Colts DB Kelvin Hayden Blog-February 5
You can finally feel it's getting closer to the game. We've been practicing for a couple of days now, and we're looking forward to our third of the week today. It's a good feeling, starting to focus in on what we're here for. This is another opportunity. We are fortunate enough to be back, and you just want to put yourself in position to make plays. It doesn't start on Sunday. It started for us right after the AFC Championship Game, knowing who we were going to face and getting in the film room and getting as comfortable with these guys as possible. This whole season, I've loved our team's focus. We've had one goal in mind, and we haven't lost sight of that.
Thinking back to our last Super Bowl here, I remember how emotional and exciting it was. To be at that point, where you realize that you have an opportunity to win a championship, I think that's every professional football player's dream to become a Super Bowl champion. And knowing the opportunity was right there in arm's reach, that was special. The introductions, running out, the anthem, the flyover, it's hard to describe what it's like leading up to the game. So you remember all of that, and you know that's what our younger guys are going through right now, the anticipation, because we've all worked so hard to get here. Yes, the whole world is watching and you try to block that out. At the beginning of the game, it's tough, but as the game proceeds, you kind of tune everything out knowing you have a job to do. It's just whether you can block out the distractions or not, or who is able to block them out the quickest. I've heard guys say it takes that first hit to kind of get focused and get the emotion out, and it's so true. Me, it was just that chance to get to run into somebody. That knocks all the jitters out, and then you know, 'OK, now let's play.' I think it will be the same for the younger guys, and even for me again. It's going to take that first taste of contact to get going.
You can only tell a guy so much, and it depends on how he handles it. The emotion is so high, it will hit everyone differently. Like I told them when we first got down here, it's going to be a crazy week, but you have to understand you're here for a reason, you're here to take care of business. So you just tell them it's still football. You're going to have a little bit more extra time in between warm-ups, but keep yourself relaxed and not get so excited that you're tired. Just go out there and do what you've been doing.
For me, everyone talks about and remembers the interception in the last Super Bowl. And for me, to be a fan of the Bears and go against my hometown team, it was memorable and a special moment because I think back home, I'll never be forgotten. But like I've always said, I don't want to be remembered for just that play, and Sunday is another opportunity for that.
This will be my last blog this season, and I want to say thanks to all you Colts fans for your support. We have the best 12th man in the league. We hope to bring another title back home on Sunday.
