Tag: notre dame in nfl

Former Notre Dame star Zack Martin has a new deal with the Dallas Cowboys

Zack is getting paid!

The Dallas Cowboys understood how important former Notre Dame football star [autotag]Zack Martin[/autotag] is to their offense and after thinking about not heading to camp, the Cowboys have reworked the guard’s deal.

Martin will earn over $8 million dollars in his new deal, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the All-Pro was set to earn $13.5 million this year and $14 million next season. Under the new deal, Martin is going to be paid north of $18 million per campaign over the next two years.

The new deal puts the former Irish star into the top earners in the league at his position, behind only three other players according to spotrac.com’s NFL salary rankings.

One of those players also suited up off for Notre Dame in Indianapolis Colt’s guard [autotag]Quenton Nelson[/autotag] giving the Irish two of the top four paid guard’s in the NFL.

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Former Notre Dame star considering not reporting to NFL camp due to contract

It makes plenty of sense why he would do this

We all believed that former [autotag]Notre Dame[/autotag] guard [autotag]Zack Martin[/autotag] would have plenty of success in the NFL after his Irish career was over.

That’s exactly what has happened, Martin being named to the Pro Bowl 8-times, being named to the NFL’s 2010’s All-Decade team and being a first-team All-Pro six times as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

With that resume, you’d expect that Martin was one of the highest paid at his position, but that isn’t the case. According to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Martin is “considering not reporting to training camp due to his unhappiness with his contract and the team’s lack of interest in restructuring it.”

It seems as if the Cowboys have put other players ahead of Martin on their list to either extend or have their contract reworked. Schefter notes that the guard is making about $7 million less than the NFL’s top-paid guards.

It’s an interesting development and one where Martin has every right to ask to be paid more, especially considering the caliber of player he is.

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Super Bowl winning head coach praises former Notre Dame RB Williams and Rees

High praise indeed

As a recruit, one of the biggest selling points a program can make is getting their players to the next level. Not only is it great to show prospects that the opportunity is there, having them prepared to contribute early is yet another big time selling point.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay just gave head coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag], offensive coordinator [autotag]Tommy Rees[/autotag] and Notre Dame another point to hammer home with recruits. When asked about former Irish star running back [autotag]Kyren Williams[/autotag], McVay was glowing about his preparation to help last years Super Bowl winning team, listen for yourself.

The most telling aspect was when McVay mentioned Rees, saying “you could see a lot of the things that Tommy Rees and those guys at Notre Dame were asking of him is very translatable to the NFL.” High praise indeed for Williams, Rees and the Irish.

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Packers to host former Notre Dame star for workout

We’re hoping Dex catches on somewhere and soon!

Former Notre Dame running back [autotag]Dexter Williams[/autotag] was a major reason the Fighting Irish surprised the masses and finished the 2018 regular season 12-0.  He was drafted in the sixth round by the Green Bay Packers in the spring of 2019, ultimately playing in seven games with the green and yellow.

Williams was ultimately waived very late in training camp last year by the Packers and went on to spend time with the Giants, Browns, and Dolphins last year.  He also made a quick stop in the USFL where he totaled 102 yards in one game for the Philadelphia Stars.

Now Williams might be returning to the Packers, who have an interest in adding depth at running back.  The following from Aaron Wilson of NFL Network:

The Packers have been hit with a handful of injuries to their running backs early in camp and Williams, who has experience with the team, could serve as help.

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Every Notre Dame player currently on an NFL training camp roster

Lots of former Irish talent in the NFL

Part of being an alumnus of a supremely successful collegiate football is seeing them getting an opportunity at the next level. For Notre Dame, the list of former players getting their shot in the NFL is large, very large. Find out below every former Irish star (in alphabetical order) and which NFL team they are with in training camp.

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Former Notre Dame captain tears ACL in training camp

All the best in a speedy recovery to an all-around great guy.

Tough news today for former Notre Dame linebacker and captain [autotag]Drew White[/autotag], who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Commanders this spring. White tore an ACL on Tuesday and will miss the season.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera confirmed the news on Wednesday when he met the media.

White spent five seasons at Notre Dame from 2017-2021, serving as a captain during his final year.  He recorded 199 tackles during his time with the Fighting Irish including 21.5 that came for a loss. He was less then two weeks into his first NFL training camp when he was injured.

All the best to White in his recovery.

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Tommy Rees: ‘I expect him (Ian Book) to go out and execute pretty well’

What do you think Book’s final stat line looks like?

On Monday night, former Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book will get his first opportunity to start as an NFL player. With 30 starts under his belt for the Irish, this situation is not new for Book, but it will be at this stage.

In a report from New Orleans Saints senior writer John DeShazier, current Irish offensive coordinator Tommy Rees expects that Book will be ready for this opportunity. He told DeShazier that “if a guy’s open, the ball is going to be on target” and that “there might be some opportunities for him in the run game a little bit.”

His former position coach doesn’t think the first NFL start of Book’s career will be a moment that is not “going to seem too big for him at all.” Surely Book will have some nerves, it is his first start in the NFL, but after a few series, the all-time winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history should settle down and not look overmatched for the opportunity.

Watch: Tony Jones, Jr.’s 18-yard touchdown run

Which former Notre Dame player is going to surprise people in the NFL this season?

Notre Dame was well-represented in Baltimore Saturday night as the Saints brought former Irish standouts Tony Jones, Jr,. and Ian Book to town.

Book made his NFL preseason debut while Jones got started on his second season in the league, again with the Saints.

Jones had a strong night as he rushed seven times for 82 yards and a touchdown.  That touchdown was an 18-yarder that gave the Saints a second quarter lead.  See it below:

The Saints ultimately fell to the Ravens, 17-14.

Related:

Watch as Book’s first NFL pass attempt goes for 35 yards

Book makes NFL preseason debut for Saints

Watch: Book’s first NFL pass goes for 35 yards

How weird does he look in No. 16?

Former Notre Dame starting quarterback Ian Book made his debut for the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, playing the entire second half.

Facing a 2nd and 16 from deep in his own territory Book found Washington State product Easop Winston, Jr. as the play went for 35 yards and a first down.

See the pass below:

Book threw for 126 yards and one interception in the defeat while the Saints were held scoreless in the entire second half, falling 17-14 at Baltimore.

Related:

Ian Book makes NFL preseason debut for Saints

Watch: Jaylon Smith talks Dak Prescott rehab

Jaylon Smith knows a thing or two about what his teammate is going through

Dak Prescott suffered a nasty injury last year put his future in question as he entered a long rehabilitation process.

His teammate and member of the same Dallas Cowboys 2016 draft class, Jaylon Smith, knows a thing or two about that, after having to “redshirt” his first professional season after suffering an awful knee injury in 2016 Fiesta Bowl.

The former Notre Dame standout and 2015 Butkus Award winner rehabbed from that and now stars for the Cowboys.  He recently joined NFL Network for an interview (that he didn’t even have to leave his car for), and compared what he went through to get back on the field to what Prescott is going through now.

Also included in the clip are comparisons of this off-season to last for the Cowboys and the team’s new culture they’re working to create.

Check it out here: