Not many, if any, locals can say of Sunday's Super Bowl game, "Been there, done that, got the ring" but former New York Giants linebacker Ryan Phillips of Hayden can. After a successful college football career and earning a degree in Resource Recreation and Tourism from the U of I, Ryan was a third round draft pick by the Giants in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played in the 2001 Super Bowl XXXV, where the Giants lost to the Ravens 34-7. Ryan practiced with the New England Patriots in 2002 before retiring from the game and moving back to North Idaho to make a life. So what could be better than having an authentic connection to both teams taking the field on Sunday? Actually Ryan had been hoping for a re-match between the Giants and the Ravens this year - with a different outcome, of course/Kerri Thoreson, Main Street, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (Kerri Thoreson's Facebook photo of Phillips' 2001 NFC championship ring)

Question: Have you ever met someone who played in the Super Bowl? Who? When?