Raising Zona
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Notre Dame University’s impact on the Arizona Cardinals

By Jim Koch

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; close up view of Norte Dame logo on goal post prior to a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; close up view of Norte Dame logo on goal post prior to a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Cardinals have welcomed a contingent of players from the University of Notre Dame’s football program onto the team

Over the years, the Arizona Cardinals have looked to the famed University of Notre Dame for football players. Some they’ve drafted, some were signed as free agents. However they’ve acquired them, few have had any kind of real impact on the club’s fortunes.

The Cards’ front office looked to the school in 2012, during the first round of the NFL Draft. With the 13th-overall pick that year, the team drafted wide receiver Michael Floyd.

The wideout underachieved throughout his five seasons in the Valley. In fact, Floyd never even finished his fifth campaign with the squad. His days as a Cardinal came to an end last December after he was arrested for a DUI.

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The best Notre Dame alum to play in the desert was probably defensive end Bertrand Berry. The 6’3″, 254 pounder terrorized opposing quarterbacks during his stay in Arizona. Berry racked up 40 sacks and 158 tackles during his six years as a Card (2004-09).

Offensive tackle Mike Gandy started 44 games for the organization from 2007-09. The former Fighting Irishman started at left tackle for the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

In the spring of 1993, the then Phoenix Cardinals were in hot pursuit of perhaps Notre Dame’s favorite son, Joe Montana. However, the quarterback eventually spurned the Cards for the Kansas City Chiefs. Their second choice for a signal-caller that offseason, Steve Beuerlein, had also played his college ball for the Irish.

Beuerlein joined Phoenix, inking a three-year, $7.5 million deal. He would last two years with the club, playing for two different head coaches (Joe Bugel and Buddy Ryan). The former Oakland Raiders’ draft pick threw for 4,709 yards and 23 touchdowns in 21 starts for the Cardinals.

Two notable Notre Dame tight ends have played for Arizona. Troy Niklas, a second-round pick of the Cards in 2014, is actually still with them. His career up until this point has been derailed by injuries. John Carlson played the final season of his six-year career with the squad (2014), catching 33 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown.

The late Dave Duerson played safety for the Phoenix Cardinals from 1991-93. Bob Clasby was a defensive end for the St.Louis/Phoenix Cardinals from 1986-90. Both starred at Notre Dame before entering the NFL.

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