More from The Q&A: Charlie Johnson

Like millions of Americans, Charlie Johnson will watch the Super Bowl this weekend.

But unlike most of us, he’ll watch it after having played in the game.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy was only a rookie two years ago when the Indianapolis Colts made the big game. He was a reserve offensive lineman, but when one of the starters was injured, he was called into duty. He played the last three quarters and helped the Colts to victory.

Jenni Carlson: Is watching the Super Bowl different after you’ve played in it?

Charlie Johnson: It gives you a different perspective. You see the things the guys go through during the week, and then you watch the game … and I can watch and say, “I know what he’s feeling. I can understand maybe what’s going through his head.” Seeing all the lights, seeing all the cameras, seeing all that stuff, I can kind of get a perspective on what they’re going through.

Before, I would watch it and root for a team, but now I watch it and it’s kind of bittersweet. I’ve been there. I want to go again. Like this year, with Pittsburgh, we beat

JC: Did you have a “Welcome to the Super Bowl” moment?

CJ: Probably when we went to our media day. Just the amount of people that were at the media day was unbelievable. I think I heard somewhere that this year they gave out 633 credentials, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was close to that and it may have been more. There are sports people there who work ESPN and all that stuff, but then you see people from “Entertainment Tonight,” “Inside Edition.” You even see guest hosts for “The Jay Leno Show.” You see all these outside people. When you see that, you’re like, “This is big.”

JC: So, those type of folks aren’t usually there after practice on, say, a Tuesday in Indy?

CJ: (Chuckles.) No, you don’t see “E! Entertainment.”

JC: If you ever get back to the Super Bowl, is there anything you would do different?