Ex-Seahawks star Alexander hoping for another chance

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Shaun Alexander, the former NFL MVP with the Seahawks, still wants to play football.

"I feel before the season is over, I think somebody will go down and they'll say, 'We want somebody who can score some touchdowns and make some things happen,' " Alexander said. "They'll say, 'Let's go get Shaun.' "

Alexander's initial return to the NFL was short-lived. The Washington Redskins signed him last October to fill in for injured backup Ladell Betts. Alexander had only 11 carries in five games.

Alexander, who turns 32 in August, feels like his body has more football left in it.

"I've played nine years but really it feels like I played maybe four because of how the game is played and how coach [Mike] Holmgren and Stump Mitchell used me," Alexander said.

"Even my MVP year, I didn't play in nine quarters because we were beating teams so bad," he said.

Notes

• Steve McNair's pastor and close friend cautioned against judging the ex-NFL quarterback, reminding people who gathered in Nashville, Tenn., for his memorial not to cast the first stone when talking about his life off the field. McNair, who was married, was shot to death at his condo early Saturday by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself. Thousands of people, among them family members, fans and more than 50 former teammates, gathered at Mount Zion Baptist Church.

• A judge in Minneapolis blocked the NFL's plan to suspend Minnesota Vikings defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy.

• Former NFL star Bruce Smith was convicted in Virginia Beach, Va., of drunken driving by a judge who rejected his claim that old football injuries, not alcohol, were responsible for his poor performance on field-sobriety tests.

• Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth pleaded no contest in Franklin, Tenn., to reckless driving and will be on probation for three months.

• The Arizona Cardinals signed third-round draft pick Rashad Johnson to a three-year contract.

• The Jacksonville Jaguars signed fourth-round draft pick Mike Thomas, a wide receiver.