Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS ence covering man to man, that's kind of an added bonus." Blanton recorded 60 tackles as a re- serve and special teams contributor last year. Smith notched 58 tackles and two interceptions in eight games before turf toe prematurely ended his season. While Notre Dame cruised to a 48- 17 season-opening win against Rice on Aug. 30, former Irish players were learning their respective fates across the league while teams trimmed their ros- ters to 53 players. Blue & Gold Illustrated takes you through the league to recap who made it, who didn't and what to look for in 2014. Counting players placed on injured reserve and physically unable to per- form (PUP) lists and those signed to practice squads, a total of 37 former Irish players are on NFL rosters. • Six have been signed to NFL prac- tice squads. Running back Jonas Gray (2008-11) was added to the New England Patri- ots' practice squad after an impressive preseason. The Oakland Raiders added running back George Atkinson (2011-13) to the practice squad after he registered 63 yards on eight carries and returned a kickoff 45 yards in the team's final pre- season game. Defensive lineman Kona Schwenke (2010-13) joined the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad after signing with the organization as an undrafted free agent in May. Schwenke would have been a welcome addition to Notre Dame's cur- rent fifth-year senior group, but the Irish were forced to burn what could have been redshirt seasons in 2010 and 2011 due to depth concerns following injuries and, in 2011, a one-game suspension for Stephon Tuitt. The New York Giants added a pair of Notre Dame rookies to their prac- tice squad: linebacker Dan Fox and cornerback Bennett Jackson. Fox went undrafted but signed with the team in May, while Jackson, a New Jersey na- tive, was a sixth-round pick. The New England Patriots cut center Braxston Cave (2008-12) in late August, but the Washington Redskins signed the Granger, Ind., native to their practice squad. • Safety David Bruton (2005-08) has been named the Denver Broncos' special teams captain for the second consecu- tive year. As part of a squad that won the AFC championship last season, Bru- ton recorded 23 tackles. • Three former Irish offensive line- men were cut in late August while teams trimmed their rosters to 53 play- ers, including Cave. Eric Olsen (2006-09) did not make the Tennessee Titans' final roster and Trevor Robinson (2008-11) was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals after appearing in six games last season. Ol- sen and Robinson remain unsigned. Running back Cierre Wood (2009-12) was released by the Baltimore Ravens in late August. Wood has spent time with the Houston Texans, New England Pa- triots and Ravens in the past year. • Quarterback Jimmy Clausen (2007- 09) officially made the Chicago Bears' 53-man roster and will back up starter Jay Cutler for a high-octane offense. Clausen beat out Jordan Palmer for the job and is the Bears' next option if an injury occurs to Cutler, who has not