Gamblers To Hang Onto First Words Of Super Bowl MVP's Victory Speech

NFL News - February 1st, 2010 - Written by John Ritter

The Super Bowl MVP has varied over the years from quarterbacks to defensive backs to wide receivers, but one constant has remained the same. Regardless who takes home the hardware, there will certainly be a bumbling, grateful speech given with far too many people to thank than there is time for.

Even Peyton Manning, one of the most thoughtful, collected players in the NFL, struggled to get through his speech after winning the 2007 championship and being deemed the top performer.

He is favored to win the award again because the Indianapolis Colts are solid favorites over the New Orleans Saints, but there is a list of about 10-15 other players who certainly have a shot at winning the award and giving the speech.

Previous speeches have involved gratitude to family, God, teammates, coaches and fans. All of those are possibilities in Bodog's prop bet, but thanking God first is the likely scenario at 20-to-23. Then it breaks down into teammates at 5-to-4, not thanking anyone at 9-to-2, and family at 6-to-1. Fans are not listed as an option on the bet, despite the Saints' obvious ties to it's followers.

Manning is the only player in the game that has previously won a Super Bowl MVP, thus making his speech a little easier to predict.

But Colts receiver Pierre Garcon is an intriguing candidate because he is coming into the game on the heels of a 151-yard performance in the AFC Championship.

He also caught a touchdown and won the game's MVP trophy, thanking God for his opportunities first and foremost. As a native of Haiti, he still has family on the island, struggling with the aftermath of a size-seven earthquake and a 6.7 aftershot that ripped apart many of the neighborhoods. This will be his first Super Bowl, and may revert to that speech again in front of the largest international audience for an American sport all year.

The only victory speech that will count according to the NFL Betting Lines listed at Bodog will be the recipient's on field speech during trophy presentations.