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Graham says ankle 100 percent healed

Tribune photo by JIM REED

Bucs running back Earnest Graham played in only 10 games before going out with an ankle injury last season.

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 13, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham is ready for the season to begin now.

Graham said has fully recovered from last year's season-ending ankle injury against Minnesota. In addition, Graham said if the season began today, he would be ready to play.

"I'm fine. I'm at 100 percent," Graham said. "I'm ready to rock. I'm good."

Graham's recovery is good news for Tampa Bay, which plans to run the ball more this season with him and Derrick Ward, the former New York Giants running back who signed with the Bucs this offseason.

Last season, Graham rushed 132 times for 563 yards and four TDs in 10 games. He also played fullback when B.J. Askew and Byron Storer sustained injuries. Graham also rushed 898 yards and 10 TDs in 2007, his first season as a fulltime starter.

Graham was positive he and Ward will complement each other this season when asked about his health after the conclusion of Wednesday's organized team activity (OTA).

"We definitely are competing and helping each other," Graham said. "We want to do a lot of other things as far as being able to pound the ball and do it over a 16 game season."

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