Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS A native of St. Catherines, Ontario, Sheahan totaled 36 points in 72 regular-season games a season ago. He recorded 64 points and 74 penalty minutes in three seasons with Notre Dame. NFL NOTES Through Dec. 22 • Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick scored his first career touchdown in a 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants Dec. 22. He has been used at running back and slot receiver for the Lions, who were eliminated from playoff contention with the defeat. Through 15 games, he had carried the ball nine times for 25 yards and caught four passes for 26 yards. • Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd made an incredible 31-yard touchdown catch to put his team ahead of the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter of a 17-10 win Dec. 22. The loss marked the Seahawks' first at home since late 2011. Floyd entered the final week of the regular season with 59 receptions for 950 yards and five touchdowns in his second NFL campaign. • Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate caught two passes for 34 yards in the 17-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals Dec. 22. He had 56 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns through 15 games. • Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert left a playoff-clinching 42-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings Dec. 22 due to a "neck stinger." He had caught one pass for six yards before leaving the contest. Through 15 contests, he had 39 catches for 445 yards and two scores. • Minnesota Vikings tight end John Carlson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune he is contemplating retirement after suffering a season-ending concussion Dec. 1. It marked his third since 2011. In March 2012, Carlson signed a five-year, $25 million contract. He compiled 32 grabs for 344 yards and one touchdown before getting hurt. • Atlanta Falcons safety Zeke Motta posted con- secutive six-tackle games — the highest total of his career — in Dec. 8 and Dec. 15. He had made 16 tackles heading into the final two contests of the season. • San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te'o recorded four tackles in a 26-13 win over the Oakland Raiders Dec. 22. He had 51 tackles and four pass deflections in 12 games played heading into the final week of the regular season. • New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck recorded two tackles, a pass deflection and one interception in a 23-20 overtime win over the Detroit Lions Dec. 22. It marked the standout pass rusher's second career interception. Through 15 games, he had 57 tackles and nine sacks. • Kansas City Chiefs tight end Anthony Fasano caught one pass for 19 yards in a 23-7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts Dec. 22. He had 23 catches for 200 yards and two scores through 15 contests. • Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith returned to play in mid-December after missing eight weeks with turf toe. In the two games since his return, he recorded 15 tackles after suffering the injury that originally threatened to sideline him for the remainder of the 2013 season. Heading into the final week of the regular season, he had 49 tackles and two interceptions. • Quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who spent the season on injured reserve for the Carolina Panthers, returned to Notre Dame during the fall semester to finish his degree and graduate. Clausen left the program after the 2009 season, his third with the Irish. MLB NOTES Through Dec. 22 • Reliever John Axford (2001-04) signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Cleveland Indians to be the organization's closer. He saved 46 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011, but lost the closer's role there last season before eventually being traded to the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. In 75 combined appearances in 2013, he compiled a 4.02 ERA while going 7-7 with 65 strikeouts and 26 walks. ✦