During Tuesday's media day at Lucas Oil Stadium, Herzlich was surrounded by a throng of reporters normally drawn to a star. His tweet a day earlier had been broadcast by many members of the media.
"It was really kind of something I just felt," Herzlich said of the tweet. "I was walking off the plane and said, 'This is awesome.' I've come so far and our team has really come so far. All we thought about was getting to this. It's a dream come true."
Unfortunately for the 24-year-old Herzlich, he did not dress. He has not played since he suffered a broken foot against New Orleans on Nov. 28, although he said last week that he was 100 percent healthy.
Still, the fact that Herzlich was even here could be viewed as a miracle. After his junior year at Boston College, he was told that he had bone cancer - Ewing's sarcoma - in his left femur. Six months of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiation and surgery, in which a 13-inch titanium rod was inserted into his leg, followed.
Herzlich missed the 2009 season, but returned for his senior year. His stock dropped, though, and he wasn't selected in last year's draft. But the Giants signed him as an undrafted free agent and he made the team.
He played mostly on special teams through the first two months of his rookie season, but earned his first career start against his hometown Eagles on Nov. 20. A week later, he played in his last game of the season.
But his career is far from over, even if his cancer returning remains a possibility.
"I don't think anything is coming back, but when you are waiting there for the results, you never know what could happen," said Herzlich, who is tested regularly. "It gets a little stressful."
Gronkowski starts
