RealClearSports.com ranked the top 10 worst Super Bowl MVPs of all-time:
10. Tom Brady – Super Bowl XXXVI
The game itself – one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history – featured many heroes: Ty Law and his 47-yard interception returned for touchdown, Adam Vinatieri’s two field goals, including the game-winner as time expired, and Troy Brown’s game-high six receptions, but the real MVP was head coach Bill Belichick, who designed a game plan that slowed the “Greatest Show on Turf” to just 17 points.
While it can be considered near blasphemous to include Tom Brady on any list with “worst” in the title, his performance in Super Bowl XXXVI was hardly MVP-worthy. The NFL’s Golden Boy was a paltry 16-for-27 for 145 yards and one score; even on the now famous last-minute drive, he completed three of the five passes to running back J. R. Redmond.
9. Ray Lewis – Super Bowl XXXV
The Ravens defense dominated the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, allowing just 152 total yards as they rolled to a 34-7 victory. Ray Lewis, the emotional and vocal leader, played a large role in the game, but his stats, three solo tackles and four blocked passes, are far from stellar. Of the Giants’ five turnovers, Lewis was only partially responsible for one of them, a tipped-pass that was then picked-off by Jamie Sharper. While leadership is important in naming the MVP, stats count too, and Lewis just didn’t have them.
1. Dexter Jackson – Super Bowl XXXVII
The Raiders had the most potent passing attack in the league in 2002. Quarterback Rich Gannon led the league in passing yards, had the best touchdown-to-interception ratio and was the league’s regular season MVP. But it was the Bucs defense that shined, forcing Gannon into throwing a Super Bowl record five interceptions (after recording just 10 during the regular season).
Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns of 44 and 50 yards – both by the same cornerback, Dwight Smith – but he was surprisingly not named MVP. Instead, Dexter Jackson, who also had two picks, was named MVP. Two interceptions in a Super Bowl are impressive, but it’s far from an anomaly: 10 other players have intercepted at least two passes in the big game. And what did the Bucs get out of those two interceptions? Just one field goal.
To be fair to Jackson, both of his interceptions came in the first half when the game was still close. In fact, one could say that both of his picks set the tone for Tampa’s blowout. Where as Smith’s two interceptions came when the game was largely in hand for the Bucs, his second one coming with under 30 seconds left to play and Tampa up 41-21. This is an example where stats don’t paint the entire picture.
Greg Oden turned 21 this past week and still doesn’t get carded.
