The Face of the Superbowl MVP

[Wolf Hopper]

There's a case that Deion Branch should have been the MVP of the recent SB. Think the MVP is chosen with some consideration towards appearance, for Disney's sake, whereas it should be chosen just for what the guy did on the field?

[Craig S.]

There's a case that Deion Branch should have been the MVP of the recent SB. Think the MVP is chosen with some consideration towards appearance, for Disney's sake, whereas it should be chosen just for what the guy did on the field?

I don't think it's a matter of racial bias or appearance so much as a bias favoring quarterbacks. If you're a QB who throws for 300+ yards in a victory, you're the favorite. The QB is also seen as the leader of the team, the guy who makes it happen, while the receivers are the beneficiaries of the QB's greatness. I believe the QB has won 20 times in 38 Super Bowls, so there's an obvious preference for that position. There was a run in the '70s where they spread it around to guys like Jake Scott, Csonka, Harris and Swann, but for the past couple of decades the QB has won a lot.

Jerry Rice suffered a similar snub several years ago, and so have others. The QB also gets the nod even if there are other outstanding performers. For example, Doug Williams deserved the trophy, but you could have said the same had Timmy Smith won for his 203-yard effort.

[SmedIndy]

Actually, Mike Vrabel should have been the MVP. Most often, it's going to be the QB, though.

[Wolf Hopper]

FWIW, I did not intend for this to be a racial question. More so, one on beauty - - since Brady has somewhat of a Matt Damon/Ben Aflick pretty boy face.

Nothing to do with the color of skin at all.

[Craig S.]

FWIW, I did not intend for this to be a racial question. More so, one on beauty - - since Brady has somewhat of a Matt Damon/Ben Aflick pretty boy face.

Nothing to do with the color of skin at all.

I wasn't trying to make it exclusively about race, but I think that's definitely a consideration in any discussion about appearance, especially considering that you mentioned Disney in your original post.

Do you remember Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis shouting out, "I'm going to Disneyland" a couple of years ago? Of course not, since they bypassed him in favor of Trent Dilfer. So I guess the MVP's appearance isn't all that important, since commercial endeavors aren't an automatic for the winner.

[rc3000]

Disney makes agreements in advance with a small group of players from each team, always including the QB. They take one of these players from the winning team.

[TimmyB]

MVP voting in football, in general, is really lame. QBs, QBs and more QBs.

Brady (the girls tell me he's sooooo dreamy), had a fine game. Game MVP? Tough call between Branch, Vrabel and Brady (I mean, please... the guy did throw for 350+ yards and 3 TDs).

My call:
1) Brady
2) Vrabel
3) Branch

(And this should be his first, since either Law or McGinest should have taken it in 2001... but, then, why defensive guys hardly ever win it is a subject for another day.)

[huskerdru]

MVP voting in football, in general, is really lame. QBs, QBs and more QBs.

Brady (the girls tell me he's sooooo dreamy), had a fine game. Game MVP? Tough call between Branch, Vrabel and Brady (I mean, please... the guy did throw for 350+ yards and 3 TDs).

My call:
1) Brady
2) Vrabel
3) Branch

(And this should be his first, since either Law or McGinest should have taken it in 2001... but, then, why defensive guys hardly ever win it is a subject for another day.)

It is his first...Vinatieri won in 2001.

[Joseph]

It is his first...Vinatieri won in 2001.

http://www.superbowl.com/history/mvps

the super bowl site lists brady as the 2001 winner.

[TimmyB]

It is his first...Vinatieri won in 2001.

An issue or two back in SI they talked about how he keeps his SB XXXVI MVP trophy in his bedroom...

[huskerdru]

An issue or two back in SI they talked about how he keeps his SB XXXVI MVP trophy in his bedroom...

I stand corrected!!