Striving for Excellence

by Jim Carley

Around the league, they are already calling DeMeco Ryans the best.

Adam Schefter, analyst for the NFL Network, says the Texans middle linebacker is “the best rookie defensive player in the league.”

It’s a standard Ryans has set for himself for many years. If he hadn’t, he might have got a whipping.

Martha Ryans, his mother, made sure of that when Ryans was growing up back in Bessemer, Ala. Being the best was the only standard he knew.

“It was something that developed over time,” Ryans said. “My mom staying hard on me about grades. I think that’s where it started in school. Then I turned it over in my playing sports.

“I wasn’t just trying to be just another guy out there. If you want to do something, you want to stand out and be one of the best.”

Martha engrained that attitude with a healthy dose of inspiration. She worked hard at two jobs, sometimes three. And she expected nothing but the best from DeMeco.  READ MORE