By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

Purdue receiver Randall Lane is excited about going back to a warm weather climate and getting a chance to go beyond his dreams.

Lane signed a free-agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals last Thursday and will leave for a mini-camp in Phoenix this Thursday.

"It feels good," said Lane. "I don't know the terms of the deal; I should find out on Thursday. It ought to be, I think, a standard free-agent deal where I get $189,000 for the year and a $20,000 signing bonus."

Lane said the real bonus, however, is simply getting the chance to play in the NFL.

"I was living a dream playing college football," said Lane, who had 119 catches for 1,530 yards in his two years at Purdue.

"I always just wanted to play college football — to play against teams like Michigan and Notre Dame. The NFL is just a big bonus for me."

Lane said it felt weird when the Arizona coaches let him know they had him on their draft board and still wanted him. Lane said he wasn't expecting to get drafted.

"You never know with the NFL," said Lane. "They base so much of what they do on stats.

"I guess they were just in need," said Lane. "I feel fortunate to be blessed with this opportunity."

Lane said he has come to the realization that if he works hard enough he can make the Cardinals' roster.

"They only have three big receivers who get all the catches," said Lane. "Plus, they didn't draft any receivers."

Arizona's offense is similar to the one Lane played in while at Purdue; both schemes rely heavily on the success of the passing game. Instead of Drew Brees, however, Lane will be catching passes from Jake Plummer, who had numerous injuries last season but is in good shape now.

"It's going to be fun playing with Jake the Snake," said Lane.

While Lane has never met Plummer, he has hung out with Arizona defensive end Simeon Rice. Rice, the former Rookie of the Year, played at Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago and was two years ahead of Lane, who played at Simeon High School, also in Chicago.

Rice's cousin, Shawn, played on the same team as Lane and introduced the two. Lane said he will enjoy having an acquaintance on the team.

He also said the dry Arizona heat won't bother him. After spending most of his childhood in Chicago, Lane played at Los Angeles Valley Junior College for two years before returning to the Midwest to be a Boilermaker.

He thinks he has the right attitude about going West.

"I'm just going to go out there and keep positive and play hard," said Lane.