Eric Alexander was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent on April 29, 2004 ... Waived by the Patriots (9/5/04) ... Signed to the Patriots practice squad (9/6/04) ... Signed to the Patriots active roster (12/20/04) ... Placed on injured reserve (1/13/04) ... Released by the Patriots (9/3/05) ... Signed to the Patriots practice squad (9/4/05) ... Signed to the Patriots active roster from the practice squad (10/8/05) ... Released by the Patriots (10/11/05) ... Re-signed to the Patriots practice squad (10/12/05) ... Signed to the Patriots active roster from the practice squad (1/30/06) ... Resigned by the Patriots (3/5/09).

GP/GS (Playoffs): 45/0 (7/1)

• Alexander enters the 2009 season having played in 31 career games since being signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent prior to the 2004 season.
• Alexander earned his first career start in the 2006 AFC Championship Game and led the Patriots with 10 solo tackles in the contest.
• Alexander led the Patriots with eight special teams tackles in the 2007 playoffs, and finished fourth on the team with a career-high 14 special teams tackles in the 2007 regular season.
• Alexander has recorded 13 special teams tackles in six career playoff games entering 2009.

View Eric Alexander's Career Statistics >>

2009 (14/0/0/2): Finished third on the team in special teams tackles with 14 and tied for the team lead in special teams tackles twice (at DEN, vs. TEN) ... Recorded a forced fumble on the opening kickoff in the Patriots win over the Baltimore Ravens (10/4).

Buffalo (9/14): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 25-24 comeback win over the Bills ... Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles. at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Saw action on special teams coverage and return units ... Tallied one solo special teams tackle. Atlanta (9/27): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 26-10 victory over the Falcons. Baltimore (10/4): Helped to set the tone in the Patriots' 27-21 victory over the Ravens, forcing a Chris Carr fumble on the game's opening kickoff, allowing Brandon McGowan to recover the fumble and set up a Stephen Gostkowski field goal ... Tallied one special teams tackle. at Denver (10/11): Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage and return units ... Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles ... Dropped Alphonso Smith for a 1-yard loss on a fourth quarter Chris Hanson punt. Tennessee (10/18): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units as the Patriots tied the largest margin of victory by team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger with a 59-0 whitewashing ... Tied for the team lead in special teams tackles for the second straight week, contributing two solo stops on special teams against the Titans. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium. Miami (11/8): Inactive. at Indianapolis (11/15): Inactive. N.Y. Jets (11/22): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 31-14 win over the Jets ... Made one special teams tackle. at New Orleans (11/30): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units while tallying one special teams tackle at the Saints. at Miami (12/6): Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage and return units, making one special teams tackle. Carolina (12/13): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Panthers. at Buffalo (12/20): Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 17-10 win over the Bills. Jacksonville (12/27): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units as the Patriots clinched the AFC East Championship with a 35-7 victory ... Made one special teams tackle. at Houston (1/3): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units ... Tied for the team lead in special teams tackles with two.

2009 Postseason (1/0/0/0): Baltimore (1/10): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units against the Ravens and made one special teams tackle.

2008 (1/0/0/4): 

Kansas City (9/7):  Saw action on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 17-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.  at N.Y. Jets (9/14):  Inactive.  Miami (9/21):  Inactive.  at San Francisco (10/5):  Inactive.  at San Diego (10/12):  Inactive. 
 

2007 (12/0/0/4):  Played in 12 games in his third NFL season and listed as a day-of-game inactive four times... Led or tied for the team lead in special teams tackles twice in 2007 (vs. PHI, at BAL).

at N.Y. Jets (9/9):  Played in reserve on special teams coverage units and collected one unassisted special teams tackle. San Diego (9/16):  Saw action in reserve with special teams coverage units... Notched two special teams tackles.  Buffalo (9/23):  Played in reserve at linebacker and with the special teams coverage units... Registered two solo tackles and two special teams tackles in the Patriots' 38-7 win over the Bills.  at Cincinnati (10/1): Played in a reserve role at linebacker and on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 34-13 win over the Bengals.  Cleveland (10/7):  Saw action in reserve with special teams coverage units and tallied one solo special teams tackle in the Patriots' 34-17 win over the Browns.  at Dallas (10/14):  Played in a reserve role on special teams coverage units and registered one special teams tackle in the Patriots' 48-27 win over the Cowboys.  at Miami (10/21):  Inactive.  Washington (10/28):  Inactive.  at Indianapolis (11/4):  Inactive.  at Buffalo (11/18):  Inactive.  Philadelphia (11/25):  Played in a reserve role on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Eagles... Led the team in special teams tackles with four.  at Baltimore (12/3): Played in reserve at inside linebacker and on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 27-24 comeback win... Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles... Tallied one solo tackle in coverage.  Pittsburgh (12/9):  Played in reserve at inside linebacker and on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 34-13 win over the Steelers.  N.Y. Jets (12/16):  Saw action in reserve at inside linebacker and on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 20-10 victory over the Jets... Made one solo tackle.  Miami (12/23):  Played in reserve on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 28-7 win over the Dolphins... Made one special teams tackle.  at N.Y. Giants (12/29):  Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage units as the Patriots became the fourth NFL team to finish its regular-season schedule undefeated with a 38-35 comeback win over the Giants.

