World Footy News

It has been a wild ride for former Geelong captain Ben Graham in the NFL this year. After being dumped by the New York Jets early in the season, then brought back in for two more games he then shopped his talents around the country until being picked up for one game with the New Orleans Saints who then moved Graham on.

Ben was invited for tryout with the Green Bay Packers this week but turned down the audition when he received a solid job offer.

That came from the Arizona Cardinals who have sacked Dirk Johnson, the punter who was replaced by Sav Rocca at the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson and Rocca went head to head in the last round as the Eagles defeated the Cardinals 48-20 and Rocca averaged 42.7 yards compared to Johnson 33.5 yards.

The length of Ben’s tenure at the Cardinals is unknown and while he will be disappointed to be missing out on the Jets' massive turnaround led by Brett Favre, if he can settle in at the Cardinals he should be part of the play-offs as the Cardinals lead the NFC West with just four rounds to play.

Rocca is having a solid year with the Philadelphia Eagles and although not quite in All Star form he has punted a net 2362 yards for the Eagles from 61 punts at an average of 38.1 Yards. Unfortunately for him the Eagles look unlikely to make the play-offs this season.

The other former Australian rules player in the NFL, Matt McBriar, had played only the first six games of the season when the Arizona Cardinals blocked his punt in overtime and beat the Cowboys. He fractured his kicking foot which required season ending surgery after another promising start.