Pre-season games start this weekend.

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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Clay Matthews' tolerance for pain and being able to play through discomfort were put to the test for several weeks last season.

The Green Bay Packers' linebacker said this week that he suffered a stress fracture in his left leg midway through the season.

"It hurt," Matthews said Wednesday. "I don't know what you'd relate it to, but it hurt pretty good."

Matthews needed time off from practice to recover, but the injury didn't stop him from playing each week. He said the leg was fine by the end of the regular season and didn't hold him back from helping the Packers get hot in the playoffs to win the Super Bowl.

"I wouldn't have put myself out there on the field if I was going to hurt this team," said Matthews, who finished with a team-high 17 sacks, including the playoffs.

After taking a month off following the win over Pittsburgh, Matthews trained hard at home in an offseason dominated by the NFL lockout and says he is pain-free for the start of this season.

Matthews has missed only one practice -- the storm-shortened Family Night workout at Lambeau Field last weekend -- in the first two weeks of camp.

Matthews also expects to play in the Packers' preseason opener Saturday at Cleveland, though he hadn't received word from the coaches as of Wednesday about his status for the game. Matthews suited up for only one preseason game his first two years as a pro because of recurring hamstring injuries.

"I joke with him this is actually his first camp fully participating," nose tackle B.J. Raji said. "So, I was impressed with that, just how he was able to come out of the gate flying."

Of course, Matthews did the same thing last year after missing most of camp with an injured hamstring. He had three sacks in each of the first two games, the only Packer to do that in back-to-back outings.

So whether Matthews needs the live reps in preseason play is an argument he said cuts both ways.

"Obviously, I've been able to do it last year, for instance, coming off missing all four preseason games and showing up on the first game being ready to roll," Matthews said. "But at the same time, you want to be out there to really sharpen your skill knowing that you're out there and you're ready to roll."

The Packers open the regular season Sept. 8 against New Orleans, but Matthews feels strong enough physically and mentally to start playing the games that count now.

"I think I'm ready to go as far as it may take others four or five weeks to get ready for the season, I feel like I can do it off maybe a week or two of work," Matthews said.

He reported lighter for camp in late July after going full throttle six days a week for about four months with his personal trainer in Southern California. The cardiovascular workouts enhanced Matthews' conditioning and endurance.

"It was good as far as the running schedule I was on, when I wanted to peak going into camp and taking some time off here and there," Matthews said. "It was really strategically mapped out, so I think that's what's really helped me out so far."

And the broken leg that few knew about last year hasn't been an issue. It was kept under wraps the second half of the season, when the Packers listed Matthews as having a shin injury on the weekly injury report.

"I knew because me and Clay talk about things, but most of the guys probably didn't know," Raji said. "Clay's a tough guy. He's not always nagging and complaining about stuff."

Matthews, the runner-up to Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu for The Associated Press' Defensive Player of the Year honor, defended the team's tack in not revealing the severity of the injury.

"For the simple fact of why let your weaknesses out there?" Matthews said. "I look at it from a standpoint of teams looking at me and trying to get after me. But I'm all healed up now. So, hopefully, I can stay healthy."

What's more...ONE HD HAVE CONFIRMED THEY'RE SHOWING REGULAR SEASON GAMES!

Brilliant news, wasn't expecting that at all.

Michael Vick had a shocker today. 5/12 for 25 yards and 3 interceptions and a sacking. Eagles wend town 14-24 against the Steelers.

Eli Manning came out last night and said he thinks he's as good as Tom Brady. Good on him...but...REALLY?

Honestly, I'm dumbfounded if Eli genuinely believes that. He could just be drawing attention away from the rest of the squad's pre-season preparations.

Scratching my head trying to figure out how Vic So'oto slipped through the 2011 draft. Fantastic linebacker.

Flynn had a shocker the other night.

Remember to get your final selections in for the fantasy NFL guys, the season kicks off NEXT WEEKEND!!!

I hope I'm gonna have access to the net while I'm away. It's a few weeks before teams start having bye's isn't it?

I hope I'm gonna have access to the net while I'm away. It's a few weeks before teams start having bye's isn't it?

Graham needs new home after Cardinals cut

Bradley Green | September 5th, 2011

BEN Graham's NFL career could be over after he was surprisingly cut by the Arizona Cardinals.

The former Geelong captain who helped spearhead the Cardinals' charge to the Super Bowl in 2009 was dumped over the weekend by coach Ken Whisenhunt and replaced on Arizona's roster by David Zastudil.

It's left Graham looking for his fourth club since making the move across to America after ending his 219-game AFL career in 2004.

He's played with the New York Jets, New Orleans and Arizona over the past six years.

Although he's 37, the fact that Graham plays in a low contact position should make him a sought after free agent for sides looking for a punter.

But, his inconsistent form last year may sway another club from taking a punt on him.


Graham played 36 games in his three years in Arizona and averaged just under 45 yards a kick.

Whisenhunt would not go into why Graham was cut, other to say the decisions he made to the Cardinals' roster was "in the best interests of the team".

"I can't thank Ben enough for the work he's done for us," Whisenhunt said.

"He's been an important contributor to some of our good teams, certainly the Super Bowl year and the year after that.

"But we just felt like where we were as a team, that (punter) was an area where we needed to improve our consistency."

Over his NFL career Graham had been praised for his ability to land punts deep inside opponent's defence using the AFL-style drop punt and torpedos.

He is the second Australian punter to be released before the start of the season.

Former Collingwood forward Chris Bryan was released by the Jets after struggling with consistency and distance.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2011/09/05/276971_local_sports.html