Rookie cornerback Logan Ryan wasn't well known outside the Patriots' locker room before last Sunday. That all changed in the time it took him to intercept a Geno Smith pass, return it 79 yards for a touchdown, and celebrate by diving into the end zone while grabbing his crotch.
That tends to get people's attention. Including the NFL, which fined Ryan $10,000 for his, ahem, "actions."
On Thursday, Ryan spoke to reporters about what must have been a surreal week.
"First off, I just want to apologize to all the fans and all the viewers who had to witness that," he said, via ESPNBoston.com, adding later that the worst part for him was seeing his mother after the game as she expressed her disapproval. "I own up to it 100 percent. It's not acceptable. It's not acceptable for me and this team. I want to put it behind me and I want to move on, and focus on Miami, and let people know it won't happen again. That's not who I am."
Ryan was a third-round pick last April out of Rutgers.
Coach Bill Belichick spoke in glowing terms of Ryan's on-field play (touchdown celebrations aside, obviously).
"I thought Logan gave us some solid plays out there," the coach said. "Obviously the big play on the interception, had some good coverage plays; had some other plays that I’m sure he would love to have back that could have been a little better."
Ryan, meanwhile, said "It's been a lot of fun. It's been a learning experience. I have a lot to learn and a lot to grow, but I'm surrounded by great players on our team."