Alexander likes where's he at, away from the attention
By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer June 8, 2002
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Coming off a disappointing, injury-impacted season, wide receiver Derrick Alexander probably isn't going to attract a whole lot of notice in his first year with the Minnesota Vikings.
Randy Moss will take most of that away.
``Randy is a guy that people are going to pay a lot of attention to,'' Alexander said. ``I'm glad that I'm going to have a chance to play on the other side of him.''
Alexander signed a three-year, $5.1 million contract with the Vikings on Friday and joined his new teammates Saturday morning at a minicamp practice.
``I'm pretty excited,'' Alexander said. ``Minnesota was a team that made it kind of known that they were looking for me after I became free. I'm just glad that we were able to make it happen. Minnesota was the one that stepped up and made me feel the most comfortable and made me feel like they wanted me the most.''
Cut by Kansas City earlier this week, Alexander caught only 27 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games while sustaining rib and Achilles injuries. His best season came in 2000, when he had 78 receptions for 1,391 yards and 10 TDs.
Before coming to the Chiefs in 1998, Alexander was drafted out of Michigan and began his pro career with Cleveland in 1994 and went with the Browns when they moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens two years later.
Alexander, who's essentially replacing the retired Cris Carter, now joins Moss and free-agent signee D'Wayne Bates as Minnesota's top three receivers. The Vikings also have veterans Chris Walsh and Sean Dawkins at the position.
``We're glad to have Derrick aboard,'' coach Mike Tice said. ``I think it gives us a very strong three-wide receiver group. You can't cover them all. If they try to cover them all and drop linebackers and do a New England-type defense and rush three, then we throw the ball to (tight ends) Byron Chamberlain or Jimmy Kleinsasser.
``I think we've got a lot of weapons now, and it's up to the offensive line to give the quarterback time and open holes for the running backs.''
Quarterback Daunte Culpepper is happy.
``He's a great player,'' Culpepper said. ``I think he can really help us. I'm very happy right now with the weapons we have. We're going to be there when it's all said and done. Just watch. We're going to be playing for a championship in San Diego.''
That may be a stretch, but Alexander's presence seemed to have a positive effect on the Vikings on Saturday.
``Offense seemed to be more efficient this morning,'' Tice said. ``I thought guys were rejuvenated. I thought they were focused.''
Alexander said there are some similarities between the playbooks of the Vikings and Chiefs. His tougher task will be getting back into shape.
``I feel OK,'' Alexander said. ``It's going to take me awhile to get back into football (shape). I haven't done anything football-wise since basically January.''
As for his injuries?
``I'm all healed up and ready to go,'' Alexander said.
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