Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS Healthy John Sullivan Has Been Solid For Struggling Vikings NFL PLAYER UPDATES Through Nov. 21 • Victor Abiamiri (Played at Notre Dame from 2003-06), DT, Philadelphia Eagles: Out for the year after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during training camp. • Armando Allen (2007-10), RB, Chicago Bears: Began the season on the Bears' practice squad … Was released on Oct. 11 and re-signed to the practice team on Nov. 2. • Arnaz Battle (1998-2002), WR, Pittsburgh Steel- ers: Has yet to record a reception this year … Is the captain of Pittsburgh's special teams and has four assisted tackles through 10 games. • Sergio Brown (2006-09), S, New England Patri- Sullivan helped the Minnesota Vikings to a No. 5 ranking in rushing offense (143.1 yards per game) through 11 weeks. PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS BY WES MORGAN T he Minnesota Vikings began 2-8 this season and are on their second starting quarterback after benching 13-year veteran Donovan McNabb for rookie Christian Ponder in October. The running game, however, has been a constant strength for the floundering organization this year. The Vikings were ranked fifth in the league with 143.1 rushing yards per game through 11 weeks, led primar- ily by All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson. Only Philadelphia (168.0), Houston (158.1), Oakland (156.8) and Denver (154.9) boasted a better output on the ground. And one major reason Minnesota has been able to pile up the rushing yards is because of center John Sullivan. The former Notre Dame stalwart may be having his best season as a professional. Sullivan has suffered a long list of injuries since leaving the Fighting Irish. Last year alone he dealt with a bad ankle, an appendectomy and two strained calves, but soldiered on until getting time in the offseason to heal. "When you're not winning games, nothing else matters," Sullivan told ProFootballWeekly.com on Nov. 18. "But from a personal standpoint, I feel like this is the healthiest I have been. I think getting older has helped my strength levels. "I was really able to get healthy dur- ing the lockout, too. It was nice to get a break. … I just feel like I am playing my best football. But I need to do more to help us win." www.BLUEANDGOLD.com ots: Recorded one tackle in a 34-3 victory over Kansas City … Has 24 total tackles and one interception in nine games played. • David Bruton (2005-08), S, Denver Broncos: Reg- istered one stop in a 17-13 win over the New York Jets … Has nine tackles while coming off the bench in the Broncos' first 10 games. • John Carlson (2003-07), TE, Seattle Seahawks: Will miss the entire campaign after having surgery to repair a torn labrum suffered during the preseason. • Jimmy Clausen (2007-09), QB, Carolina Panthers: Started 10 games last season, but has yet to get a snap this year. • Jeff Faine (1999-2002), C, Tampa Bay Bucca- neers: Started at center in a 35-26 loss to Green Bay … Has started all nine games he has played in, missing one contest with a strained biceps injury. • Anthony Fasano (2002-05), TE, Miami Dolphins: Hauled in two catches for eight yards and a touch- down in 35-8 win over Buffalo and two more for 32 yards in 20-19 loss to Dallas on Thanksgiving Day… Has 19 catches for 290 yards (15.3 yards per recep- tion) and four scores in 11 games. • Ryan Grant (2001-04), RB, Green Bay Packers: Rushed six times for 20 yards in 27-15 win over De- troit on Thanksgiving … Has started all the games in which he has played, and has 79 rushes for 287 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and no touchdowns … Also has 11 receptions for 89 yards (8.1 yards per grab). • J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers: Has served as the Panthers' long snapper in each of the team's first 10 games. • Terrail Lambert (2004-08), DB, Oakland Raid- ers: Spent the first nine weeks on the New Orleans Saints' practice squad before getting cut Nov. 8 … Was picked up by Oakland on Nov. 15 and placed on the practice squad. • Derek Landri (2002-06), DT, Philadelphia Eagles: Recorded two tackles in a 17-10 victory over the New York Giants … Picked up an Eli Manning fumble to ice the game … Has 11 tackles and a sack in six games since being signed Oct. 4. • Trevor Laws (2003-07), DT, Philadelphia Eagles: Recorded three stops in a 17-10 win over the New York Giants … Has 17 total tackles with a sack and one quarterback hurry. • Mark LeVoir (2001-05), OT, St. Louis Rams: Saw action as a reserve in a 24-7 loss to Seattle, but left the game with what was diagnosed as a grade 1 pec- toral muscle injury, … Has played in four games for Rams since signing Oct. 27 … Played in three games and made one start for the Baltimore Ravens before being cut Oct. 18. • Kyle McCarthy (2005-09), S, Denver Broncos: Spent the first 11 weeks on the practice squad. • Eric Olsen (2006-09), OL, Washington Redskins: Spent the first 11 weeks on practice squad. • Brady Quinn (2003-06), QB, Denver Broncos: Has not seen any game action for the Broncos. • Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Minnesota Vikings: Tallied his first NFL touchdown in a 27-21 loss to Oakland … Has 17 catches for 177 yards (10.4 yards per reception) and one score while seeing action in all nine games, including five starts. • Maurice Stovall (2002-05), WR, Detroit Lions: Has one reception for eight yards and five tackles as a special teams contributor. • John Sullivan (2003-07), C, Minnesota Vikings: Started at center in nine of the Vikings' first 10 con- tests, missing one with a concussion. • Golden Tate (2007-09), WR, Seattle Seahawks: Made one catch for 16 yards in a 24-7 win at St. Louis … Has 15 receptions for 158 yards (10.5 yards per reception) and a touchdown in 10 games. • Justin Tuck (2001-04), DE, New York Giants: Tied a season high with five tackles in 17-10 loss to Phila- delphia, but suffered a twisted ankle … Has been lim- ited to six games while dealing with injuries … Has re- corded 15 tackles, two sacks and one pass defended. • Darrin Walls (2006-10), CB, Atlanta Falcons: Has been inactive all season. • Ian Williams (2007-10), DT, San Francisco 49ers: Has been inactive this season except for a brief ap- pearance against Tampa Bay Oct. 9. • Sam Young (2006-09), OT, Buffalo Bills: Has seen action in three games since joining the Bills Sept. 6 … Last appearance was in Oct. 30 win over Washington. • Tom Zbikowski (2003-07), S, Baltimore Ravens: Suffered a leg injury in a 31-24 win over Cincinnati, but expected to play in week 12 … Has 18 tackles in eight games. NHL PLAYER UPDATES Through Nov. 22 • Mark Eaton (Played at Notre Dame from 1997-98), D, New York Islanders: Suffered a MCL sprain in his left knee Nov. 21 at Pittsburgh and was placed on injured reserve Nov. 23 … Had one assist in 16 games … Posted a plus/minus of minus-one. • Ian Cole (2007-10), D, St. Louis Blues: Was re- called from Peoria of the American Hockey League on Nov. 6 … Has logged more than 67 minutes of ice time with no points and a plus/minus of plus-two in four games since his promotion. • Erik Condra (2005-09), F, Ottawa Senators: Has one goal and three assists through 20 games … Scored his first goal of the year Nov. 5 against the New York Rangers … Boasts a plus/minus of plus- three. ✦ DECEMBER 2011 43