Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH IN THE PROS recovery. He contributed to last year's Super Bowl winning squad. In January, Fleming made national headlines af‑ ter participating in a playoff game just two days after pulling a woman from a car he thought was on fire following an accident with which he was not involved. He received 22 stitches and played in the 27‑20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. • The professional career of former Irish kicker Kyle Brindza (2011‑14) has hit another roadblock. Shortly after signing a contract with the New York Jets, he suffered a ruptured Achilles during a kicking workout. "As cliché as it sounds … a minor setback for a major comeback," he posted on Instagram in Febru‑ ary. "I have worked my tail off to get another shot and I got it, but now I have to take a step back. I ruptured my Achilles completely during my kicking workout. I'm not mad. I'm not upset. Unfortunate? Yes. I know God has a plan and I have to trust it. This is just another chapter to my story. Time to get this thing fixed and start the road to recovery … Day 1 starts today!" Brindza's professional career began with the De‑ troit Lions. After a strong preseason, the organiza‑ tion — which did not have an opening at starting kicker — traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He lasted only six weeks before being released, making 6 of 12 field goal attempts and 6 of 8 extra point tries with the team in four games. MONTY WILLIAMS HANDLES TRAGEDY WITH GRACE Monty Williams, a former honorable mention All‑American as a player at Notre Dame (1989‑94), lost his wife, Ingrid, from injuries suffered in a head‑on automobile accident Feb. 9. The former Irish hoops star is cur‑ rently an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder and before that served as the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans. He delivered a moving eulogy at the memorial service of Ingrid, who was just 44 years old at the time of her death. "I want to close with this, and I think it's the most impor‑ tant thing we need to understand," he said. "Everyone is praying for me and my fam‑ ily, which is right, but let us not forget that there were two people in this situation. And that fam‑ ily needs prayer as well, and we have no ill will towards that family. "In my house, we have a sign that says, 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' We cannot serve the Lord if we don't have a heart of forgiveness. That family didn't wake up wanting to hurt my wife. Life is hard. It is very hard, and that was tough, but we hold no ill will toward the Donaldson family. "And we, as a group, brothers united in unity, should be praying for that fam‑ ily, because they grieve as well. So let's not lose sight of what's important." NBA NOTES Through March 7 • New York Knicks guard Jerian Grant (2010‑15) averaged 4.6 points, 2.4 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game in the first 58 contests of his professional career. • Fellow rookie Pat Connaughton (2011‑15) of the Portland Trail Blazers was averaging 3.0 minutes and 0.8 points per game through his first 25 NBA appearances. ✦ WILLIAMS