Lions get another target for Harrington
ESPN.com news services
Detroit Lions: In their continuing efforts to surround third-year quarterback Joey Harrington with an upgraded arsenal of playmakers, the Lions have reached a contract agreement with unrestricted free agent tight end Stephen Alexander, who played the last two years with the San Diego Chargers.
ESPN.com has learned that Alexander agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million contract, and he is scheduled to report to the Lions over the weekend. The contract includes a signing bonus of $600,000 and base salary of $625,000.
A six-year veteran, Alexander is an accomplished receiver and, despite losing some of his speed, still can split the safeties and get deep up the middle seam. The problem has been keeping the oft-injured Alexander on the field, and last season was indicative of that, as he played in just three games before sustaining a season-ending groin injury. In 2001, he missed seven games with a leg injury.
If he is healthy, Alexander would provide the Lions their best pass-catching threat at the tight end position in years and he certainly seems a good fit for the Steve Mariucci style of offense. He would be a nice complement to the young wide receiver corps the Lions have assembled in the past two years.
Four times in his career, Alexander has posted more than 25 catches in a season, and his best season came in 2000, when he had 47 receptions for the Washington Redskins. For his career, Alexander, 28, has 167 catches for 1,812 yards and 10 touchdowns. A former Oklahoma standout, Alexander was a second-round pick in the 1998 draft and played his first four seasons in Washington, before signing with San Diego as a free agent in 2002.
In advance of signing Alexander, the Lions apprised veteran tight end Mikhael Ricks that he is free to speak to other teams. Ricks had 37 catches for 434 yards in 2003 and is regarded as a solid receiver. But he has two seasons remaining on his contract, at base salaries of $1 million for 2004 and $1.1 million for 2005, and the Lions would prefer that he restructure his deal and reduce his compensation.
If the six-year veteran and converted wide receiver declines to do so, the Lions likely will release him. Ricks was apprised by team officials that he would not be allowed to take part in this week's on-field sessions.
-- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
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