Blue and Gold Illustrated

IRISH IN THE PROS of the team's three playoff games, including the Su‑ per Bowl win over the Seattle Seahawks. • Offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr. (2008‑12) was cut by the New Orleans Saints at the end of the pre‑ season after being signed by the organization during the offseason. He has bounced around the league since graduating following the 2012 season and has yet to appear in an NFL game. • Short‑yardage running back Robert Hughes (2007‑10) did not make the Arizona Cardinals roster after spending the past two seasons with the team. He is a free agent. • After missing all of last season with a shoulder injury, former Irish wide receiver TJ Jones (2010‑13) earned the Detroit Lions' No. 1 kickoff return and punt return spots. • Defensive lineman Kapron Lewis‑Moore (2008‑12) made the Baltimore Ravens' 53‑man roster and is fi‑ nally healthy at the start of a season. He missed each of the past two years with injuries. • Nose guard Louis Nix (2010‑13) was surprisingly cut by the Houston Texans after the preseason. The team selected him in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, but he was in head coach Bill O'Brien's doghouse throughout last season and evidently never left it. After the Texans dropped him, the New York Giants signed him and quickly cut him after Nix failed a physi‑ cal. They signed him again days later and he is on the 53‑man roster. • Offensive lineman Eric Olsen (2006‑09) is a free agent after being released by the Cleveland Browns. • Ben Koyack (Jacksonville Jaguars), Kyle Brindza (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Cody Riggs (Tennessee Titans) were the only rookies out of Notre Dame to make 53‑man rosters. • Running back Cierre Wood (2009‑12) was added to the Buffalo Bills' practice squad after spending most of the preseason with the team. He has bounced around with several teams after leaving Notre Dame following the 2012 season. • In all, 37 former Notre Dame players are currently on team's active or practice squad rosters. MLB PLAYER UPDATE Through Sept. 10 • John Axford (Played at Notre Dame from 2002‑05), RHP, Colorado Rockies: Temporarily lost the closer role in late July before regaining it in mid‑ August … Has pitched in 50 games out of the bull‑ pen with a 4‑5 record, 20 saves and 4.08 ERA … Has tossed 46 1 ⁄3 innings, allowed 46 hits and 24 walks, and fanned 48. • David Phelps (2006‑08), RHP, Miami Marlins: Notched a 4‑8 record and 4.50 ERA in 23 games (19 starts) before being shut down with a season‑ending stress fracture in the radius bone of his pitching arm … Compiled 112 innings, struck out 77, and surrendered 119 hits and 33 walks. • A.J. Pollock (2007‑10), OF, Arizona Diamond‑ backs: Was hitting .314 with 16 home runs and 63 RBI in 135 games played. • Jeff Samardzija (2003‑06), RHP, Chicago White Sox: Possesses a 9‑12 record and 4.89 ERA in 29 starts … In 195 innings of work, he has whiffed 151 batters while allowing 151 hits and 46 walks. ✦ George Atkinson (2011‑13) RB Oakland Raiders Robert Blanton (2008‑11) DB Minnesota Vikings Kyle Brindza (2011‑14) K/P Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sergio Brown (2006‑09) S Jacksonville Jaguars IRISH IN THE NFL Through Sept. 10 Name (Years At Notre Dame) Pos. Current Team

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