INDIANAPOLIS - Sometimes the smallest things leave the biggest impressions.
That what's happened so far this week for Henry Hynoski.
As of Thursday night, the biggest thrill of the week of Super Bowl XLVI was going to St. Elmo Steak House with his teammates.
"The best time so far has been at the restaurant," Hynoski said. "We had a private room and the bonding time with the whole offense, just being able to interact for the first time outside the team training facility or hotel, was awesome."
It was a night out early in the regular season when Hynoski met Michael Jordan and Derek Jeter that he found out just how rare time with teammates away from the field is in the professional ranks.
"All season we went out to eat as the rookie class or as a group of running backs," he said and added how much he likes to be able to connect with his teammates, like it's been at other levels.
"Obviously in high school you're with your best friends and hanging out after practice, but what I've been told, we're one of only a few teams in the NFL that does things like this with groups. Michael Jordan said you don't see this a lot in professional sports, that's a big-name person recognizing quality time."
And what did Hyno have?
A 268-pound fullback eats whatever he wants.
"I had the New York strip both nights I'd been there with mashed potatoes, green beans, shrimp cocktail, king
crab mac and cheese and a couple of much-appreciated complimentary desserts," he said. "There were hundreds of people outside. Coach Billick, Coach Del Rio, Mark Schlereth from ESPN were all there, too."
Hynoski liked it so much the first night that he treated his parents to a night out Thursday, his small way of showing them how grateful he is.
"My parents showed me the world and this is my small way of repaying them for that," he said.
The rest of the week was a busy time for Hynoski, and he was happy to finally start actual preparation on Wednesday.
"It's the experience of a lifetime," he said. "At times, it's been hectic, a lot of running around. We finally got to start practicing on Wednesday and got a practice in Thursday."
Part of the intensity of the week is the number of appearances and opportunities the media has with the teams. Hynoski got a taste of this all season in New York, but not even the Big Apple can compare to the environment around Indianapolis this week.
"Being in New York, the media capital of the world, get you accustomed to it, but you can never expect this," Hynoski said. "At Media Day on Tuesday, someone told me there were 7,000 representatives at one time."
The only place in the world with more hype around the big game might be around Hynoski's home, something he's thrilled to see once this week is over.
"My parents have been telling me about it, but I probably won't get to see the magnitude until I come home," Hynoski said. "I have a ton of support from everyone back home. There's no place like home. I am so proud to be from the area I am."