Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS Armando Allen Gets His Shot With Chicago tribute, if the opportunity arises, you have to be ready for it. I'm excited about it." Allen entered the NFL this year with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. In the preseason, he rushed for 28 yards on eight carries and caught one pass for 20 yards. "It's like that every time you step out on the field," he said. "You're playing against another team, but you're also auditioning for other things as well. You always want to market yourself and make yourself look good." Allen is an undersized but quick In his regular-season debut, Allen notched 11 carries for 40 yards in the Bears' 35-21 loss at Green Bay on Christmas Day. PHOTO BY BILL SMITH/COURTESY CHICAGO BEARS BY WES MORGAN P erseverance and injuries to team- mates helped former Notre Dame running back Armando Allen get in his first NFL regular-season game on Christmas Day — a 35-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers. With starter Matt Forte out for the rest of the year with a sprained me- dial collateral ligament in his right knee, Allen and Kahlil Bell split the workload against the Packers. Bell carried the ball 23 times for 121 yards, and Allen added 40 yards on 11 attempts. Allen was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the season opener and was picked up by the Bears and assigned to the practice squad. He was released on Oct. 11 and re-signed on Nov. 2. The 5-10, 205-pound Allen may also get involved in the passing game to round out his league-wide audition in the season finale on Jan. 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. At Notre Dame he caught 119 career passes for 833 yards. "It's definitely a blessing, when you look at it from that perspective," Allen told ChicagoBears.com on Dec. 23. "With anybody in this situ- ation, you have to be excited about it. Anytime you get a chance to con- 50 FEBRUARY 2012 back who was slowed by injuries throughout his Fighting Irish career. A four-year contributor, he started seven of the first eight games last year, rushing for 514 yards and two touchdowns on 107 carries and catch- ing 17 passes for 138 yards before un- dergoing season-ending hip surgery. NFL PLAYER UPDATES Through Dec. 26 • 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 after spending the preseason with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Was released Oct. 11 and re-signed to the practice team Nov. 2 … Elevated to the ac- tive roster for the first time before a Christmas Day game at Green Bay, when he rushed for 40 yards on 11 carries. • Arnaz Battle (1998-2001), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Has yet to record a reception this year … Is the captain of Pittsburgh's special teams and has four tackles in nine games … Strained his ham- string in a loss to Baltimore on Nov. 6 and has been inactive since. • Sergio Brown (2006-09), S, New England Pa- triots: Has 35 total tackles and one interception in 14 games. • David Bruton (2005-08), S, Denver Broncos: Has 16 tackles coming off the bench in 14 games. • John Carlson (2003-07), TE, Seattle Seahawks: Missed the entire campaign after having surgery to repair a torn labrum suffered during the pre- season. • Jimmy Clausen (2007-09), QB, Carolina Pan- thers: Started 10 games last season, but has yet to get a snap this year. • Jeff Faine (1999-2002), C, Tampa Bay Buc- caneers: Has started at center all 14 games he has played in, missing one contest with a strained biceps. • Anthony Fasano (2002-05), TE, Miami Dol- phins: Has 28 catches for 440 yards (15.7 yards per reception) and five touchdowns in 14 starts. • Ryan Grant (2001-04), RB, Green Bay Packers: Has registered 122 carries for 511 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and two scores in 14 games (13 starts). • Robert Hughes (2007-10), RB, Chicago Bears: Was cut by the Bears before the start of the regular season, but was re-signed to the practice squad Dec. 19. • J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers: Has served as the long snapper in each of the Pan- thers' first 15 games. • Terrail Lambert (2004-08), DB, Oakland Raid- ers: Spent the first nine weeks of the season on the New Orleans Saints' practice squad before be- ing cut Nov. 8 … Was signed to Oakland's practice squad Nov. 16. • Derek Landri (2002-06), DT, Philadelphia Ea- gles: Has 19 tackles and two sacks in 11 games since getting signed Oct. 4. • Trevor Laws (2003-07), DT, Philadelphia Ea- gles: Has recorded 19 total tackles with a sack and one quarterback hurry in 13 games. • Mark LeVoir (2001-05), OT, St. Louis Rams: Hampered by a pectoral and groin injury, he has appeared in six games with two starts since join- ing the Rams 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 of the campaign on the Broncos' practice squad before being promoted to the active roster Nov. 28 … Has recorded two tackles in three games. • Eric Olsen (2006-09), OL, Washington Red- skins: Has spent the entire season on the Redskins' practice squad. • Brady Quinn (2003-06), QB, Denver Broncos: Has not seen any game action for the Broncos. • Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Minnesota Vi- kings: Has 23 catches for 234 yards (10.2 yards per reception) and three touchdowns in 14 games, including seven starts. • Brian Smith (2007-10), LB, Cleveland Browns: Was the last cut made by the Browns at the end of camp but was re-signed to the practice squad Nov. 29 … Was promoted to the active roster for the Dec. 24 game at Baltimore, but did not record any stats. • Maurice Stovall (2002-05), WR, Detroit Lions: Has one reception for eight yards while seeing ac- tion in 14 contests, primarily on special teams … Has made seven special teams tackles. • John Sullivan (2003-07), C, Minnesota Vikings: Started at center in 14 of the Vikings' first 15 con- tests, missing one with a concussion … Signed a five-year contract extension Dec. 17 that is report- edly worth $25 million. • Golden Tate (2007-09), WR, Seattle Seahawks: Has 30 catches for 336 yards (11.2-yard average) and three touchdowns in 15 contests, including four starts. 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