference call to Carolina media Wednesday he has an appreciation for the situation former Seahawks teammate Ken Lucas went through this past year.

When asked if he was sad to see Lucas leave Seattle, Alexander said: "I definitely was. But then, at the same time, who knows if I am going to be here or not?"

"I told him you never know, I might be out there with you. Whenever you lose a teammate it's rough. When you lose a friend it's worse," Alexander added.

Alexander has repeatedly expressed his desire this season to "win three or four Super Bowls for Seattle." But he said last month talks with the Seahawks on a contract extension were put off until after the postseason.