The Wolverine

November 2011

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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������ michigan in the pros Brandon Graham��� Ready To Return H By Chris Balas e���s a bit over his playing weight ��� blaming great fast food in his new town ��� but former Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham is finally practicing again following a torn ACL suffered last Dec.��12 against Dallas. After spending eight weeks on the physically unable to perform list, he���s itching to play again. ���I was hoping six months, just an ACL tear,��� he told CSNPhilly.com. ���I was hoping I wouldn���t miss any games. ���But everything happens for a reason, so now I just have to make sure I get up to speed and get ready to produce. I���m feeling good. No soreness, no nothing. I feel regular. The only thing is my feet hurt just from not using them in a little bit, but that���s about it.��� Watching has been the difficult part, Graham continued, especially with Philadelphia struggling to a 3-4 record out of the gate. ���It���s been hard because you want to be a part of those wins and losses [and] be a part of the team, and I haven���t felt like that because I haven���t been able to be out there and help,��� he said. ������ I know I really need to get into game shape. That���s the biggest thing.��� Graham saw limited practice reps upon his Oct. 24 return but got more throughout the first week back. He was held out of an Oct. 30 game with Dallas and wasn���t certain when he���d return. ���I feel a lot better than I expected. I was a little bit nervous going out there because I hadn���t played in a year, so I was timid a little bit at first,��� he said. ���But then I was like, ���There���s nothing wrong with me. Let���s go.��� All I���ve really got to do is get in shape right now. I know that I���m going to have to get my wind up a little bit, and as I play in the game, that���ll get better.��� Especially since he���s cut back on the junk food. ���You know what got me real big? 114��� the wolverine��� ������ NOVEMBER 2011 Graham spent the first eight weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform list, but returned to practice Oct. 24 and could see game action in November. Photo courtesy philadelphia eagles The Philly cheesesteaks,��� said Graham, who told Philly.com he lives within crutching distance from Jim���s Steaks. ���That���s all I eat.��� Graham will begin a 21-day window in which he must return or be relegated to injured reserve when he comes off the PUP list, but will remain on it until the Eagles are convinced he can contribute on game day. ������ The NFL Braylon Edwards Returns Stronger After Knee Injury Watching from the sidelines is never easy, especially when you���re playing for a winner. Former Michigan receiver and current San Francisco 49er Braylon Edwards admitted his month-plus on the bench following an early season knee injury was tough to stomach. ���It���s bittersweet. It���s sweet in the sense here we are 5-1, and the team is playing tremendous ball,��� he told the San Jose Mercury News days before returning to catch four passes for 42 yards in an Oct. 30 win over Cleveland. ���They���re motivated ��� you can see it. They���re passionate. We���re believing in ourselves versus what people are writing and saying about us. The team is sticking inside of this building right here. That���s the good thing about it. ���The bitter part about it is just watching and knowing you���re not contributing. Even though I���m here every day with those guys, I���m not necessarily participating in the victories. They���re doing well, and I can���t wait to get back out there and contribute and do the things I know I can do.��� Edwards, though, wanted to make sure he was healthy before returning to action. He was getting there in late October and held up well in the 20���10 victory over Cleveland. ���It feels good. It���s one of those situations where we���ll handle it professionally and go day by day and see what we can do,��� he said. ���Can we do more the next day than we did the day before? We���ll see what happens. I���m just taking it slow, watching the swelling. I think that���s the biggest thing ��� watching the body giving you your signs.��� Getting back requires both physical and mental strength, he added, though he���s optimistic he has many years left in the game. ���I���m 28. I want to be out there,��� he said. ���It���s pride. It���s confidence. It���s wanting to get back out there. It���s competition.��� ��� Chris Balas NFL Notes ��� Pittsburgh Steelers sources told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Oct. 31 that LaMarr Woodley���s hamstring injury was ���not good��� and he���d miss a key, Sunday night, Nov. 6 game versus Baltimore and likely the next game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The newspaper reported he might be able to return after the team���s Nov. 20 bye. Woodley, though, disputed that report in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. ���I���ll be in there,��� he said. ���I have a week [to heal].��� Woodley has notched 7.5 sacks in his past four games, including two against New England in an Oct. 30 win, but he reportedly sat out the fourth quarter after injuring his hamstring in the third quarter. ��� One man���s troubles are a former Wolverine���s gain in San Diego. Linebacker

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