The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN IN THE PROS and then." Long had $4 million in guaranteed money coming his way if he was still on the Rams' roster by March 14. In- stead, St. Louis cuts ties and saved $8 million in cap space. Rams general manager Sam Snead said Long had turned a corner in his rehab, but he would have to come back at a reduced rate if he returned. "I can say this about Jake Long — you want that human being on the football team," Snead said. "He's a football player. He makes you a lot better. As he rehabs, if he can get back to Jake Long previous the knee, he can help the team win." Long has finished each of the past four seasons on injured reserve, in- cluding both his seasons with the Rams after back-to-back ACL tears. Long left the Miami Dolphins to sign a four-year, $34 million deal with the Rams in March 2013. The NHL MIKE BROWN CLOSE TO RETURN FROM INJURY San Jose Sharks forward and for- mer Michigan icer Mike Brown is closing in on a return after missing most of the year with a broken fibula. Brown practiced for the first time in months March 16 and told The San Jose Mercury News he would be ready to play at some point in the Shark's upcoming seven-game road trip. "Maybe halfway through or at the end of the trip, depending on how things recover," Brown said. "But it would be nice to get in the last how- ever many NHL games are left in the season, just to get in. Hopefully we can do some damage on this road trip, finish off the year on the right note and get into the playoffs." Brown broke his right fibula Dec. 9 against Edmonton and was initially slated to return in six to eight weeks. A setback in his recovery threatened his regular season, and he was only at 80 percent when he last tried skat- ing in early March. "Today I was more nervous about how I feel," Brown said. "I just had so many things running through my head. But after today, I felt good, and I have a positive mindset right now, way better than anything the other days. Hopefully I will just go on the uphill from here on out. It's good news." Brown, in the first year of two- year, $2.4 million deal with San Jose, has played in only eight games. He suffered a broken bone in his hand Oct. 11 and didn't return until Nov. 29. The Sharks are 7-1 with Brown in the lineup. FORMER WOLVERINES ON NHL ROSTERS Through March 16 • Mike Brown (Played at U‑M from 2004‑05), RW, San Jose Sharks: Went on injured reserve with a hand injury af- ter only two games, returned to action and then was back on injured reserve Dec. 9 with a broken leg … Recently returned to practice … Has yet to regis- ter a point and stands even with eight shots on goal in eight games. • Mike Cammalleri (2000‑02), LW,