Fostoria native ready to play

It may not seem that long ago to many local residents that Micah Hyde was dominating all aspects of football games for the Fostoria High School Redmen.Seemingly in a blink of an eye, though, the all-Ohio high school star is heading into his eighth season in the National Football League. He'll step on NFL turf for the 111th time when he starts at safety for the Buffalo Bills as they host the New York Jets in Sunday's season opener.He's in advanced-years territory as an NFL player, but the 29-year-old said in a phone interview that he's ready to put his 6-foot, 197-pound body through another grind of at least 16 games."Physically, I feel great," said Hyde, who has collected 16 interceptions and 439 tackles in his career while also returning two punts and a kickoff for touchdowns. "It doesn't feel like year eight. I feel as good as ever, as strong as ever. And, mentally, I'm just ready to go."Time's flying and the goals remains the same — a Super Bowl ring and, obviously, individual goals like being all-pro again, the Pro Bowl. I'm blessed. I'm blessed to be able to call this my job. And I'm in year eight."This year has been and, for the foreseeable future, will be a season like no one has ever experienced as the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the world.Typically, rowdy Bills fans would be smashing tables in the parking lot during pre-game tailgating before supporting their team against an opponent from the AFC East Division.No fans, however, will be allowed in the seats for Sunday's game."It's going to be super weird. It's going to be like being at a Fostoria Middle School football game again," Hyde said with a chuckle. "It's going to be unique. It's going to be a challenge. The good teams are going to be able to adjust to it. I just think it's an opportunity for something different. You have to be able to get yourself hyped for the game and go out there as a team and execute."Hyde's one who enjoys the excitement element that a crowd brings, and he's certainly known it well in the NFL. He's entering his fourth season in Buffalo after playing his first four years in Green Bay. Both are places known for their fan enthusiasm."I think, just for momentum's sake, having a crowd is good for the team," he said. "It's good for momentum. You make a big play and the crowd gets into it, it kind of gives you confidence and stuff like that. "I think it's definitely a pro. Having a home game is an advantage. It really is. But I think as far as being on the field and focused and stuff, I don't really pay attention to the crowd when I'm in the flow of the game. It's just the big plays and hearing the crowd yelling — that's a little different."The entire preseason has been out of kilter, with teams having minimal time together and no exhibition games. Hyde said fundamentals have been the emphasis in practice and should be especially vital during the early part of season."I think the fundamentals in the first three or four games are going to be huge because we haven't had preseason games," he said. "The teams that are executing like they should be, tackling and blocking and staying penalty free and all that stuff, those are the teams you're going to see being successful in the first three or four weeks."Before heading to Buffalo with hopes of a second consecutive playoff bid and perhaps unseating the New England Patriots as divisional champions, Hyde and wife Amanda spent the off-season at their home in San Diego, where their son, Micah Jr., was born in March.California's high virus numbers kept people largely at home, which provided the new parents an abundance of time with their son, whom they call "M.J."On a personal level, the circumstances surrounding the pandemic became "a blessing in disguise," he said."It's cool because in the quarantine, I was, obviously, with him a lot," Hyde said. "It's kind of sad because he's not able to go to the stadium or the games. Obviously, he's not going to remember me playing, but just to go there and take pictures with him after the game and all that stuff. ... Hopefully by the end of the year there'll be fans allowed and the families will be allowed to go to games and I'll be able to take some pictures with him. It's just a blessing to have him. It's a blessing to have Amanda as my wife. It's a growing family and we're excited, I guess, to take our family to the next level as we go into the season."