Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 2, 2017 51 IRISH IN THE PROS BY COREY BODDEN O ver the past two seasons, Pitts‑ burgh Steelers defensive end Ste‑ phon Tuitt has been one of the ris‑ ing stars on defense in the National Football League. The former Irish standout has recorded 10.5 sacks and 91 total tackles over the previ‑ ous two campaigns (2015‑16) in 28 games played. Tuitt entered the league in 2014 af‑ ter being drafted 46th overall and 2017 marked the final season of his rookie contract, making him an im‑ peding free agent following the sea‑ son. His base salary is $1 million this season, according to spotrac.com. Pittsburgh didn't want the young star to hit the open market and made sure it didn't happen Sept. 9, coming to an agreement on a contract exten‑ sion worth just more than $61 million over the next six seasons, including 2017. Per spotrac.com, $13 million is guaranteed. Tuitt's deal ranks No. 5 for defensive ends in total value ac‑ cording to spotrac.com. Though the deal extends Tuitt five more seasons past 2017, through the 2022 campaign, it comes out to essen‑ tially a six‑year deal worth $61 mil‑ lion with his new signing bonus and roster bonus beginning this season to go with $1 million in base salary. "This is one of the best organiza‑ tions to be a part of, especially for a guy like me," Tuitt told Steelers.com. "I came in as a young guy, super raw. I have some great coaches who have helped me and I have seen my game pick up, my confidence level rise, my leadership ability rise. "Being a part of an organization like this, I can see why a lot of great players come from here, a lot of Hall of Fame players come from here." Tuitt is currently battling a biceps injury that he suffered early in the team's season‑opening 21‑18 win over the Cleveland Browns. His sta‑ tus is week to week. Upon signing the extension, be‑ fore the season, Tuitt indicated he believes he can get near his career sack total (11.5) in just one season. "I am a double‑digit sack guy. I am," he said. "I would have had it last year if I didn't miss my sacks. That is my goal this year. I just have to work on the little things to get my sacks. "Things like working out, watch‑ ing film. Understanding what you are good at, what you aren't good at, how you can become good at that. Knowing that you are a dominant force and believing that you are a dominant force. Come out here on the field and do the things you need to do on the field. "I do have a knack for getting to the quarterback. For me, my thing is to stop him and get him to the ground. I had a lot of missed tack‑ les. A lot of those missed tackles are sacks. "My process has to be finishing, slowing down and getting him down to the ground." ✦ Stephon Tuitt Inks Lucrative Contract Extension Tuitt, who entered the 2017 campaign with 11.5 career sacks, is now one of the highest-paid defensive ends in the NFL after signing a six-year deal worth $61 million. PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH STEELERS/KARL ROSE NOTRE DAME IN THE NFL: WEEK TWO HIGHLIGHTS • Jaylon Smith (Played at Notre Dame from 2013‑15), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Led the team in tackles with 10 (three solo) in a 42-17 loss at Denver. • Matthias Farley (2011‑15), DB, Indianapo‑ lis Colts: Led the Colts in tackles with eight in a 16-13 loss to Arizona. • Tyler Eifert (2009‑12), TE, Cincinnati Ben‑ gals: Caught three passes for 42 yards in a 13-9 loss to Houston. • Kyle Rudolph (2008‑10), TE, Minnesota Vi‑ kings: Led the team in receiving yards with 45 on four receptions in a 26-9 loss at Pittsburgh. MLB PLAYER UPDATE Through Sept. 20 • Trey Mancini (Played at Notre Dame from 2011‑13), 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles: Played in 138 of the Orioles' first 153 contests … Was hitting .293 with 61 runs scored, 24 home runs and 77 RBI. • David Phelps (2006‑08), RHP, Seattle Mar‑ iners: Underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his elbow in mid-September … Had a bone spur removed after not pitching since Aug. 30, but is expected to be ready for spring training in February … Made 10 relief appear- ances for the Mariners after being acquired in a trade with Miami, and was 2-1 with three holds and a 3.12 ERA … For the season, he made 54 relief appearances while registering a 4-5 record with 21 holds, 62 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA in 55 2 ⁄3 innings. • A.J. Pollock (2007‑10), OF, Arizona Dia‑ mondbacks: Saw action in 104 of Arizona's first 153 games … Was batting .268 with 67 runs scored, 13 homers, 47 RBI and 19 stolen bases … The Diamondbacks held a 5.5-game lead for the National League's top wild card with nine games remaining and had a magic number of four to clinch a playoff berth. • Jeff Samardzija (2003‑06), RHP, San Fran‑ cisco Giants: Posted a 9-14 record with a 4.42 ERA in his first 30 starts of the season … Whiffed 197 batters in 197 1 ⁄3 innings of work while registering 19 quality starts (at least six innings and three earned runs or less allowed).