“I always thought about playing in the NFL as a fan of the Patriots and Drew Bledsoe, so just to be able to play, be on this team and contribute, it’s an honor.’’
Hernandez grew up west of Hartford in Bristol, Conn., which is more Giants country, and there are plenty of Giants fan in his family.
But he preferred the Patriots.
New England isn’t a hotbed of NFL talent like California, Texas, or Florida, but when Super Bowl XLVI kicks off next Sunday, there will be five players who call the region home: Hernandez, teammates James Ihedigbo and Ron Brace, and Giants special teamers Will Blackmon, who was born and raised in Rhode Island, and Zak DeOssie, who hails from North Andover.
Ihedigbo, who attended Amherst Regional High before moving on to the University of Massachusetts, spent the first four years of his career with the Jets before being cut during training camp last summer.
“It’s awesome,’’ Ihedigbo said. “It’s a great feeling knowing that I grew up in Massachusetts and now I’m playing for the team that I watched for so many years.
“It’s a surreal feeling, and I’m definitely blessed to be part of it.’’
Brace was born in Springfield, played high school ball in Worcester, and moved on to Boston College. His father Ronald might be more excited than Brace is for the Super Bowl trip.
“Every other day he’s called me, since [New England’s divisional round win over] Denver, or texted me - I barely knew my dad could text,’’ Brace said with a wide smile. “He’s texting me all caps and exclamation points.
“There are just random people coming up and saying congratulations, it’s like, ‘Dang, we are going to the Super Bowl.’ It’s crazy.’’
Brace recalled past Super Bowls, when he was a spectator, hanging out with friends.
“Each day I caught myself reminiscing [about] going to my house with my old teammates back in high school, college, whatever, we’d go to BJ’s, get a bag of honey barbeque wings and just chill and watch the Super Bowl, watch the Pats play,’’ he said.
