Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 2, 2023 51 IRISH IN THE PROS tem to start his second season has also caught the attention of his teammates. "His confidence is through the roof," said fellow Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones, a six-year NFL veteran. "The way he's beginning to put flavor on his routes and he's really soaking things in. … I'm a big Kevin Austin fan, and I'm rooting for him. That's my guy." RICHLY REWARDED "Back to Work" That was the simple three-word tweet posted by former Irish and current Dal- las Cowboys standout offensive guard Zack Martin on Aug. 14, announcing the end of his three-week contract holdout. The new deal will guarantee the pe- rennial NFL All-Pro $36 million over the next two seasons, according to ESPN, up from the $27.5 million Martin was origi- nally set to earn in 2023 and 2024. Martin, a first-round pick of the Cowboys in 2014 (No. 16 overall), said a meeting with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones helped accelerate the agreement. "He was great," Martin told ESPN of his meeting with the boss. "We were able to talk face to face. Ultimately that's what made me more comfort- able and how he felt more comfortable. And then, we started talking about this, and numbers, and where we eventually landed." The reworked deal moved Mar- tin from the eighth highest-paid NFL guard to the third behind Atlanta's Chris Lindstrom and Indianapolis' Quenton Nelson, another former Notre Dame All-American and a first-round pick (No. 6 overall in 2018). Martin was fined $50,000 a day dur- ing his absence from training camp in Oxnard, Calif., a hefty amount, indeed, but one the Indianapolis native won't struggle too badly to absorb and even- tually more than make up for. Martin believed he was underpaid, and he makes a compelling case. Last December, the 32-year-old Martin was named to his eighth Pro Bowl during his nine-year NFL career. His only miss came in 2020 when the game was can- celed because of COVID. Need more evidence into Martin's dominance? The four-year Notre Dame starter has more NFL Pro Bowl invites in his career (eight) than he does holding penalties (seven). "I just think I've been here a long time. I've accomplished some great things," said Martin, who many con- sider a sure-fire NFL Hall of Fame can- didate. "But I just felt like where I was in the market that it's something that had been deserved and I felt strongly about. "I never wanted to play anywhere else. That's what it came down to. I don't want to play for another organi- zation. I don't what to move my fam- ily and was just hoping that something would get done, and luckily we were able to get together and figure it out." ✦ FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Blake Grupe (Played at Notre Dame in 2022), PK, New Orleans Saints (NFL) The former Irish placekicker from last season made an immediate impact — complete with a funny side story — with the New Orleans Saints Aug. 13, when he kicked a game-winning 31-yard field goal as time expired in a 26-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Adding some levity to his memorable day, Grupe — all 5-foot-7 and 156 pounds of him — was stopped by security on the field before the game for not wearing a credential (players don't wear credentials), before the Sedalia, Mo., native was stopped again after his game-winner when he was mistaken for a fan who was try- ing to use the player exit. Taichi Kho (2018-21), Professional Golfer (Asian Tour) The Hong Kong, China, native became the first Notre Dame alumnus to ever compete in a major tournament when he played in the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Course in July at Merseyside, England. Kho was able to secure his spot in the tournament after winning the World City Championship hosted by the Hong Kong Golf Club in March. In doing so, the 2022 Notre Dame graduate became the first-ever player from Hong Kong to win on the Asian Tour. Kho finished his Open Championship 18-over-par after two rounds and missed the cut for the final two rounds. Jewell Loyd (2012-15), G, Seattle Storm (WNBA) In seven games from Aug. 2-20, the Seattle Storm standout guard reached double digits seven times — with three outings of at least 30 points — to lift her season scoring average to 24.1 points per game, the best in the league by almost two full points. In July, Loyd earned WNBA All-Star game MVP honors when the Lincolnwood, Ill., native recorded All-Star game records with 31 points and 10 three-pointers. Loyd, a two-time All-American at Notre Dame who became the first-overall pick for Seattle in the 2015 WNBA Draft, was the 2015 ACC Player of the Year with the Irish. MEMORABILIA ACCOMMODATIONS Call 574-286-8688 to advertise in Blue & Gold Illustrated! The "Rockne" B&B Newly renovated rental home available for all events in the Notre Dame/South Bend area. Often called "The Rockne House," it is located on Rockne Drive, just 1.1 miles from ND stadium. The home features a Notre Dame museum-like atmosphere, from vintage Rockne to present day items. Three bedrooms, sleeps 10-12 with two full baths. CONTACT AUGIE'S LOCKER ROOM 574-277-NDND (6363) kyleaugustine1@icloud.com NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES on VHS or DVD for sale, from 1928 to present. 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