Jordan

FOXBORO — LaMont Jordan has played in the NFL for nine seasons, and though he’s yet to have a lot of playoff success, he does have a championship ring he wears proudly.

It’s the ring that the University of Maryland women’s basketball team got after winning the 2006 NCAA championship. Jordan, who played at Maryland from 1997-2000, may be the Lady Terrapins’ highest-profile fan. He has donated money to the program, traveled to tournament games, and was in Boston when the Terrapins beat Duke for the national title.

The running back, a second-round pick of the Jets in 2000, came to New England during training camp this year, after he was finally released from Oakland after spending three rocky years with the Raiders.

After missing eight games with a right calf injury, Jordan has been back on the field this month, teaming with Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk to bolster the Patriots’ running game in time for a late-season run toward the playoffs.

Here’s more of this week’s Up Close.

My first car: I don’t know the year, but it was an Olds, a black Olds. I ran it into the ground; I blew the transmission.

My first job: I was a janitor at my high school (Suitland High, in Forestville, Md..) for a summer job program; I lived right next door to my high school.

My favorite way to spend the off day: Asleep.

In heavy rotation on my ipod: Well, I don’t have an ipod, I have a Discman … but Little Wayne, Joe Budden, the Mariah Carey Christmas CD. That’s pretty much it.

My favorite TV show: It depends on the day — Everybody Loves Raymond, and after that is House; My Wife and Kids; and Seinfeld. I always go between those four. But Raymond and House are my top two.

My favorite meal: Fried chicken, rice and broccoli.

If I wasn’t in the NFL: That wasn’t a question of life for me. I won’t say I always knew I was going to be in the NFL, but I don’t know what I’d be doing if I [wasn’t].

My hero: My ninth-grade government teacher, Mr. Robinson. He was the first teacher that really showed an interest in me. We would spend hours after school going over assignments. I would have the next week’s lesson before he got it out [to the other students]. That was his first year, fresh out of college; I think he’s moved back to Atlanta.

My pregame ritual: One thing: I eat grits, bacon and eggs before every game. And I don’t like to be rushed.

My favorite athlete in another sport: I’m a big Randy Johnson fan; everyone on the [Maryland] women’s basketball team, I have so many … Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant, too.

smanza@projo.com