Super Bowl XXXV MVP Sacked by Sponsors

Although he is the leader of the greatest NFL defense ever assembled and led his team to a convincing victory in the biggest sports spectacle in the world, Ray Lewis did not receive the shower of endorsement deals that others with similar accomplishments have received in the past. Lewis’ involvement in a post-Super Bowl altercation last year, which resulted in the stabbing deaths of two men and Lewis pleading guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of justice charges, is the obvious reason for his lack of marketability. Even though exonerated of double murder charges in what proved to be an ill-prepared case by the prosecution and a poorly managed investigation by Georgia prosecutors, Ray Lewis will carry the stigma of his involvement in that ugly incident throughout his career.

The Super Bowl MVP is typically elevated to superstar status almost immediately and their image is attached to an array of products and brands almost overnight. Instead, it was Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer that was awarded the Disney endorsement, telling the world that he was "going to Disney World" to celebrate the Super Bowl victory. Five other Ravens, again without Ray Lewis, the team’s MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, will be featured on the Super Bowl edition of an upcoming Wheaties box.

After a week of tense media coverage leading up to the Super Bowl, which included Ravens coach Brian Billick and future Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe’s attempts to deflect attention away from Lewis’ past legal problems, few expected anything less following the game. Lewis expressed tremendous gratitude and a dreamlike happiness during postgame interviews. When asked about his exclusion from some of the traditional Super Bowl endorsements, Lewis replied simply, "I have kids who were not going to let me go to Disney World. They wanted to see me.''