Shaun Alexander Contemplates Name Change, NFL Future

Back in June, when the news was still relatively fresh, CBSSports.com's Clark Judge spoke to various personnel types to help explain why Shaun Alexander's NFL career was probably over. Short story: "soft runner" label + Curse of 370 = forced retirement.

And two and a half months later, Alexander's still looking for work, although the Associated Press reports that the 2005 NFL MVP has no plans on getting on with life after football, and he expects to be signed any day now.

...[T]he 31-year-old Alexander believes his signing is imminent with one of a handful of teams that have provided "a constant flow of calls," including his hometown Cincinnati Bengals. So imminent, his extended family members in Northern Kentucky are suggesting a new name.

In Seattle, Alexander wore No. 37. ... "They want me to be Tres Siete," Alexander said Friday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press, laughing at the twist on the Bengals star receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson now being officially recognized as Chad Ocho Cinco, to match his uniform number 85 in Cincinnati.

Actually, that would be Tressiete, although I give Alexander points for recognizing that the former Chad Johnson's new name literally translates to "Chad Javon Eight Five," (technically, "Eightfive," but, really, does it even matter?)

There's no reason to think Alexander isn't being truthful about the prospects of returning to the NFL in the very near future. The Bengals just released Rudi Johnson because of injury issues, so it stands to reason that they wouldn't be interested in Alexander for that very reason.

Of course, money was also a factor in the decision to part ways with Johnson, and if Alexander's willing to sign for the veteran minimum, it certainly mitigates the risk, although it doesn't change the fact the he's probably got nothing left.