Harrison Smith Goes First Round to Vikings!

Former Notre Dame team captain, Harrison Smith was just drafted #29 overall in the First Round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings!  At this draft spot, Smith can expect to sign a four-year contract with around $4 million guaranteed money.  Not a bad pay day!!!!

Harrison, the second safety taken in the draft will be joining a Vikings roster that has a number of former Domers; John Sullivan, Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson.

Congratulations Harrison!

LINK:  VIDEO OF DRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT -- NFL NETWORK

LINK:  ESPN - IMMEDIATE REACTION

LINK:  PIONEER PRESS - IMMEDIATE REACTION

Michael Floyd Drafted #13 by Arizona Cardinals!

Former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd is now the "draft property" of the Arizona Cardinals.  Michael, the second wide receiver taken and #13 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft -- will be slotted into a rookie contract that will pay him in the neighborhood of $11 million guaranteed over the minimum four-year contract he must sign with the Cardinals.  (Photo above of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with Michael Floyd)

Floyd will also be playing opposite one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in Larry Fitzgerald -- who just happens to be from the same high school as Michael (Cretin-Durham High School) in Minneapolis.  Fitzgerald is in the second year of an eight-year contract that pays him a minimum of $50 million with incentives that could pay him as much as $120 million.

A little incentive for Michael Floyd.

See the video of Michael's selection along with the immediate reaction from the NFL Network and others in the media to Arizona's pick of Floyd.

Congratulations Michael!

LINK:  VIDEO OF ARIZONA'S SELECTION OF MICHAEL FLOYD

LINK:  ESPN IMMEDIATE REACTION

LINK:  ARIZONA REPUBLIC - IMMEDIATE REACTION

LINK:  FITZGERALD WANTED FLOYD IN ARIZONA!

ND Student-Athletes Know Too Much...

You've got to love this story coming out of New York...

Billy Hunter, the Executive Director of the NBA Players' Association -- apparently wanted to invest MILLIONS of the players' money in a bank that Hunter's son was on the Board of Directors of...

Well former Notre Dame student-athlete and NBA player -- Pat Garrity (pictured) uncovered the planned investment and questioned WHY?

Well, I won't ruin the rest of the story (see below) but the old adage "Irish Need Not Apply" -- sounds appropriate for the NBA Players' Association.

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS STORY

LINK:  U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INVESTIGATING

8,186 Days of Preparation Led to This Moment

In less than five hours, Michael Floyd's life will change forever.

The 2012 NFL Draft begins at 7 PM ET on ESPN and I would imagine somewhere around 9 PM ET -- the world will welcome its newest millionaire, when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walks to the microphone and says:

"With the "blank" pick of the 2012 NFL Draft the "blank team" select Michael Floyd, wide receiver, University of Notre Dame."

Michael Floyd has been on this earth since his birth in November of 1989 and many of those years he dreamed of this moment -- a moment which will happen on the 8,186th day of his young life.

I can't wait for this young man to have that walk across the stage and to see his MOM's reaction -- a woman who did much in her life to ensure that day 8,186 was special for her son.

GOD SPEED MICHAEL FLOYD!

LINK:  IS HE HEADED TO THE JETS?