Lorenzo Alexander Lorenzo John Alexander ( born May 31 , 1983 ) is an American football linebacker and special teamer for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of California , and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers in 2005 . Alexander has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins . High School Career . Alexander went to Saint Mary ' s College High School , where he played as a defensive lineman . He played in the first ever U . S . Army All - American Bowl game on December 30 , 2000 . College Career . Alexander went to the University of California , Berkeley . Professional Career . Carolina Panthers . On April 29 , 2005 , the Carolina Panthers signed Alexander as an undrafted free agent . He re - signed with the Panthers ' practice squad on September 5 , 2005 and was released on September 3 , 2006 . Baltimore Ravens . He was signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad on September 7 , 2006 and released only five days later . Washington Redskins . Rest of 2006 Season - 2009 Season . Alexander was signed to the Washington Redskins ' practice squad on October 3 , 2006 . He made his NFL debut in Week 5 of the 2007 season against the Detroit Lions . Later in Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles , he had his first career start . Alexander ' s first three seasons on the team were spent primarily playing on special teams and as a reserve defensive tackle . He also saw time on the offense as an offensive guard and tight end . 2010 Season . On February 27 , 2010 , it was reported that Alexander would switch to outside linebacker . On October 3 , 2010 , he delivered a hit on Philadelphia Eagles kickoff returner Jorrick Calvin in the Redskins ' 17 - 12 win that prompted head coach Mike Shanahan to call it " one of the best hits I ' ve been around since I ' ve been in the NFL . " Later in the season , Shanahan called Alexander the best special teams player he ' d been around . Midway in the 2010 season , Alexander was made the permanent special teams captain . At the end of the season he was the team ' s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award . 2011 Season . Alexander continued to be captain of special teams throughout the 2011 season . Along with working on special teams , he was made the backup left outside linebacker for Ryan Kerrigan . Alexander led special teams with 21 tackles on punt and kickoff coverage . He was chosen as an alternate for the 2012 Pro Bowl along with teammates , London Fletcher and Brian Orakpo . On January 5 , 2012 , it was announced that Alexander was chosen as the Redskins ' nominee for the Walter Payton Award for the second straight year . He was also named the Redskins ' 2011 Special Teams Player of the Year . 2012 Season . On April 17 , 2012 , it was announced that Alexander would transition from an outside linebacker to an inside linebacker for the 2012 season to act as a backup for starting inside linebackers , London Fletcher and Perry Riley . On September 21 , he was fined $ 15 , 750 by the NFL for using a horse collar tackle on Danny Amendola in Week 2 against the St . Louis Rams . He had an impressive performance in the Week 6 win against the Minnesota Vikings . He not only recorded one and a half sacks on Christian Ponder , but also recovered the ball after Ponder fumbled that set up ideal positioning for the Redskins to score the next play . Alexander was named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster as the designated special team performer . With Alexander set to become an unrestricted free agent in the 2013 season , the Redskins had made him an offer to stay with the team , but it was not close to what Alexander was seeking . His leaving from the team was considered a casualty of the $ 36 million salary cap penalty that the team suffered in the 2012 offseason . Alexander , himself , even stated " But I know , in my heart of hearts , if it wasn ’ t for the cap , I would ’ ve been here . ” Arizona Cardinals . Alexander signed with the Arizona Cardinals on March 13 , 2013 to a three - year , $ 9 . 5 million contract with $ 3 million guaranteed . Personal . Alexander was raised by his mother and his maternal uncle . He is married and has three daughters . He is also diabetic and has stated that he has a family history of diabetes and thus a spokesmen for the National Kidney Foundation . When he joined the Redskins in 2006 , Alexander gained the nickname , " One Man Gang " , due to the versatility of football positions he can play ; offensive guard , tight end , linebacker , fullback , defensive tackle , defensive end , and special teams . Alexander co - owns and runs a Pilates studio in Ashburn , Virginia called The Studio M . B . S . ( Mind , Body , Soul ) with Redskins teammate , Kedric Golston . Lorenzo has a yearly charity bike ride called " Ride to Provide " along the W & OD trail .