Was this a sympathy vote for a team and a player who were both overmatched? In yesterday’s Super Bowl matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots — won by Seattle in a 29-13 blowout — Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker was named MVP. Fair enough. He rushed for 136 yards. I personally thought QB Sam Darnold should’ve gotten the award, but okay.
Now here’s the screwy part: How did Pats QB Drake Maye finish second in MVP voting? He was abysmal until the game was out of reach. He was sacked six times, had two turnovers, and threw one interception.
Darnold admittedly threw for fewer yards since he didn’t have to. He led a well-oiled machine, moving each part flawlessly.
I think the Maye second-place vote was either a) a reflection of the stereotype sportscasters have spun around Darnold as a fumbling idiot who loses games through turnovers and interceptions, or b) a sympathy vote for Maye and the Patriots because they both looked so pathetic until the Hawks loosened up late in the fourth quarter. Maybe it was both.
Anyway, the better team won. The Pats were only there because they didn’t have to play Buffalo in the playoffs before Super Bowl LX.
