Logan’s run for green hits biggest stage

HOUSTON — Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan is a few weeks away from getting a big payday as a free agent, but first he has one more game.

Ryan, who is scheduled to become a free agent in March, said Tuesday his focus is not on how much he can cash in for, but first winning Super Bowl LI against the Falcons.

“No, not at all,” Ryan said when asked if he has thought about free agency. “I’m trying to enjoy this moment and really focus on this because at the end of the day, I can’t really do anything in free agency without focusing on this game. It’s much more important.”

The former Rutgers player would make sense for any team searching for a cornerback, including the Jets, who could be looking to replace both starting cornerbacks this offseason. Ryan, who grew up in Berlin, N.J., may not get out of Foxborough, though. He has become a vital cog in the Patriots’ machine. Ryan had a huge game against the Texans in the AFC divisional game with three passes defensed, seven tackles and a sack.

“Logan works hard,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said after the AFC Championship. “He studies film relentlessly. He does a great job preparing for the overall passing game and the individual matchup that he has. I think he’s one of the hardest working players, one of our smarter players that’s great at communication and understanding it.”

Ryan has gone from a reserve two years ago, the Patriots’ last time in the Super Bowl, to a starter. He is now going to be faced with the daunting challenge of slowing down the high-powered Falcons passing attack.

Ryan could wind up covering Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu, his roommate at Rutgers.

“We’ve played against each other when he was in Cincy and they came to New England once or twice,” Ryan said. “It’s not my first time, necessarily, going at each other at this stage. I think it will be a lot of fun. I think it will bring the best out of me, try to bring the best out of him and I think it will be an entertaining matchup. We went at it for years and I think it will be a lot of fun out there. A lot of competing, some trash-talking and a lot of laughing, too.”

Said Sanu: “It will be a lot of fun. It’ll be just like old times. Just compete harder than ever and just enjoy it.”