January 26, 2009

ARIZONA Cardinals punter Ben Graham, the former AFL star, has overcome a groin injury and will become the first Australian to play in a Super Bowl.

Head coach of the Cardinals, Ken Whisenhunt, has declared Graham fit and ready to play in Monday morning's (EDT) NFL season decider against Pittsburgh Steelers.

Since last week's victory over Philadelphia Eagles, the 35-year-old former Geelong captain has undergone intensive treatment on his injured left groin.

"He's fine,'' Whisenhunt said.

Graham has trained with the team, but only in limited periods.

"It was good this week for him to get back,'' Whisenhunt said. "I expect him to punt in practice and for there not to be any issues.''

Graham said after the Cardinals defeated the Eagles 32-25 to book the Super Bowl berth that the injury would not keep him out of the grandest day on the American sports calendar.

He said he'd had similar injuries with Geelong and knew how to treat it.

The Eagles game was a showdown between Graham and Sav Rocca, another AFL star turned American football punter.

The Super Bowl will be played in Tampa Bay, Florida.


Ben Graham factfile
DOB: November 2, 1973

AFL career
Played 219 games and kicked 145 goals for Geelong from 1993-2004, captained the club from 2000-02, won the best and fairest award in 1999, was the (equal) leading goal scorer in 2001, and played in the Cats' 1995 grand final loss to Carlton.

NFL career Played 51 games for the New York Jets from 2005-08, and reached the playoffs in 2006. Had 249 punts for the Jets at an average of 43.5 yards, until he was waived in September, 2008. Signed by the New Orleans Saints in October and played one game before he was waived a week later. Joined the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent in December and has punted four games. If he overcomes a groin injury, he will become the first Australian to play in Super Bowl.