Former Yale TE Nate Lawrie '04 was activated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 15, bringing the total number of Bulldogs playing in the NFL to three. RB Chris Hetherington '95 was signed by the Oakland Raiders a week earlier, and TE Eric Johnson '01 has been with the San Francisco 49ers all season. Lawrie, who owns all the Yale tight end receiving records (116 career, 72 season, 16 game), was drafted in the sixth round by Tampa Bay last spring and then bounced between the Bucs and the Eagles before landing on Tampa Bay's practice squad. He was activated when another Bucs TE, Will Heller, went down with an injury. Hetherington, a ninth-year pro who has been with five different NFL teams since 1996, was Yale's starting QB in 1994 and 1995 before becoming a running back as a pro. Johnson, a seventh-round pick by Bill Walsh and the Niners who was featured in many major newspapers and TV stations across the country earlier this season, led the NFL in catches this fall through the first six weeks while playing with a broken finger and a broken rib. Understandably, his numbers have dropped off in recent weeks and he is currently 16th in the league with 69 catches for 707 yards and two scores. Several members of Yale's current graduating class, including WR Ralph Plumb, OT Rory Hennessey, QB Alvin Cowan, RB Robert Carr and DB Barton Simmons, are pro prospects. In addition to those playing in the NFL, there is also one Bulldog coaching in the NFL -- Dick Jauron '73 is the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator.