Saints offensive guard Carl Nicks has proven to be a powerful run blocker and key cog in pass protection for New Orleans since joining the team as a 2008 fifth-round draft pick. The Nebraska product started every game this season and helped pave the way for a potent rushing attack that is averaging 119.5 yards per game in the playoffs. In his second Super Bowl Diary entry exclusive to NFLPLAYERS.COM, Nicks shares his thoughts on Media Day, local dining and much more.

From the time we landed in Miami to now, all the guys have been focused, treating this like a business trip. Being focused is not easy when it comes to the Super Bowl. Monday especially seemed like a really hectic day. After we touched down, we took a bus to our team hotel and spent about an hour getting unpacked and changed for practice. We’re staying near the University of Miami and I absolutely love it. It’s a nice hotel and has everything we need.

It was raining really hard that day, so instead of practicing at the University of Miami, we had to take an hour bus ride to the Dolphins’ indoor facility. So after getting in a short practice, we drove another hour back to the hotel and got ready for meetings. The entire team had to get together for a security meeting that lasted for over an hour. By the time it was over, we were all ready to go out for a big dinner.

I joined the other offensive linemen and our quarterbacks for dinner at a nice place called Prime 112. I got a bunch of crab claws for dinner and they must have been the biggest crab claws I’ve ever eaten. It was a great time hanging out with the fellas and we all headed back to the hotel fairly early to get some good sleep and be ready for Media Day.

It’s a good thing I got plenty of sleep because Media Day was crazy and something totally new to me. There were so many people piled into one place, creating a lot of havoc, but it was exciting. I took a ton of pictures and some video so I tried to blend in as a photographer… which isn’t easy for a 6-5, 340-pound guy. I got some great pictures and video footage so there may be a future career in that… maybe. I also did a bunch of interviews, so it was a lot of fun to be a part of. At the end of Media Day, I joined the O-line in doing a photo op for becoming the first unit to be honored and named winner of the Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award. They presented us with a trophy which was pretty cool.

The rest of the week is all about practice and work. Monday was really our one night to kind of chill out and do our own thing, so now it’s all about preparation for the big game. From meetings, to practice, to after-practice meetings and even just studying our playbook and film, it’s business.

I’ll try to give you guys another quick update later in the week.

- As told to NFLPLAYERS.COM’s Mike Donnelly