Where Are (ND Players) They Now?

I now introduce another series in this site called "Where Are (Notre Dame Players in the NFL) They Now?" Inspired by the show in VH1 "Where are they now?"

As we all know, NFL and College Football coincide with each other. I still do not get why that is so. Wouldn't it be a lot better if it does not so that we could watch football all year long. The NFL can be in Spring and NCAAF in Fall. The world would be a much better place.

Anyways, if you have read my earlier posts, you would have known that I have only been a fan of the Irish since the beginning of the Weis' era. I did not become a fan become of Weis; it just happened to be at the same time. NFL training camp is oozing all over the country now as we enter the FOOTBALL season. As a first post on the series "Where Are (Notre Dame Players in the NFL) They Now?", I will try to summarize the Charlie Weis' past ND players' career in the NFL thus far.

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Before I go to the ND players in the NFL I will start out with the guy that chose MLB over the NFL, a SMART move may I add. SAMARDZIJA

* Jeff Samardzija (Chicago Cubs)

I am a big Cubs fan and an ND fan so I follow the Shark. His first year in baseball was spent in the minors. He didn't do well there, but they moved him to AA then AAA last season. In the middle of last season he pitched a string of solid starts, and he got the call to the big league. You guys might have seen him in SportsCenter that day. It was like a big deal and all especially his fastball (99 or even 100 mph I think). Blown save was the result. His second was better because of the diving catch by that old guy. He got the save. This season he got a shot at the fifth spot in the starting rotation. He was no where close during the audition. Sent back to AAA. Called back to big leagues. Sent back to AAA. Call back. So you guys can imagine the season that the Shark is having thus far. He's in the big leagues as I write. You guys may have seen him gave up the game winning homerun against the Phillies. But he also got the win against the Astros just few days ago. He'll stay in the big leagues all the way this year because the roster size will be increased for the upcoming postseason and plus the Cubs do not have the best bullpen in the league exactly. But do not expect to see Lou to put him on when the lead is less than two. Lou only uses Shark when the lead is like 10 or when it can't be helped. If the Cubs make it to the playoff, expect Jeff there, but just don't expect to see him in a tight game. That is how much Lou trusts Jeff right now. A stark contrast last year where he was used a lot and was terrific. He strucked out like one player for every innings work last year, so he definitely has the talent. He just needs to be more consistent.

As for his future, he really is a starter and not a bullpen guy. Not a lot of people are happy as how he is being handled. Many thinks that he should not be in the Big leagues right now because he is wasting playing experience because he is stash in the bullpen rotting where he could get soeplaying time as a starter in AAA. But nonetheless, next season will be crucial for Shark. The Cubs are really loaded in starting pitcher, so he really needs to step up big time next year if he wants to become a starting pitcher rather than a set up man.

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* Anthony Fasano - Miami Dolphins

Fasano statred out with the Dallas Cowboys, but was traded to Miami Dolphins for two reasons:

1.) Jason Witten is still young and a top 3 TE in the league.
2.) The Big Tuna Bill Parcells left Dallas and moved to sunny Miami. Big Tuna drafted and saw enough talent in Fasano to trade for him and move him to sunny Miami.

Fasano's career has been decent thus far. He had a breakout year last year catching lots of TDs last year. Expect him to continue his performance from last year.

* Asaph Schwapp - Dallas Cowboys

Not really a big fan of during his time in ND. I'm glad to see him leave to be honest. Anyways, he went undrafted but landed in Dallas. The latest on him was that he was arrested. Read this article here.

* Brady Quinn - Cleveland Browns

Well, where to start with the Mighty Quinn. First, there was the draft night fiasco that landed him in Cleveland, the place where he wanted to go, but just 2 or 3 or even 4 hours too late. Then commercials happened from Subway to that purple drink that now stars Matt Hasselbeck. Then we all thought he gets the starting job for sure, but then Derek Anderson happened. Two years later which means today, he is fighting for the starting job.

It is a very crucial season for Mighty Quinn. I'm surprised many is labeling him as a bust already. He needs to win that starting job. If he does, he has to play lights out because Cleveland is pretty much a slight average in all the sides of the team if the Browns is to make the playoffs. If he does lead them to the playoffs, he will be once again the Mighty Quinn and expect DA to get cut. A lot of money is also in the table for Quinn. His contract is structured based on how he plays. Not getting in to the field means less money from the team and endorsements. The coach is Mangenius, a Weis disciple, should technically help Quinn out.

* Chinedum Ndukwe - Cincinnati Bengals

Drafted by Bengals. Almost became Mr. Irrelevant. He has by far the one in this list that has grabbed and seized the oppurtunity given to him in the NFL. A Starter most of last year and should be the starter this upcoming season.