2007 Postseason (3/0/0/0):  Jacksonville (1/12):  Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 31-20 win over the Jaguars... Led the team with two special teams tackles.  San Diego (1/20):  Saw action on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 21-12 win over the Chargers in the AFC Championship Game... Led the team with three special teams tackles.  N.Y. Giants (2/3):  Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in Super Bowl XLII... Led the team with three special teams tackles.

2006 (14/0/3/1): In his first full season on the active roster, saw action in 14 games and started one playoff game at inside linebacker ... Registered 10 special teams tackles, tying him for fifth on the team ... Led the team or tied for the team lead in special teams tackles four times (vs. BUF, vs. DEN, at BUF, at MIN).

Buffalo (9/10): Saw action in a reserve role on special teams coverage units and tied for the team lead with two special teams stops in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills ... Teamed with Don Davis to stonewall Terrence McGee at the Buffalo 17-yard line during a fourth quarter kickoff return. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Played on special teams coverage units and collected a tackle in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets. Denver (9/24): Notched a solo special teams tackle on coverage units. at Cincinnati (10/1): Played in a reserve role on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals. Miami (10/8): Registered a special teams tackle in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Dolphins. at Buffalo (10/22): Played on special teams coverage units and registered a solo special teams stop in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills ... Saw limited action at inside linebacker in the fourth quarter. at Minnesota (10/30): Played on special teams coverage units ... Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles in the Patriots' commanding 31-7 road win against the Vikings ... Saw limited action at middle linebacker late in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis (11/5): Played on special teams coverage units. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Saw action on special teams coverage units and registered a tackle. at Green Bay (11/19): Saw action on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers. Chicago (11/26): Played on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears. Detroit (12/3): Saw action on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions. at Miami (12/10): Inactive. Houston (12/17): Inactive. Jacksonville (12/24): Returned to the lineup and collected a special teams tackle on coverage units in the Patriots' 24-21 division-clinching win over the Jaguars. at Tennessee (12/31): Saw significant action at inside linebacker in the nickel pacakage and posted three tackles (2 solo) in the Patriots' 40-23 victory over the Titans.

2006 Postseason (3/1/0/0): N.Y. Jets (1/7): Notched two special teams tackles in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets ... Saw limited action at inside linebacker ... Teamed with Heath Evans to stonewall Justin Miller at his own 13-yard line on a third-quarter kickoff return. at San Diego (1/14): Tied for the team lead with three special teams tackles on coverage units in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers. at Indianapolis (1/21): Made his first NFL start at middle linebacker and led the team with 10 solo tackles ... Registered a sack, a pass defensed and a forced fumble ... Sacked Peyton Manning for a 1-yard loss in the second quarter ... Knocked down a pass over the middle intended for Bryan Fletcher late in the fourth quarter.

2005 (1/0/0/0): Released on Oct. 11, 2005 … Signed from the practice squad on Oct. 8, 2005.

Atlanta (10/9): Saw action on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Falcons.

2004 (3/0/0/0): Played in the final three regular season games after being signed from the practice squad (12/20) ... Made his NFL debut against Miami (12/20) ... Recorded two special teams tackles ... Member of the practice squad for the first 14 weeks of the season ... Placed on injured reserve (1/13/05) and missed all three playoff games.

Excelled on special teams for LSU in his first three years before taking over at strong-side outside linebacker during his final campaign … Moved from strong safety to weak-side linebacker prior to the 2000 season opener… Started 14 of 39 games during his career, recording 77 tackles (56 solos) with five sacks, 10 stops for losses, nine quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and five pass break-ups … As a senior, started all year at strong-side outside linebacker, recording a career-high 65 tackles (51 solos), including five sacks for minus 36 yards, nine stops for losses of 34 yards and nine quarterback pressures … Recovered two fumbles and forced another… Played in every game as a junior on special teams and saw reserve action at strong-side linebacker vs. Louisiana-Lafayette … Played in seven regular season games as a sophomore and in the Sugar Bowl on special teams … Played in five games as a reserve safety as a freshman.

Eric Alexander was born the son of Deanna and Tracy Porter on Feb. 8, 1982 in Tyler, Texas ... Attended Stephen F. Austin (Port Arthur, Tex.) High ... Two-time member of the Port Arthur News Super Team ... Honorable mention All-State as well as being selected to the All-Metro squad as both a safety and running back ... Rushed for 1,782 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Earned letters in football, basketball, baseball and track ... In November 2006, helped pass out Thanksgiving food baskets at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries in Boston ... Supporter of the Kids Café Program at the Chelsea Boys and Girls Club ... In 2008, participated in the United Way of Rhode Island's Hometown Huddle at the East Providence Boys & Girls Club, teaching club members how to incorporate nutrition and fitness into their daily routines ... In 2007, attended Chelsea Day in Chelsea, Mass., in support of the Jordan Boys & Girls Club of Chelsea ... Was an engineering major at LSU.

• Eric served as an honorary coach in the 2008 BELL Bowl, a fundraiser at Gillette Stadium to benefit the BELL Foundation.
• Eric earned his first career start in the 2006 AFC Championship Game and led the Patriots with 10 solo tackles in the contest.