Here’s a look at what’s going on with a few former Notre Dame stars.
Brady Quinn
Jimmy Clausen might not be the only former Irish QB on campus this spring. If there is an NFL work stoppage, Quinn hopes to complete an internship of sorts at ND in April and May.
“I want to work in the financial office with Scott Malpass (vice president and chief investment officer at ND). It’s a way to continue my education without necessarily being in a structured format.
“I was a finance major, and it’s something I want to continue to move on with in my life. I’ve kept in touch with Scott. We’ve been close friends since I left Notre Dame, and he offered me an opportunity. I’d love to get back there and take him up on that opportunity.”
Quinn has one year left on his contract with the Denver Broncos. The team recently hired John Fox as its new head coach. Ironically. Clausen played for Fox last season at Carolina.
Ryan Harris
The former Irish offensive tackle and current Denver Bronco becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 1.
“We’ll see where that road goes,” he said. “But wherever it leads me, it’s been a dream of a lifetime to play pro football to his point. I’ve had more fun than I could have ever imagined.”
Harris still gets back to his hometown of Minneapolis often and works out there in the offseason. He also keeps in touch with fellow Cretin-Derham Hall High grad Michael Floyd, who recently pushed away an early entry into the 2011 NFL Draft to return to Notre Dame for his senior season.
“It took a lot of courage,” Harris said of the Irish star wide receiver. “I’m glad he made the decision that’s best for him.”
John Carlson
The former Irish tight end just finished his third season with the Seattle Seahawks and has one year left on his contract.
“My wife (former ND volleyball player Danielle Herndon) and I both love it out here,” Carlson said. “I love playing for this team. The organization is first class. They take good care of us. We’d love to stay here, and we’ll see what happens.”
Carlson has quickly recovered from a nasty spill he took against the Chicago Bears in a playoff game at Chicago on Jan. 16.
“I got flipped up in the air and landed on my head on the frozen sideline,” he said. “They have heating coils underneath the field, but they’re not underneath the sideline.
“I hit my head, got knocked out for about a minute. I’ve recovered really quickly. I had a concussion, but the memory’s come back, and I feel really good.
“I remember the play, I remember getting flipped up in the air, but I don’t remember hitting the ground and I don’t remember anything from hitting the ground to halfway through the ambulance ride. I don’t remember them putting me on a stretcher. And the doctors say I probably will never remember that.”
One of Carlson’s Seahawk teammates is former ND standout receiver Golden Tate, who caused a stir last summer with a break-in of sorts at the Top Pot Doughnut Shop in Seattle to retrieve some of the shop’s signature maple bars.
Tate was quickly forgiven by the store’s owners after he apologized and unintentionally created a company slogan for the product: “They’re irresistible.”
“I have heard that the maple bars are irresistible,” Carlson said with a laugh. “But I’m a little more impartial to the glazed brown doughnut.”
