Tom Brady, Steve Young, Joe Montana, Larry Csonka. Where do the superstars’ MVP performances in the Super Bowl rank?
The Super Bowl MVP is a pinnacle for a player. Each year someone earns the award. There have been great efforts and some that were merely right spot, right time. A look at how they all stack up.
53. Dexter Jackson (XXXVII)
USA TODAY Sports
Dexter Jackson had a pair of picks for 34 return yards in earning honors. The DB didn’t have the most return yards of interceptions on his team as Dwight Smith had 94 and a pair of Pick-Sixes. Meanwhile, Derrick Brooks also had a Pick-Six but Jackson was given the award.
Joe Namath, Jim O’Brien, Steve Young and John Elways were some of the stars in Super Bowls played in Miami.
Super Bowl LIV will be the 11th to be played in the Miami metropolitan area. Some of the games have been historic, such as the Jets’ win over the Colts in Super Bowl III, at the Orange Bowl. What do the Chiefs and Niners have in store when they meet Feb. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens?
II: Packers 33, Raiders 14
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Vince Lombardi’s Packers won their second straight Super Bowl. Bart Starr was the MVP for the second straight season. Don Chandler kicked four field goals and Herb Adderley returned an interception 60 yards for a TD in the Orange Bowl.
Derrick Henry won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama. That did not convince NFL teams, which saw him go 45th in the 2016 draft.
Derrick Henry has led the Tennessee Titans to the AFC Championship Game Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. He has become one of the top running backs in the league with speed and power. Somehow, despite winning the Heisman at Alabama he slipped to 45th in the 2016 NFL Draft. Here’s a look at those drafted before him.
44. Oakland: Jihad Ward
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jihad Ward has already been with three teams since being drafted by Oakland in 2016.
Aaron Rodgers lasted until the 24th pick in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Who were the players chosen before the QB?
Sometimes great players slip in the NFL Draft. Aaron Rodgers did not fall anywhere near as far as Tom Brady, but the QB wasn’t thrilled the San Francisco 49ers passed on him and he lasted until the 24th pick in 2005. So, how did the players chosen before Rodgers do in their careers?
Former Dallas Cowboy great Drew Pearson was snubbed by the Pro Football HOF. The wideout belongs in Canton.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened its doors to a massive class Tuesday. The building in Canton is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the NFL and announced of 13 more members of Centennial Slate for the Class of 2020 to go along with former Steelers coach Bill Cowher and former Cowboys and Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson. The names can be found here.
“This was the most thorough vetting of candidates in the Hall’s history and it needed to be. Our charge was to scour 100 years of professional football and find the most deserving candidates who have slipped through the cracks,” veteran Hall of Fame Selector Rick Gosselin said on the PFHOF site. “All 38 finalists for the Centennial Slate were Hall of Fame worthy but we could only choose 15. I am proud to be a part of this process that honors these men who shaped the NFL in its first century.”
One person who would disagree — vehemently — and has slipped through the cracks, again, is former Cowboys wideout Drew Pearson. He was crushed.
“This hurts. They broke my heart. They broke my heart.” Pearson said. “And they did it like this. They strung it out like this.”
Carmichael was a four-time Pro Bowler, who led the NFL in receiving and yardage in 1973. He was on the 1970s All-Decade team and finished his career with 590 catches for 8,985 yards and 79 touchdowns. Carmichael also played in seven playoff games with 29 grabs and six TDs. He played 14 seasons, finishing his career as a Cowboy.
Pearson, meanwhile, played 11 seasons, all with Dallas. He had 489 catches for 7,822 yards with 48 TDs. Pearson was also on the All-Decade team for the ’70s, was a three-time Pro Bowler and was part of the Super Bowl XII champs, scoring a TD in the game. Pearson played in 22 playoff games with 68 catches for 1,131 yards and eight TDs.
Carmichael played on Eagles teams that were subpar for much of the early part of his NFL career while Pearson delivered on the biggest stages, over and over.
Pearson caught the Hail Mary reception from Roger Staubach that sealed the victory over the Vikings in a 1975 playoff game, one of the most famous plays in NFL history. He also caught the game-sealing touchdown in 1973 playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams and the game-winning touchdown pass from reserve quarterback Clint Longley in the 1974 Thanksgiving game against the Washington Redskins. All three of those plays were named among the Top 75 plays in NFL history by NFL Films in 1994. Pearson figured prominently in a fourth play on that list, throwing the final block to clear Tony Dorsett’s path to the end zone on his 99-yard touchdown run in 1983. In addition in the 1980 playoff game at Atlanta, Pearson’s clutch receptions helped win that game in a comeback by the Cowboys.
That’s impressive. And it is easy to understand how disappointed he was not to be named to Canton. While Carmichael played longer — and is deserving — Pearson’s body of work is every bit as Hall of Fame worthy. His years and stats may have been lesser but the historic plays he was part of have to count for something.
I know it’s different categories. But on same day Drew Pearson fails to make HOF, Paul Tagliabue who called concussion stories “pack journalism” and created “Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee” headed by a rheumatologist earns his gold jacket. Way to go, blue ribbon panel.
Harold Carmichael was greatness and deserves to be in Hall of Fame. I still can't wrap my mind around how the voters picked a guy who made 2nd team all decade of 70s over a guy in Drew Pearson who was first team at WR. The process failed Drew Pearson again. It ain't right
