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A New Year, A New Season

January 1st, 2009 - 5:19pm by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

Well here we are in 2009, and I’m in Kansas with family. It’s good to be here with everyone to start off a new year.

Hope all of you had a good night and started off the year on the right foot.

That’s what I’m hoping to do. This is going to be my last blog — my rookie season is officially over, and since it’s my rookie blog, this is the end of the road. I’ll pass the torch on to another first-year guy next season.

This season for me, as most of you know, was kind of up and down. Shaky, if you will. It started off well in camp, then I go down with my arm, so I go through a bunch of rehab and get back, then my second game back I tear my ACL. So it’s been all about highs and lows.

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Merry Christmas

December 25th, 2008 - 4:30pm by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

Merry Christmas, everybody.

I’ve been having a pretty great holiday. Christmas Eve was great. I opened my presents at 12:00 last night, because my mom had mailed some out. She was in Texas for Christmas, so we had some presents last night. At least I waited until it was officially Christmas, so I can’t get in trouble with the family for opening early. I opened a few more this morning, too, though. We had a big dinner last night, too. Ate a couple of things — turkey, ham, everything.

As far as the rest of the day is going to go, I’m just kind of going to bounce around, see a couple friends. I’ve got a couple dinner invites, so I’ll just relax and just go with the flow.

I’m looking forward to watching the matchup with the Chargers this weekend. It’s going to be a great game, you know what I’m saying, because getting a win means we’re in. And you know because we got the win earlier in the year they’re going to come with a chip on their shoulder. It’s a do-or-die big game right here for us to go to the playoffs. Everybody’s just got to make big plays and have fun doing it.

For those of you that are going to want a predicition, I can’t call it. We’ve just got to be ready to play.

Someone asked last week if I’m going to keep writing the blog next season. The answer is sadly no — this was my rookie blog, and I’m sure I’ll pass the torch onto another first-year guy next season. I think we’ll wrap things up with the blog next week, kind of close out my first regular season in the NFL. So I’ll talk to you all next week, but let me say in advance that I really appreciate all of you that stuck with me through the whole season and read the blog.

See you next week.

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Looking Toward the Holidays

December 18th, 2008 - 2:15pm by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

Alright, I finally got on top of things. I’ve started shopping for my family.

I’m just kind of looking around, shopping for my mom, my dad, my brothers and sisters and all — friends and family. As I see something I’ll grab it, basically. So that’s been fun.

It feels good to be able to take care of your family a little bit, be able to give back. They’ve been helping me out since I’ve been little, so it’ll be good to see everybody.

As far as what I want for Christmas, I don’t know. Just probably to hang out with my family. I’ve been away for so long, just seeing them will be a good gift for me. Plus I’m excited to give them their gifts.

Speaking of giving gifts, a couple days ago — Tuesday, actually — I went with some of the other rookies to The Sports Authority store to help give some kids some Christmas presents. That was an experience. Each one of them had a gift certificate for 100 dollars, so it was fun to go around and see what they wanted to buy. It’s always good to hang out with the kids. They all have such different personalities, and it’s just good to give back and have a good time with them.

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Losing a Bet…

December 11th, 2008 - 8:11pm by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

So the National Championship is set, and I think it might be Florida that comes out on top. I haven’t been able to watch much college football this season for obvious reasons, whether it’s preparing for games or rehabbing, but I’ve seen Florida play a couple times and they’ve got a lot of playmakers. I’ve been able to catch highlights from other games, too, and I’m just feeling like the Gators are going to come out on top.

Speaking of college football, some of you might remember that ASU played Arizona last week, and unfortunately it didn’t turn out as well as I might have hoped for the Sun Devils. Well, even more unfortunately, Spencer and I kind of made a bet. If ASU wins, Josh Barrett and I would give him some Arizona State stuff to wear. But if Arizona wins, we would have to wear some Arizona stuff.

It was actually kind of funny how it turned out. The game was on Saturday and I ran into him on Monday. I had on a red shirt and some blue shorts, didn’t even mean to, so I was already wearing Arizona colors. He said he didn’t have any gear for me to wear right then, and the week is almost over…so I think I’m getting a pass. Plus I was technically sporting Arizona anyway…

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Arizona Showdown

December 4th, 2008 - 3:56pm by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

It is snowing like crazy right now. Do I like it? Eh, it is what it is, to talk like a coach.

Anyway, this is a big week. The alma mater Arizona State and Arizona are locking up to close out the season.

Hopefully I’ll be able to get that channel and check the game out. It’s a huge rivalry. Both teams are kind of even talent-wise and in wins. It’s going to be an exciting game. If Arizona State wins, I think we’ll get a chance to go to a bowl game and end the season on that good note.

CLEARLY I’m rooting for A-State. Gotta keep representing the Sun Devils. I won’t be talking much to Spencer Larsen this week, and I always give him a little shoulder every time I walk by him. We joke about that Sun Devils - Wildcats rivalry. I haven’t seen him this week. I might have to give him a call and ask how much he wants to bet. I’m just kidding, but you know it’s all about the bragging rights.

