For Giants' Hynoski, trip to Indy completes roller-coaster year
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| Henry Hynoski shows Terence Newman he has healed from a near-disastrous hamstring injury. (Getty Images) |
Before New York Giants fullback Henry Hynoski made it to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI, before he caught 12 passes for 83 yards in 11 games, before he surprised many by making the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie free agent, the Mount Carmel, Pa., native was slated by some to be the top player chosen at the position in the 2011 NFL Draft.
It was actually at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Field -- site of the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots -- where that prediction was derailed.
"It was during the combine, my first 40-yard dash, around the 25-yard line and I felt a pop in my hamstring," Hynoski told CBSSports.com. "I pulled up and just hobbled the rest of the way through."
Hynoski's combine was over. He didn't get to hold his own Pro Day and was relegated to spectator status as his Pitt teammates went through their own Pro Day.
"I think that really affected my draft stock because most people had me going in that fourth-round range, fifth-round area," he said. "Should be the first fullback taken. So I didn't get drafted and I'm there on draft day watching other running backs, other fullbacks go, seeing my name pop up on 'Best Available' for the last however many rounds.
"It's a very humbling experience," he added. "Obviously I was upset."
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Those feelings turned to frustration as the NFL lockout prevented him from being signed anywhere as an undrafted free agent. But the lockout also gave Hynoski the opportunity to work out, and, "a couple of days later," the 6-1, 266-pound battering ram was locking himself in the gym.
"I seriously never worked out so hard in my life -- I'm talking sometimes three times a day -- because I was just so ... I don't know if 'angry' is the word, but I just wanted to prove people wrong and show them what I can do," Hynoski said.
When the lockout did come to an end, NFL teams had seemingly forgotten about Hynoski's hamstring and began remembering what he accomplished at Pittsburgh.
"We've always liked him and were interested in him," Giants running backs coach Jerald Ingram told CBSSports.com. "Just because he didn't run the 40, you know, you got to evaluate a football player by what he does on the football field. He's got a long history of success as a high school runner, very athletic, he catches the ball."
Suddenly Hynoski, who had 40 receptions for 283 yards and one TD in three years with the Panthers, heard from as many as 15 different NFL teams who wanted him to attend their training camp. However, Giants coach Tom Coughlin added his own personal touch.
"At one point my mom's phone, my dad's phone, my phone and the house phone were all being occupied," Hynoski said. "Coach Coughlin was the one calling on the house phone and we put all the other phones aside -- 'I'll call you back' -- because that was the call we were waiting for. We knew that was the team I needed to be with.
"Coach Coughlin talked to my parents, my mom for at least 20 minutes before he talked to me, and that was very impressive," he added.
The Giants were saying goodbye to fullback Madison Hedgecock (who was undone by his own hamstring problems) and the Hynoski family had done enough research to know that New York would be the best atmosphere for his style of play. Hynoski knew he wanted to wear Giants blue, so when the call came, it was a "no brainer" on his part.
Hynoski impressed in the preseason as a blocker and maintained that role until suffering a midseason stinger. He returned for the Week 12 loss to the Saints, but it wasn't until the Week 14 come-from-behind victory against the Cowboys that Hynoski made his mark in the passing game, hauling in two key receptions.
Hynoski had two more catches the following week, and, in the division-clinching victory in Week 17 against the Cowboys, contributed four catches for 31 yards, proving he was more than merely a blocker.
That development allows the Giants more freedom with tight ends Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe, who can now face more single coverages with Hynoski as the checkdown option.
"When you look back in the day with [former San Francisco 49ers coach] Bill Walsh and the West Coast system, the fullback was able to loosen up the tight end -- take the strongside linebacker, take the SAM linebacker off the tight end, prevent him from being doubled," Ingram said. "If you want to double the tight end, there's the fullback. We want to single them up."
Hynoski isn't the first receiving option who comes to mind when thinking about the Giants, but Coughlin is fond of saying that games are won when the less-heralded players step up. And for a player who once saw his NFL dream dying before his eyes, playing for a Super Bowl in Indianapolis is a chance to be that guy.
"Everything is full circle," Hynoski concluded. "The Super Bowl is on the same field where I thought, for awhile, everything wasn't looking too good for my NFL future.
"Everything works out for a reason and God has a plan for everything."
Coughlin, Snee keep it professional, familial
Coach Tom Coughlin and right guard/son-in-law Chris Snee have been able to keep their relationship professional on the field and familial off it.
At Tuesday's media day, Snee said he and Coughlin rarely discuss football when they're with their families, because they're both too devoted to that aspect of their lives.
That's a sentiment Coughlin echoed on Wednesday.
"He comes from great stock," said Coughlin, who stumbled upon him at Boston College while scouting a running back.
"This runner had a [blocker] in front of him," Coughlin said, "and by the time that we finished watching this runner, the director of college personnel and I looked at each other and say, 'Who's [No.] 76? Who's this guy right here?' "
Coughlin hasn't had any complaints since taking Snee in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
"He grabs his lunch bucket every day and goes to work, and he doesn't say a whole lot," Coughlin said. "Again, he's another one of those guys that we rely heavily on for the stability factor that he brings and the type of player that he is."
Jacobs keeps his head, helmet
Brandon Jacobs was reminded of the last time he played in Indianapolis when he accidentally flung his helmet into the stands during a 2010 loss to the Colts. "I didn't want to do that," he said. "I wanted to throw my helmet up against the bench and it stuck to my glove." Jacobs said he won't celebrate with a helmet toss either adding, "The helmet is about 100 bucks. The fine can be $100K, so nah, I'm good."
Bradshaw makes surprise appearance at practice
Previously coach Tom Coughlin said RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) would not practice Wednesday, but the Giants officially listed him as "limited" on the practice report.
Jacquian Williams (foot) returned to the practice field after walking with a protective boot last week, but he was also limited, as were WR Hakeem Nicks (shoulder), DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee) and CB Corey Webster (hamstring).
