INDIANAPOLIS - As he sat on a riser answering questions during media day at Lucas Oil Stadium, New York Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks wore a red, white and blue Super Bowl hat cocked to the side of his head and a smile on his face.
He never removed either.
Nicks, the former Independence High and North Carolina star, is soaking up his first Super Bowl experience.
"It means a lot to be here. I've got a lot of family support from back home, a lot of people pulling for me. It's just exciting to be here," Nicks said Tuesday. "I just want to take advantage of this moment because ain't no telling when you'll be back here. I'm blessed enough to be in this situation so I definitely want to take advantage of it."
While nearly all of the injury talk this week has centered on the left ankle of Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Nicks is dealing with his own injury after hurting his shoulder in the NFC Championship Game at San Francisco.
Nicks said he is feeling better after sitting out last week while the Giants practiced in New Jersey.
"It's not bad. It was just a little sore," he said. "I took some time off to get it right. A few days helped me. I look forward to having a good week of practice this week."
Nicks is the NFL's leading receiver this postseason, with 335 receiving yards on 18 catches. He's pulled down four touchdown catches, including a Hail Mary at the end of the first half at Green Bay that swung momentum and helped knock the defending Super Bowl champion Packers out of the playoffs.
Nicks was asked about that catch and whether he anticipated having a big day Sunday against New England's suspect secondary.
"I'm anticipating catching every ball that comes my way," he said.
Nicks, who was still in Chapel Hill when the Giants beat New England in the Super Bowl four years ago, is getting his first shot at the Patriots this season. He missed the Giants' come-from-behind, 24-20 win at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 6 with a hamstring injury.
"I was actually at home watching it. It definitely had me up on my toes at home watching it," Nicks said. "I feel like some things we can still take advantage of. It's pretty much a new season now. That was like in Week 9 when we played them. They're a different team, we're a different team. It's going to be played hard. It's going to come down to who wants it."
Nicks did not talk in much detail about his difficult childhood. He lived with relatives in Pennsylvania and briefly stayed at a homeless shelter before moving back to Charlotte to live with his father, who has had his share of legal problems.
Nicks' two brothers have spent time in federal prison on drugs and weapons charges (one is still in prison). Nicks said sports helped him avoid trouble, but he was not interested in discussing the topic at length.
"I never really think about that," he said. "I just focus on day by day as the day comes. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed to anybody."
Nicks takes a similar, low-key approach on the field. While Giants receiver Victor Cruz celebrates touchdowns with a salsa dance, Nicks enjoys the moment without flamboyance.
He said he won't change his approach Sunday, even in what will be his biggest football moment.
Asked how he would celebrate a score, Nicks said: "Act like I've been there before."
Even if he hasn't.