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Gobble, Gobble

November 27th, 2008 - 4:05pm by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

I am getting pretty excited, I can’t lie. My mom flew in today and she’s at the store right now. It’s going to be a little different this time around, we usually eat pretty early, but since she just flew in we’re going to have a little bit later of a meal.

Either way, my mouth’s watering thinking about it. We’re going to have everything. Turkey, ham, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, greens — just the whole nine. It’s definitely going to be a good meal.

The late start is making me hungry, but it’s all good. The turkey’s thawed, so we’re going to get that going soon.

Just to update all of you, rehab’s going well. I’m just kind of getting a little rhythm with the basic, whatever you want to call it. The basic rehab routine I guess you could say. It’s just basic treatment — leg lifts, icing, just not that much going on, but just enough to keep my leg strong and help me get healthy.

I guess I’d have to say I’m thankful for a lot of things today.

First and foremost, just being able to celebrate with my family. Living another year, another Thanksgiving — I’m thankful for where I am today.

Happy Holidays and enjoy the food.

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Surgery a Success

November 21st, 2008 - 8:07am by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

So I had my surgery yesterday. I did everything they asked me to in terms of my prehab, just doing some quad exercises and trying to keep the leg strong, working with Greek a little bit and always icing it.

Yesterday everything went well, as far as I can tell. I feel good. My leg’s still kind of numb, so I’m just taking a lot of antibiotics and pain killers. I’m just trying to heal up. Right now I’m just groggy and tired, so forgive me if this blog is a little short.

The plan now is to rehab at the hospital for like 10 days, just some light rehab. I’ll stay laid up, keep some ice on the knee and that’s pretty much it. I do get to travel back and forth to home, which is good, I just go back to the hospital for the rehab every day.

I just want to say to everyone showing me support: Thanks a lot. I appreciate it, and you know I’ll be back next year, ready to get going in a hurry.

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Keeping My Head Up

November 13th, 2008 - 3:51pm by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

Let me start by saying thank you for all of your support. I know you supported me all the way up to last week, and I hope you’ll keep supporting me through the rest of my rehab.

I am as disappointed as all of you that I’m not going to be out there the rest of the season, but let me just say that I most definitely plan on being ready when training camp rolls around for the 2009 season. I’ve just got to be patient like I was the first half of the season. I’ve got to stay positive and work through it, and things will work out.

Right now I’m not in pain. I can walk around without crutches. I’ve just got to go through prehab. That’s what they call the rehab before surgery. Right now the knee is pretty swollen, so I’m just icing it and doing some quad exercises to keep my leg strong. I think I meet with Greek soon to talk about surgery — I’m just trying to get out of the swollen stage.

The good news is I know what I can do out there on a football field in the NFL. I felt great. I felt like I started off a little slow in the first part, then picked it up as the game went on. I was getting more and more comfortable and I feel like it showed. It was great getting into the endzone. I couldn’t have wanted anything else more than to score a touchdown in the National Football League. Unfortunately I got sidetracked again, another speedbump in the road, but once again I’m going to just be positive and do my rehab and get back as soon as possible.

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Ready to Step Up

November 6th, 2008 - 11:08am by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

We’re here in Cleveland, I’m writing at the hotel. I’m just staying in my playbook right now and getting ready for tongiht.

The backs have had a rough stretch the past couple of days.

First the showing against Miami was inexcusable. The effort was definitely there, we just didn’t get it done.

Then a couple days later we lose both Andre Hall and Mike Pittman. ‘Dre’s been here for a year and Pittman coming in with his experience, being a veteran in the game — it’s definitely been a huge blow to us, losing two backs in the same day and also in a short week. It puts a lot of pressure on the backs, but we’ve been coached up and we’re prepared for the game. We’ve just got to handle adversity.

The rest of the backs are rallying around the situation. Guys have to step up, make big plays and win the game. I’m most definitely ready to be one of those guys. I’ve been waiting for a long time. I feel like I can be a huge contributer to this offense and get this win.

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Ready and Waiting

October 30th, 2008 - 8:08pm by Ryan TorainOther posts by Ryan Torain

Ladies and gentlemen, the time has (possibly) come.

All I know is I’m most definitely excited to get on the field if Coach calls my name. Like I’ve been saying, I’ve got to be ready if it happens, and right now I know I will be.

Over the bye week, as you all know, I just stayed a couple extra days and conditioned, working out with Coach Tuten. I did some more rehab and studied my playbook — just did a couple of extra things to get right. Get my mind right and my body right. I did have some time to relax though, on Saturday and Sunday, then we were back in here on Monday.

I have noticed one change, though. More and more reporters are coming to my locker during open locker room. It went from having maybe one person come and talk with me to having every camera in the place all gathered around me. It’s not overwhelming or anything like that, though. I’m just answering the questions, telling them what’s going on. The question that’s been asked the most is, “Are you getting playing time?” or “Are you starting?” I can’t answer either of those. Both of those are a game time decision. I don’t know yet, so I’ve just got to stay patient, stay on my Ps and Qs and be ready for everything that could possibly be thrown my way. Then I can go out there and have some fun.

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