Having sent more players to the NFL than any other college, Notre Dame fans look eagerly each year to the start of training camps to see how ND alums, veteran or rookie, are faring.

And while Irish veterans in the NFL usually have a grip on their respective positions (re: Luke Pettigout, Jeff Faine, Hunter Smith, etc), many of the young guys are busting ass just to make a roster.  Here's a sampling from around the league:

• No former-Irish, current NFLer discussion can start off with anyone other than Brady Quinn.  The second year Browns play-caller started his first couple of days strong, completing mostly shorter passes, but was picked off three times in practice on day three.  The three INTs included one by monster DT/DE Shaun Rogers.  Dawgs by Nature has comprehensive reports of each days workouts.
• In more Browns news:  RB Travis Thomas is impressing the staff by cracking back LBs and picking up personal fouls on special teams.  Scratch that second one, but he is turning a few heads in his battle to crack the practice squad.
• TE John Carlson, who looks to be the starter in Seattle having the size, hands and smarts for the Holmgren-run offense, got his contact settled and reported after a one-day hold out.
• RB Darius Walker might be the odd man out in a crowded Texans backfield.  Walker will compete with the oft injured Ahman Green, the Chris's Brown and Taylor and speedster rookie Steve Slaton.  Some guy at the Houston Chronicle thinks that Walker's late season production might not be enough to save him, but if he stays healthy he's got a shot.
• In Philly, DE Victor "Not Today" Abiamiri has been rotating in the first-team defense, while rookie DT Trevor Laws is day-to-day with a foot injury.
• Reports say that S Tom Zbikowski is falling behind former Bearcat S Haruki Nakamura for the backup safety job to Dawan Landry and Ed Reed.  Still, the coaches love his toughness and intensity and his punt return experience means he's a shoe-in for special teams duties this fall.
• CB Mike Richardson's offseason and early camp performances are pushing him to the front of the list of backup cornerbacks in New England.  After losing Asante Samuel and Randall Gay to free-agency, this is a huge area of need for the Pats.
• WR Maurice Stovall (Bucs) and S Nedu N'Dukwe (Bengals) start training camp soon with both men fighting for starting positions.

"First the Insight Bowl and now this!  ANDERSOOOOOON!!!"

Personally, I hope Walker gets the nod in Houston, but he's a 3rd down guy at best and lacks the breakaway speed of Slaton, another prototypical 3rd down back.  Many feel that Zibby was overrated as a safety at ND, but aside from the occasional butterfingers on punt returns, he could be a special teams force for the Ravens.  Just give him a position where he doesn't have to think much and he'll be fine.  Of course, everyone is pulling for Laws to get better ASAP, and Pro-Bowler QB Derek Anderson is at best the third most popular QB in Cleveland (I hear Ken Dorsey's a helluva bowler).

We'll have more as more camps get going, injuries rack up and I slowly begin losing my mind in the countdown to September 6th.  I'm like a heroin addict and the Irish in the NFL are the best fix around.