Did Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts deserve to be named Super Bowl LIX MVP? Most fans and analysts will unequivocally say yes, even though some experts pitched for the entire Philly defense line. In fact, one particular member of that defense line-up actually feels he was more deserving of the award.
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That man is none other than Eagles edge rusher. “I should’ve had it. I could’ve had it. It’s all good, though,” he told the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Josh McLane. And many are not happy about Sweat expressing his opinion this soon after the Super Bowl.
Like Shannon Sharpe. In a fiery rant on Nightcap, Sharpe said that the Defensive End shouldn’t be “complaining” about “an individual award”.
“You won the Super Bowl… You won the Super Bowl and you’re complaining about… an individual award… he played really well… [but] it’s too soon [to complain]. Maybe 10 years from now, y’all sitting on the porch… ‘I should have been Super Bowl MVP.’ I say that then. Not now,” said Sharpe.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Sweat finished second in Super Bowl MVP voting. The seventh-year pro notched up six tackles (two tackles for loss) and 2.5 sacks in Philly’s emphatic 40-22 win over the Chiefs.
As a matter of fact, Sweat’s tackle and sack numbers matched Von Miller’s production in Super Bowl 50 when Miller won the Super Bowl 50 MVP in 2016.
Hurts, meanwhile, posted 293 total yards and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) for Philadelphia. He completed 77.3% (17/22) of his passes.
It’s clear both men have numbers good enough to make a legitimate pitch for the award. But for Chad Johnson — who also chimed in on Sweat’s comments — there was only one worthy candidate.
Sweat or Hurts? Johnson joins Super Bowl LIX MVP debate
Johnson praised Sweat and the Eagles’ defense, saying they “gave Mahomes hell” and “beat the offensive line up so bad, I felt bad for Mahomes.”
However, he believes Hurts was responsible for Philadelphia’s eventual victory.
“I understand it. [Sweat] had a hell of a performance. He was a big reason, a big part of their success defensively, so I totally get it. But in the grand scheme of things, [Jalen Hurts] had one hell of a game and… was the reason they were able to win that game… [Hurts] deserved that MVP,” said Ocho.
Sweat may have missed out on the prestigious award, but that doesn’t mean things aren’t looking good for him. A month from now, the pending free agent is set to land a big contract at the start of the new season.
Even without Super Bowl MVP honors, Spotrac projects Sweat to average $18.8 million annually in his next deal. The 27-year-old will have the chance to negotiate with other franchises from 12:00 p.m. E.T. on March 10.
