From Beacon Journal wire services

Shaun Alexander isn't bitter at being unemployed.

He isn't angry at the Seattle Seahawks, who in April dumped their career rushing and touchdowns leader. He doesn't feel betrayed that the Seahawks cut him just two seasons after he was the NFL's MVP, led it to its only Super Bowl appearance and signed a $62 million contract. And, no, he isn't retiring.

Instead, Alexander, 31, believes he will sign with one of a handful of teams that have provided a ''constant flow of calls,'' including his hometown Cincinnati Bengals.

His extended family in northern Kentucky already is making plans.

''They want me to be Tres Siete,'' Alexander said, laughing at the twist on Bengals star receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson now being officially recognized as Chad Ocho Cinco, to match his uniform No. 85 in Cincinnati.

Alexander grew up in Florence, Ky., across the Ohio River from the Bengals' waterfront stadium.

People still wear metallic blue Seahawks jerseys with Alexander's old No. 37 all around Seattle, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. He's been working out at the University of Washington's weight room and indoor track and football field with speed coach Joe Gentry.

Two months ago, X-rays showed that the cracked bone in his left foot that ruined his 2006 season and hampered him in '07 is finally fully meshed again. The broken left wrist he had to begin last season is fine, too.

''Man, I'm healthy and excited to play. And I think this year can be a big year for me if I get the opportunity. I can still play the game. I think I can help a team get to the Super Bowl,'' he said.

He said he'd sign for the veteran minimum because ''I've never played for money.''

He said he's willing to share roles, that he doesn't need to carry the ball 30 times a game anymore. He just wants a Super Bowl title.

Seattle cut its career leader with 9,429 yards and 112 touchdowns days before the draft because it believes former backup Maurice Morris, former Cowboys starter Julius Jones and former Atlanta lead back T.J. Duckett will combine to be more dynamic and produce better this season than Alexander did in his last two years.

''I think that it won't be long before a team calls that says, 'Just go do what you do,' '' he said.

Will Alexander retire, too, if a team doesn't offer him a job during the season?

''No,'' he said. ''I haven't even thought about it like that.

''I've had enough conversations with teams to know this could be coming soon.''

More NFL: Cowboys sign receiver

• The Dallas Cowboys signed receiver Mike Jefferson off their practice squad, giving them a potential fourth receiver for their season opener against the Browns. Offensive lineman James Marten, a third-round pick in 2007, was released to make room on the roster.

• Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters has ended his holdout and reported to the team. Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said Peters reported and that questions about his physical and roster status won't be answered until after today's home game against Seattle. Peters won't play against the Seahawks.

• The San Francisco 49ers added quarterback Alex Smith to their injury report, listing him as doubtful for today's game against Arizona with another problem in his surgically repaired right shoulder. Shaun Hill will be the backup against the Cardinals.

• The Arizona Cardinals placed center Al Johnson on injured reserve, sidelining him for the season. Johnson hurt his knee in training camp and had surgery in early August. Johnson missed two games last year with a knee injury. Replacing the 29-year-old Johnson on the roster was center Pat Ross, who was elevated from the practice squad.

Soccer: U.S. defeats Cuba 1-0

• The United States hung on to win its first soccer game in Cuba since 1947, beating the hosts 1-0 in a sloppy, sleepy World Cup qualifier in Havana. Clint Dempsey scored late in the second half and Tim Howard made two key saves to give the United States its third straight road win in qualifying from the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

• Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored a goal and assisted on two others as the Columbus Crew beat the New England Revolution 4-0 at Crew Stadium. Second-half substitute Jason Garey added two more goals for the Crew (13-6-4), which sits atop the Eastern Conference standings with the best record in Major League Soccer. New England (11-7-5) trails the Crew by five points.

Cycling: Italian wins seventh stage

• Alessandro Ballan of Italy won the seventh stage of the Spanish Vuelta in La Rabassa, Andorra, and took the overall lead in the cycling event. The Lampre rider won the first major mountain stage — a 139-mile leg from Barbastro to La Rabassa in Andorra — in 6 hours, 15 minutes, 51 seconds. The 28-year-old rider finished ahead of Spaniards Ezequiel Mosquera, riding for Xacobeo Galicia, and Alberto Contador of Astana. Ballan ended the final climb 2:42 ahead of Mosquera, who was three seconds ahead of third-place Contador.