* Dan Santucci - Cincinnati Bengals

I have not heard a lot about Dan which is a good thing because he is a lineman. The lack of news probably means that he is doing fine and probably a solic back up.

* Darius Walker - Denver Broncos

Now here me, just imagine if this guy didn't leave right away for the NFL. He would have suffered along with the 2007 class which means that he would have played as a senior last year. If he was there last year, there is no doubt that we could have won all those other games except USC.

Anyways, he too had a bad day during the draft; he did not even get drafted. In fact, I thought he was done with the NFL. I heard somewhere was that he was going back to ND for his degree.

Surprise but glad to see him in Denver where the coach is supposed to be like his mentor Charlie Weis.

* David Bruton - Denver Broncos

The lone Irish drafted last year. One of my favorite Irish. His story is just unbelivable. I read a story about him when he came to ND; the story about him and his son is also inspirational.

Expect to see a lot of Bruton on special teams this year. He will most likely be their gunner. Do not expect to see him in defense a lot because Broncos is loaded in safeties; Bruton will benefit this year because he will have a mentor in Brian Dawkins.

* Derek Landri - Jacksonville Jaguars

The last time I heard about Landri was in the playoffs where he made a couple of plays during the end of the game.

* John Carlson - Seattle Seahawks

BY FAR, and I mean BY FAR the most succesful player in this list. Last year as a rookie, he broke/tied all of the TE records in Seahawks history. He led all recievers in every category last year in Seattle. He should have been the #1 TE drafted last year and ahead of the TE in the Jets. He is already being touted as the next great TE. Expect Carlson to enter the national scene this year for 3 reasons.

1.) The WR Whosyourmama is in Seattle
2.) Matt Hasselbeck missed most of last year. He is back now.
3.) The coach and Offensive coordinator (Mora and Greg Knapp) are friendly to TE

How good was this guy, and how good does Seahawks' fans think this guy could be?

Carlson is being called "White Jesus".

The previous coach (Holmgren) also called Carlson the best TE (Not saying much) he has ever had and said that he wish he had him years ago.

It just goes to show that ND is "Tight End U"!

* John Sullivan - Minnesota Vikings

He is expected to become the starting Center in Minnesota. Simple as that. OH BOY, I bet he wishes that Bret Favre came out of retirement.

* Maurice Stovall - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

MoMo has been a solid special teams guy. He is their gunner. I also read somewhere that Gruden (Expect Gruden to become the next ND coach if Weis is fired this year) called MoMo "Gunner Stovall". MoMo in WR has simply been nonexistant.

* Mike Richardson - New England Patriots

This guy definetely came under the radar. He has had a very solid career in NE. Mostly in practice squad but expect him to be in rotation this year.

* Michael Turkovich - Dallas Cowboys

In Dallas now. Glad that he didn't get hurt when Dallas practice facility collapsed. He should be able to make the practice squad.

* Pat Kuntz - Indianapolis Colts

OHHHH the MoHawk and the hair style. This guy was awesome last year. A fan favorite. I read somewhere when he was asked how his last name is pronounced. HILARIOUS. This guy was definetely one of those guys that just exceeded their God given talent with heart. He should at least make the practice squad.

* Ryan Harris - Denver Broncos

Very solid career also thus far. He's been a starter for sometime now at RT I think, and should do the same thing again this year. Not a lot of news from him which is a good sign.

* Terrail Lambert - San Francisco 49ers

The last time I heard from him was that he was running like 4.3 or something. Still remember his performance against Michigan state. CLASSIC. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, THE LOOK ON JOHN L. SMITH.

I WISH JOHN L. SMITH WAS STILL THE COACH IN MICHIGAN STATE.

* Tom Zbikowski - Baltimore Ravens

He had a great combine. I remember reading about him walking out after the lifts because someone was calling him RUDY. You guys should also check this video out. The guys in the NFL network really admired Zbos' calves.

Anyways, he should have a very good shot playing along side Ed Reed because Jim Leohnard went to New York to play with Ryan again. The kid Nakamura should be his biggest threat for starting a job.

* Trevor Laws - Philadelphia Eagles

Laws had a very good combine prompting him to be drafted in early second round. He had a very disappointing rookie season. I think he was injured a lot last season. Laws was also a fan favorite known mostly for his FG blocks but also because of his hair.

* Victor Abiamiri - Philadelphia Eagles

This guy has really had a very disappointing NFL career. I sill remember McShay's analysis on Abiamiri. I think he called him "looks like Tarzan plays like Jane" if I still remember correct. That made me laugh like hell.

Check back next week for the second installment of "Where Are (Notre Dame Players in the NFL) They Now?" where we should get a better feel as to where these guys stand because training camp is very much on the way.