The same hands that caught two interceptions in the Quakers' first football victory over Lehigh in 20 years is suiting up for NFL coach Dennis Green this week.
Vince Alexander -- a 2003 College graduate, unanimous first-team all-Ivy selection and former New York Jet -- signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals last week and is already in the Grand Canyon State for offseason workouts.
The defensive back is one of three former Quakers currently on an NFL roster.
Fullback Jim Finn is a starter for the New York Giants after three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, and wide receiver Rob Milanese, who graduated with Alexander, signed with the New York Jets in January and is currently playing for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe.
Former Penn running back Stephen Faulk had a brief stint on the San Francisco 49ers last season, but was cut later in the summer. Another former Quakers player, offensive tackle Jeff Hatch, was recently released by the New York Giants less than two years after the team drafted him in the third round.
Alexander was under contract with the Jets, but was cut from the squad before the 2003 season began.
In the interim, Alexander was back home in Detroit, working out and doing odd jobs for a friend of the family.
Alexander led the Ivy League with five interceptions in 2002 and was named third-team All-American by The Associated Press and The Sports Network after helping Penn win its second Ivy League title in three years.
While Jets coaches liked Alexander on special teams, they said he had difficulty adjusting from his college position as a safety to his projected NFL spot as a linebacker.
When Alexander was cut in August, Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff told The Daily Pennsylvanian that while the Penn grad "will always be on the cusp" of making a squad, he "looked very much like he belonged in an NFL training camp."
Alexander said his workout with the Cardinals was his first for a specific team since being released by the Jets.
"They called me up for a workout last Thursday," he said. "They put me through positional drills."
Alexander said the interest from the Cardinals was not a result of the open workout at Franklin Field he attended last month.
"They weren't there," he said. "I had been talking with a couple teams, but no teams wanted to bring me in for an individual workout yet."
Because of the Cardinals' new coaching staff, Alexander is not sure what his role on the team can be, whether it is on special teams or in the defensive formation.
Though he arrived in Arizona with prior knowledge of the NFLpreseason routine, Alexander said he is approaching his time with the Cardinals the same as he did with the Jets last year.
"I have to go out there and treat every day like they're picking the team tomorrow," he said. "I wasn't a high draft pick coming in, so Ineed to work hard, and whatever happens, happens.
"Anytime you come in [to camp], it's going to be a battle. ... I just need to take care of the things I can control, like my working out."
