Even in the closing minutes of Super Bowl XLVIII, after he had scored a touchdown on an interception return, recovered a fumble and recorded 10 total tackles, Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith was not expecting to be named Super Bowl MVP.
Smith said this morning that he thought just about anyone on the Seahawks’ defense could have received the MVP award, and he also mentioned receiver Jermaine Kearse, quarterback Russell Wilson and all-purpose threat Percy Harvin as players who could have received the MVP. In the end, however, Smith was happy to get it.
“We had a lot of guys. It could have gone to anybody. For it to be me, I was kind of surprised and happy at the same time,” Smith said.
As a 2011 seventh-round draft pick who has mostly been a backup in his NFL career, Smith was an unlikely choice as MVP. And at his early-morning press conference, Smith said he hadn’t expected to be there. Smith was even a little sheepish in explaining why he didn’t wear a suit to the press conference, saying that he put on comfortable clothes for the flight to Florida he’s about to take.
“I have a suit,” Smith said. “But I’m dressed to go to Disney World.”