Although coach Mike Holmgren and general manager Tim Ruskell said Tuesday that Alexander had not been released, neither endorsed the 2005 NFL MVP’s future with the Seahawks.

Asked if Alexander had been released, Holmgren said, “Absolutely nothing has happened.”

Asked if Alexander will be released soon, Holmgren said, “You need to ask Tim that question.”

What say you, Ruskell?

“He has not been released,” the GM replied to same questions.

So the saga continues for Alexander, an injury-plagued player whose status has been in doubt for six months. He is coming off back-to-back career-worst seasons.

Holmgren pointed out that the Seahawks are not able to make a decision on the 30-year-old Alexander anyway because, under NFL rules, teams cannot release players who are injured unless a settlement is reached.

Alexander underwent surgery on his wrist shortly after the season ended and is in a cast. Part of the reason for his visit to the Seahawks’ practice facility Tuesday morning was to be examined by team doctors.

Holmgren classified his conversation with Alexander as very good. The coach also said he met with running back Maurice Morris, who flew in for the occasion.

With Morris returning, and with Jones and Duckett signed to lengthy contracts, Alexander appears to be on the way out. It’s all but a foregone conclusion that he will be released, primarily because he is set to earn $4.5 million next season and by cutting him the Seahawks can save substantial money under the salary cap.

He must be designated a June 1 cut in order to save $4.5 million, or his entire remaining signing bonus of $6.9 million counts against the cap. Thus Seattle might be in no hurry to release him.

Dunn hired as RBs coach

The Seahawks hired Kasey Dunn as their running backs coach. He replaces Stump Mitchell, who departed for the Washington Redskins with Jim Zorn.

Dunn fills out Seattle’s staff, which took some hits when Holmgren announced that he would retire after next season. Holmgren said a few weeks ago that it is difficult to get somebody to commit to a position knowing the coach will leave after the season.

Former Seahawks fullback Mack Strong and former Redskins running backs coach Earnest Byner also interviewed for the job. Byner since has been hired by Tennessee. Strong is recovering from surgery to repair the neck injury that forced him to retire.

Dunn, a 1987 graduate of North Kitsap High School, held a minority internship with the Seahawks in 1993 and was with Washington State from 1998 to 2002, serving as the Cougars’ running backs coach, assistant head coach and special teams coordinator.

Last season, he was the wide receivers coach at Maryland.

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