Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/87622
IRISH IN THE PROS crowd and just take deep breaths, smelling the smell of game day and all the little things you take for granted. I'm making sure I do that this year." an illegal hit in the preseason, Minnesota Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith nearly had the NFL's fingers in his wallet again af‑ ter he slightly shoved an official in the team's 30‑7 victory over Ten‑ nessee Oct. 7. An official pushed Smith away from a post‑play scrum and Smith reacted with a swipe at the referee's hand. Smith was ejected from the game, but wasn't suspended or fined. "I kind of anticipate the worst • After being fined $21,000 for NFL NOTES Through Oct. 11 in most things, because then you can't be disappointed," Smith told CBSSports.com. "I am just happy to get back on the field. That is the main focus, it's just going out there and playing with the Vikings and trying to help the Vikings win." When asked what the walk of shame was like, Smith responded: "It definitely makes you realize how much you love the game and how much you want to take ad‑ vantage of every opportunity you have to get on the field. It kind of puts it into perspective just how lucky I am to be a part of the Vi‑ kings or even play in the NFL. It makes you realize how great it really is." • Because of Smith's ejection, teammate and fellow rookie safety Robert Blanton, who lined up at cornerback for the Fighting Irish, was inserted in the second quarter. Blanton registered his first five tackles of the season as a result. "I just wanted to go in there, carries for 48 yards. • Indianapolis Colts safety Ser‑ Colts cut practice squad running back Alvester Alexander and signed fullback Robert Hughes. The 5‑11, 235‑pound Hughes was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame July 26, 2011, and was waived just more than a month later. He was then signed to the do my job and play by the rules," Blanton told the Pioneer Press after the game. "You're always happy when you win. The team did a great job and got a win so, of course, I'm happy." • On Oct. 9, the Indianapolis tackle Derek Landri had a pair of stops in the Eagles' 16‑14 loss to Pittsburgh. • Kansas City Chiefs backup quar‑ gio Brown came off the bench to make three tackles in a 30‑27 win over Green Bay in his best game of the season since registering two stops in a loss to Jacksonville Sept. 23. • Philadelphia starting nose terback Brady Quinn completed both pass attempts for 32 yards in a 9‑6 loss to Baltimore in his first action since the 2009 season, when he played for the Cleveland Browns. Starter Matt Cassell suffered a Armando Allen got time late in the game for the Chicago Bears in a 41‑3 victory over Jacksonville, rushing five times for 59 yards, including a 46‑yard touchdown — the first of his career. He now has seven carries for 58 yards this season. Allen spent the majority of last season on Chicago's prac‑ tice squad and finished with 15 Bears' practice squad last De‑ cember and hooked up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last April, again being cut before the sea‑ son. He was signed to the Wash‑ ington Redskins practice squad in early September, but was re‑ leased Sept. 11. • Second‑year running back end Justin Tuck was without a sack through the team's first five games, but he did turn in a season‑high six‑tackle effort in a 41‑27 win over Cleveland. ✦ Tate recorded three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks' 16‑12 victory against Carolina. Seattle is 3‑2 overall this season, with Tate having caught 10 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. • New York Giants defensive Rudolph hauled in four receptions for 23 yards, including a 15‑yard touchdown, in Minnesota's victory over the Titans. He has 19 catches for 169 yards and four touchdowns for the 4‑1 Vikings. • Seattle wide receiver Golden concussion against the Ravens and Quinn was expected to start the week six game against Tampa Bay. • Second‑year tight end Kyle