Purple Reign - NU Alumni Update

From MLB to the NFL, there are quite a few Northwestern Wildcats holding down paying jobs in professional sports. Here's a quick recap of who's out there and what they're doing.

Playing in the NFL:

• Brett Basanez #14 Carolina Panthers - It appears that Brett is back in a 4 QB race as the Panthers picked up free agent David Carr from Houston, and then picked up Dalton Bell from Texas A&M as additional backups for starter Jake Delhomme after releasing last year's #2 Chris Weine..
• Kevin Bentley #57 Seattle Seahawks - Returns for his 3rd year as one of Seattle's top backup outside nickel linebackers. Played in 15 games with 3 starts
  
• Luis Castillo #93 San Diego Chargers - "Dancing Bear" is entering his 3rd year with the Chargers, a major player at DE in San Diego's 3-4 D. Was hurt part of last year [ankle] but should return to his form of 2005/06.
  
• Barry Cofield #96 New York Giants - Started as a rookie at nose tackle but injuries to other members of the team exposed his inexeperience at the pro level. Should be back in the middle with more help this year and the Giants will be using different D-line sets with Cofield as more of a blitzer.
  
• Trai Essex #79 Pittsburgh Steelers - Starting his 3rd years with the Steelers, but will have a new head coach and position coach to work with in 2007.
  
• Napoleon Harris #58 Kansas City Chiefs signed with KC after the Vikings took a pass on resigning him. He's now the 4th Free Agent named Harris on the Chiefs, but probably has the best chance of being on the roster come September, altho you can make the case that the Chiefs loaded up on linebacker talent this off season.
  
• Noah Herron #23 Green Bay Packers The Packers seem to like Herron, after they grabbed him off the Steeler's practice squad in 2005, they found out that he could run the ball, but they still drafted 3 additional backs in the 2nd, and 7th rounds spring. Herron did catch 29 passes for 211 yards and 2 TDs last year, and brings that extra dimension to his play.
  
• Tim McGarigle St. Louis Rams - Spent last year as a backup MLB after being drafted in the 7th round by the Rams. Is #2 on the depth chart in the middle as of June 20th. The Rams didn't draft any linebackers this year.
  
• Nick Roach #48 San Diego Chargers - Signed as a free agent after the draft.
  
• Zach Strief #64 New Orleans Saints Was backup Left Tackle as a rookie, expect him back in 2007 even though NO drafted a couple of offensive linemen this year.
  
• Matt Ulrich #69 Indianapolis Colts - NU's 2nd Super Bowl Winner in two years, fully breaking the "Curse of the Wildcats
  
• Jason Wright #29 Cleveland Browns signed a fairly long [3 year] contract with the Browns last Winter. Will probably have to battle to keep his backup RB role as Cleveland signed Jamal Lewis in the off season.
  

Unrestricted Free Agents:

• Barry Gardner Unrestricted Free Agent after being released by New England last Winter. Suffered a broken leg in preseason game last year and never played for the Patriots.
  
• Austin King listed as an unrestricted free agent after 3 years with Atlanta
  

Playing Major League Baseball

• Mark Loretta Houston playing a utility role for the Astros - plays all 4 infield positions and is batting .333 [.427 slugging] with 21 RBIs (as of June 20th) - Has played in 54 games so far

In the Baseball Minor Leagues:

• Daniel Brauer Clearwater Threshers [Phillies] Hasn't pitched since May 16th - has been on 7 day disabled list since then.
  
• Caleb Fields [Pirates] drafted in the 33rd round. No word on assignment or if he's signed.
  
• J.A. Happ Ottowa Lynx [Phillies] Off the DL
  
• George Kontos Tampa Yankees [Yankees] Off the DL, pitched 4 innings against Lakeland on 6/13. Gave up 1 unearned run in 4 innings of work. Also had 6 strikeouts.
• Jon Mikrut Palm Beach Cardinals [Cardinals] - Has appeared in 26 games, all in relief. is 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA
  
• Daniel Pohlman Released by the Visalia Oaks on May 31st. Pitched to a 5.63 ERA with one win in 16 games, all in relief.
  

Other Baseball Alums

• Joe Girardi - rumored to be on the Oriole's short list to replace Sam Perlazzo who was fired earlier in the week. One commentator in Baltimore questioned why he'd head into another situation like the Marlins.
  

Professional Softball

• Two Wildcats were drafted by Sharon Drysdale's pro team, but the stories have disappeared.
  

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All Items Copyright 2007 by PurpleWildcats/Purple Reign