By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Offensive lineman Ryan Durand confirmed to Fan Fanatic Sports today that he made the Tennessee Titans' practice squad.
Durand, a seventh-round draft pick this year, found out the great news this morning after meeting with Titans head coach Jeff Fisher.
"I'm happy to be a part of the Titans," said Durand in a telephone interview this afternoon. "I'm very excited, it's a great situation for me."
While Durand was named to the eight-player practice squad, there is a 24-hour window where any team in the NFL can claim him off waivers. But if any team does, it must put Durand on the active 53-man roster.
"If someone picks me up and puts me on the active roster, I'm going to go," said Durand, who can put off his grad school plans since this NFL thing has worked out so far.
Durand, if he stays on the practice squad, is looking at his rookie season as a red-shirt type season like in college football.
"It's going to give me a chance to develop," Durand said. "I'm taking positives out of it. I need to work on a lot of stuff."
So what did coach Fisher say to Durand during his face-to-face meeting?
"I was pretty nervous at that point. He said they were going to keep me and put me on the practice squad," Durand said. "They want to develop my skills more."
Durand also met with his offensive line coach Mike Munchak, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman.
"He told me I'm the type of guy they're looking at as a developmental guy," Durand said.
Durand's first phone call was placed to his father, Steve, who attended last night's preseason game against the Green Bay Packers and was still in Tennessee awaiting the news.
"He was so excited," Durand said. "He was probably more excited than me."
Under practice squad rules, Durand can practice with the team but can't travel to away games. That doesn't matter to Durand, who's determined to make the most of this opportunity.
"It's a great feeling to be part of the team," said Durand, noting practice squad players make around $5,000 per week. "It's a relief that I know where I stand now. I'm not going to say that I'm ready to start for the Tennessee Titans, but I feel like this is a great opportunity for me."
(PHOTO / TENNESSEE TITANS)
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