Super Bowl XLIX will be a defining moment for many players in the game, but for some it’s just one (big) step in what they hope to be a long career. The Super Bowl isn’t just a chance to win the game’s ultimate prize, but leverage oneself at the top of the heap when it comes time for free agency. Let’s take a look at the players that helped or hurt themselves the most in the pocketbook.
Stock Down
Jermaine Kearse, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks
Not a lot to say about a player who saved a routine dropped pass with a one-in-ten-thousand play, but from an evaluation standpoint he didn’t help himself. While Brady was working with multiple open receivers play after play against a terrifying Seattle defense (in large part due to scheme), Russell Wilson spent agonizing amounts of time in the pocket or scrambling waiting for receivers to get open. That’s not a good look for Kearse, especially when it was Doug Baldwin that Darrelle Revis was covering, not him.
James Carpenter, Guard, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks offensive line didn’t look as bad as it typically does, despite the talent New England has in its front seven, but James Carpenter didn’t have a particularly stellar game blocking the run, particularly when lined up against Vince Wilfork, who did a good job staying stuck for most of the game, though it’s true that he had a better game against Wilfork than his partner did. His stock shouldn’t drop too much because it’s forgivable not to produce against Wilfork and his stock wasn’t super high beforehand, but it dipped nevertheless.
Byron Maxwell, Cornerback, Seattle Seahawks
Maxwell is probably going to be paid well regardless, but after some initial plays where it looked like the Patriots were thinking of targeting Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell, Jeremy Lane and Tharold Simon got the brunt of targets, and Maxwell didn’t shine. Tom Brady isn’t an easy quarterback to trick, but issues closing down on screens, tackling well and maintaining press didn’t help. Still, it’s a good thing he’s not Simon—Maxwell’s stock, like Carpenter’s, doesn’t drop too much, but it still drops.
Dan Connolly, Guard, New England Patriots
Connolly’s stock was singed already after being forced to move from center after an awful beginning of the season and some subpar play throughout the rest of the season, but every bad performance moves one stock down the drain. The Super Bowl is no different. Kevin Williams wasn’t the only player that performed against Connolly, but Michael Bennett had himself quite a day. Though Bennett did good work against Ryan Wendell and Bryan Stork, it was Connolly who had the worst moments.
Stock Up
Kevin Williams, Defensive Tackle, Seattle Seahawks
After the 2013 season, the hope and prevailing wisdom on Kevin Williams after being forced to play nose tackle due to injury was that he perhaps had another year left in him. It just so happens that Williams played much better (and regularly) than most people first imagined he would.
The entirety of Williams’ stock is built on the question of longevity, and he didn’t look like he was flagging after a full season and then some at a more difficult position to play. Williams can flex his versatility for almost any team if he chooses not to retire—the Patriots offered him more money last year—maybe he can give them a shot.
Devin McCourty, Safety, New England Patriots
McCourty will be paid as well as any safety in free agency, but it’s good to see a game when a maestro at the deep ball can’t move one over the middle, while man coverage against scrambles held up in part due to smart positioning and bracketing by free safety McCourty. Interestingly, though not known for his run defense, McCourty had his hand in a few tackles in the run game that were all instances of solid play. The more well-known McCourty twin was by no means perfect—he took at least one poor angle over the middle on a third down—he was very good and certainly helped himself.
Shane Vereen, Running Back, New England Pastriots
Probably the most efficient player on the Patriots offense, Vereen showcased not just his versatility as a runner, catcher and pass blocker, but his pure skill and importance to the offense. Having a number of skills is good, having a number of skills that one does very well is even better. Vereen is a frightening route-runner and whether it was stab, cut, wheel, arrow or flat route, Vereen ran it with ease, fluidity and deception. 11 receptions don’t happen by accident, and he proved his worth as a high-end receiving back.
Stephen Gostkowski, Kick, New England Patriots
Well. He didn’t suck. Extra points are good and those touch backs were great.
Photo Credit: Elise Amendola/AP