TEMPE, Ariz. - The man known as "Matty Ice" is running hot.
After a workout yesterday morning, he stood in a swirling hot tub sipping a protein shake with the Arizona sunshine warming his shoulders.
Life is good for Boston College's Matt Ryan, who recently won the Manning Award, presented by the Sugar Bowl for the season's best performance by a quarterback, including bowl games.
He now spends his time at the Athletes' Performance Institute in preparation for the NFL Combine in Indianapolis Feb. 20-26.
Speculation is that Ryan could be selected as high as No. 1 overall, a pick owned by the Miami Dolphins, in the April draft.
"It's exciting to hear that kind of stuff," said Ryan. "There's still a lot of stuff to be played out and a lot of time before the draft. At this point, I'm not certain. All you can do is keep working hard."
He's not counting on being a Dolphin, though.
"I don't think I'll be disappointed if it doesn't happen," he said. "Hopefully, somebody gives me a chance, and if somebody does that, I'm going to go there and play and work hard for them. That's really where my mind is at right now.
"I've never met Bill [Parcells, the Dolphins' new head of football operations], but from everything I've heard, he's a real football guy that loves the game. I look forward to maybe having a chance to work with him."
Ryan likes to work. He arrives at Athletes' Performance at 8:30 each morning and works out until 12:30. After lunch, he returns for a 3:30-6 p.m. stint. Ryan, already 6 feet 5 inches, 218 pounds, says he wants to get bigger to prepare himself for the rigors of the NFL. And, he's loving the desert.
"It's an awesome place to spend the winter itself, and as a training facility it's really, really good," he said. "The trainers are very knowledgeable. They do a great job preparing you for the combine. You do a lot of regeneration work for your body. It's really an unbelievable place to train."
He's also made some new friends. Red Sox Manny Ramírez, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedroia also train at Athletes' Performance.
"I've gotten to know Dustin and Kevin Youkilis pretty well and Manny," said Ryan. "To see those guys train and work out every day is pretty special."
What surprised Ryan most was Ramírez's work ethic.
"I've just been real impressed with the way he works, training hard every day. Running hard. It's been really impressive. He just works hard," said Ryan. "He's dedicated, he keeps to himself. He really goes after it and he's impressive to watch."
Ryan, whose toughness showed when he played his junior year with a broken bone in his ankle and missed only one game, is taking notes from the three Red Sox.
"You have a new level of respect for what those guys do in the offseason," he said.
Ryan maintains he isn't worried about making the jump to the NFL. But he isn't naive, either. He knows there are some great college quarterbacks who have fizzled in the pros.
"It's a different game, the college game and the pro game," he said. "And it's a tremendous amount faster. It takes a lot more preparation from the quarterback position and anticipation in terms of their throws. Hopefully, that's something I'll be good at and something I'll work hard at and improve on."
Ryan took another sip from his recovery shake.
"It doesn't taste very good, but it's all natural," he said.
Ryan said he has no interest in performance-enhancing drugs.
"I've never been involved in that kind of stuff and don't plan on it in the future," he said. "I think people have to make decisions for themselves. Some people think it's best for them and that's their own position."
But what if that person is an NFL linebacker looking to make Ryan part of the turf?
"I don't worry about that too much," he said. "Just try and do the best that I can naturally."
Ryan threw for 4,507 yards and 31 touchdowns last season in leading BC to an 11-3 record. Earlier in the season, he was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate, but finished seventh in the voting. Was Ryan disappointed?
"Not at all," he said. "It's a great honor if you can receive that award, but at the same time I've never really been concerned with personal stuff too much. I just really wish our team could have won a few more games.
"I'm confident in my abilities and what I can do. I think we had a great year at BC this past season. For our senior class to win 11 games for the first time since 1940 was something that all of us could hold in a special part of our hearts. It was a tremendous amount of fun."
And fun is what football is about, said Ryan. He learned that from another former BC quarterback.
"Doug [Flutie's] been great," said Ryan. "I've gotten to know him pretty well since I've been at BC. His advice was always to continue to enjoy the game and have fun. Work hard at it and don't get caught up in all the stuff that doesn't matter. At the end of the day, you've got to find out what matters to you and make that be the most important stuff in your life. That's advice I've taken to heart."
