The NFL released the schedule of every single team last night, and there are some huge matchups on the schedule for many teams. For many NFL rookies, they will soon know what it is like to play an NFL schedule, travel all around the country, and play in some very hostile environments. Some will return to their college home state, while others may see some very familiar faces on the opposing sidelines.
For No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham, he won't have to wait very long to make his big return to the state of Michigan, to the place where he played his entire college football career. While Graham may not be returning to the Big House, Graham will return to Michigan to take on the Detroit Lions in Week 3 of the NFL season. This time, though, Graham will be wearing white and orange with the Browns.
One thing to note about Graham's first season in the NFL, really his first season with the Browns, is that his team did not receive a single prime-time game. These games for the NFL are known as night games, but instead, the Browns were given all day games with only one game undetermined by the time, which is the final game of the season.
Mason Graham made headlines during rookie mini-camp, but not for the best reason
The Browns' rookie mini-camp was filled with the swirling news of quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel vs. Shedeur Sanders, and Graham seemed to just be flying under the radar, well, that was until day two of camp. During an 11-on-11 drill on day two of camp, Graham reportedly vomited on the field, some say due to a lack of conditioning, others say due to exhaustion.
Some say this could be a sign that Graham may not have been the best first-round pick for the Browns, but is anyone thinking that this is the first time a player has ever thrown up while on the field would be very wrong. The NFL is a whole new level of conditioning and competition, and Graham is just getting used to it, so cut the young pass rusher some slack; he will get there soon.