TERRE HAUTE — The image of Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden dashing down the Dolphin Stadium sideline after his 56-yard interception return for a touchdown helped seal the Colts’ 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI is one of the happiest corners in the collective mind of all Colts fans.
Not that Hayden has let that rain-soaked iconic Hoosier sports moment wash over him.
“It hasn’t even sunk in yet. Guys ask me about how I feel about and I feel the same way now as I did then, I was just happy to make a play to help us win the game,” Hayden said. “I don’t think it’ll hit me when I finish playing football.”
What has sunk in for the third-year pro out of Illinois is the responsibility he has as a first-year starter.
Hayden, a Chicago native and Big Ten co-leader in 2004 with four interceptions, takes over for Nick Harper, who signed a free agent deal with Tennessee after six seasons as the Colts starting cornerback.
“I’m a starter, so that means I’m a leader and I have to think of it that way,” Hayden said. “I have to be that guy now who helps guys fight through long days and hard practices. I’m ready for it.
Hayden has the physical attributes to get the job done in comparison to Harper — he is two inches taller, almost 15 pounds heavier, and is quicker.
Hayden also has confidence that is rooted in mastering a position he has only played for three seasons. He was converted from wide receiver to cornerback during his senior season at Illinois and had so much promise, he was drafted in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
“During my first few practices [at Illinois] I felt like, ‘Yeah, I can do this. I’m OK with this.’ ” Hayden said.
Hayden’s Super Bowl XLI interception aside, he hasn’t had many opportunities to show what he could do at corner when he was stuck behind Harper.
The Super Bowl interception is his only career pickoff. In two seasons, his only start was last Oct. 1 at the Jets. His other moment was a 26-yard fumble recovery touchdown against the Eagles on Nov. 26.
But even if the playing time wasn’t always there, Hayden thinks that was an incubation period of sorts where he was able to adjust to playing the position at the NFL level, so it was a productive period.
“Once I got to the NFL and got the speed and precision down, I felt OK. At the beginning of last year I saw myself making plays and getting the decisions down quick. That was when I knew I was coming along and my time would come,” Hayden said.
Physical skills and confidence aside, there’s a mountain to be climbed for any first-year starter.
Hayden knows it and he’s taking a pragmatic approach to increased responsibility.
“My goal is to get better everyday. I don’t want to step back, even if it’s just small notches, I want to get better everyday. You have to get the little things better day in, day out,” Hayden said.
Hayden joins Marlin Jackson — himself a Colts playoff hero with his AFC Championship Game-clinching interception against the Patriots — as third-year starters at cornerback.
“I haven’t looked for one specific thing out of them at this point of camp. I just look to see that in each area, each technique, each coverage, that they get more and more grooved in. That it becomes natural to them and that they can go full speed and be efficient and productive in what we do,” Colts defensive backs coach Alan Williams said.
Hayden might not have let his Super Bowl heroism sink in, but he knew who he wanted to pay tribute to when he helped the Colts win their championship. He gave his Super Bowl ring to his mother Lynette Hayden.
“We didn’t have a lot, we struggled,” said Hayden, who grew up on Chicago’s south side. “She kept it positive for me. My success is a part of her. Giving her my ring is my way of saying thank you.”
TODAY’S PRACTICE
• Blue & White Scrimmage 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Cheerleader-Family Day
Colts City open: 7:30 a.m. to noon
Today’s Elements:
• Colts Inflatables — Mountain Slide, Football Bouncer, Bungee Run, Quarterback Throw
• Live entertainment: 9 a.m. to noon
• Blue’s birthday celebration
• Colts Cheerleader autograph session
• Traveling museum
• Colts Pro Shop
• Colts Kids Club
• Rock climbing wall
• Special Colts Gallery with 2006 season highlights
• Kids Pavilion with games and face painters
• Special Give-a-Ways (while supplies last)
• Terre Haute Transit Utility City buses are picking up riders from the downtown parking garage and taking them to the Rose-Hulman campus every hour. The cost is $1 per person for each one-way trip. Buses are available Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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