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SALT LAKE CITY — Imagine being cut at the beginning of an NFL season, facing the reality that your dream of being a pro football player is over. Then, imagine getting a call from Bill Belichick to come catch passes from Tom Brady.
BYU alumnus Austin Collie doesn’t need to imagine these scenarios anymore, because he has lived them. In his first game with New England, Collie caught two passes for 24 yards in the fourth quarter on the Patriots’ game-winning drive. New England beat New Orleans, 30-27, to hand the Saints their first loss of the season.
Collie wasn’t the only locally bred offensive player to lead his team to victory this weekend. Former Utah quarterback Alex Smith, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, kept Kansas City’s winning streak alive, with Smith completing 14 of 31 passes for 128 yards as the Chiefs beat the Raiders, 24-7. Sean Smith also had five tackles and a pass breakup for the Chiefs.
Other notable performances by Utah alumni came from the three former Utes playing for Carolina, as the Panthers took on the Minnesota Vikings. Offensive lineman Jordan Gross held Vikings defensive star Jared Allen without a sack, Star Lotulelei had two tackles, and Steve Smith caught his first touchdown pass of the season in a 35-10 win for the Panthers.
Several other offensive linemen also contributed in victories. Utah’s Zane Beadles started for the Broncos in Denver’s closer-than-expected 35-19 win over Jacksonville, and Weber State’s Paul McQuistan started for Seattle in its 20-13 win over Tennessee.
Robert Turbin rushed once for 13 yards, and made two catches for 23 yards for Seattle.
Paul Kruger had a tackle in Cleveland’s 31-17 loss to Detroit. Ziggy Ansah made two tackles for the Lions.
Former Cougars defensive lineman Brett Keisel’s Steelers picked up their first win of the season — a 19-6 win over the Jets. Keisel made three tackles.
Highland’s Haloti Ngata registered two tackles for Baltimore in the Ravens’ 19-17 loss to Green Bay.
Former Utah safety Eric Weddle will face off against former Cottonwood star Stanley Havili as the San Diego Chargers take on the Indianapolis Colts on "Monday Night Football."
