Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1488219
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JANUARY 2023 51 IRISH IN THE PROS BY TODD D. BURLAGE L ess than a month into his first NFL training camp with the Carolina Panthers in 2009, J.J. Jansen was al- ready ready to scrap his NFL long-snapping aspirations. Jansen had been working at his craft since his soph- omore year in high school in Phoenix, and then flaw- lessly for three seasons at Notre Dame (2005-07). But performing his job at the elite NFL level, Jansen explained how everything felt different. "Everything felt really heavy," Jansen said in a story by ESPN.com. But on the urging of his wife, Laura, he stuck with it. And now, 14 NFL seasons (he spent 2008 on injured reserve with the Green Bay Packers) and 222 games later, Lau- ra's advice proved wise. Jansen broke the franchise record for career games played Dec. 11, when the Panthers took on the Seattle Seahawks. "I don't remember her exact words," Jansen recalled of that influential con- versation with his wife years ago, "but it was basically like, 'You don't quit, just keep powering through.'" To put Jansen's franchise record in perspective, his 222 games with the Panthers ranks second only to Green Bay Packers placekicker Mason Crosby (253) for longest active tenure with one team. Jansen broke the record of former Panthers placekicker John Kasay, who played 16 seasons with the franchise and became a close friend and a long- time mentor to Jansen. "If not for John Kasay, I don't break John Kasay's record," Jansen said. "He taught me so much about how to be a professional. He taught me so much about being a man, being a husband, being a father, and all this stuff away from the field." Jansen went undrafted when he left Notre Dame in 2008, which isn't un- usual for a long snapper. But it certainly didn't serve as a confidence boost for the rookie free agent when he arrived at his first NFL training camp a year later. Jansen was a fragile and overwhelmed 23-year-old when he first arrived at the Panthers' camp — unconfident and un- certain if the NFL was his best career move. Fa s t - fo rwa rd to 2 02 2 , a n d t h e 36-year-old has gained enough re- spect and perspective that his younger teammates — some of whom call him "grandpa" — appreciate him and often seek him out. "Whatever it is, J.J. has an answer for it. He's one of the smartest guys on this team," 28-year-old Carolina linebacker Shaq Thompson told ESPN.com. "If you're not hanging with J.J., then you've got to change your group." A Super Bowl participant in 2015 and a 2013 Pro Bowl selection, Jansen has seen and done about everything there is to see and do at this level. Nothing rattles Jansen anymore. In fact, he hasn't suffered a bad snap since the 2010 season opener, that's about 2,000 tries ago. "He's a leader with a cul- ture in which we're trying to create," Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks said. "His experience has a lot of value and people respect him in that locker room." ✦ Now in his 14th NFL season and 13th with the Carolina Panthers, Jansen set the fran- chise record for most games played — 222 and counting as of Dec. 11. PHOTO BY MELISSA MELVIN-RODRIGUEZ/CAROLINA PANTHERS Longevity Puts J.J. Jansen In Panthers' Record Books M A R K E T P L A C E Call 877-630-8768 to advertise! BLAKE WESLEY SIDELINED Less than two full games into his NBA rookie season, former Irish turned San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley was sidelined for six to eight weeks with a knee injury he suffered against Minnesota Oct. 30. Wesley was off to a strong start in the game and to his season until the injury sidelined him. Against the Timberwolves, Wesley had scored 6 points with 2 rebounds in eight min- utes before banging knees with an opposing player in the second quarter, causing Wesley to leave the ga me. In his NBA debut against Chicago Oct. 28, the Spurs' first-round draft pick scored 10 points with 1 rebound and 2 assists in 15 minutes. — Todd D. Burlage Vintage Notre Dame Memorabilia Augie's Locker Room ND Stadium Items, Jerseys, Helmets, Autographs and One-of-a-Kind Rockne Items. COME INTO THE STORE TO SEE OUR RARE NOTRE DAME HELMET DISPLAY, 1900 - PRESENT!! Voted Best Notre Dame Collectibles in the Country! 1811 South Bend Ave. South Bend , I n 46637 574-277-NDND (6363) www.augieslockerroom.com FACEBOOK.COM/AUGIESLOCKERROOM NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES on VHS or DVD for sale, from 1928 to present. Contact Peter Rahas at 7700 Golden Filly St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 or call 1-702-395-2974