"I feel a little more secure," he said, when reached by phone last night. "I feel a little bit of the pressure taken off anyway. But this is the NFL and there could be three guys in here tomorrow. Your job isn't very safe, but I'm happy with how far I'm come so far.

"I know I've got a strong leg," he said. "I just want to make sure I get the ball up in the air 45 yards every time. I don't want any shanks or worm-burners."

Still, all is proceeding to schedule for [JON Ryan], and one can only imagine the line of combines headed from Regina to Wisconsin if the kid sticks for good. Because if there's a city that can match the Packers' love of green, it's Rider Nation, where Ryan will have instant legendary status.