The thing is it's not just ESPN/PTI thing.
It's the Sports culture thing, winning and achievement are the most valued.
You play to win the game.
You don't play to get numbers and have excuses.
No, it's a sheep/PTI generation thing.
Randy Moss didn't choose to be drafted by the Vikings. Nor did Jerry Rice choose to be drafted by the 9ers.
Jerry was surrounded by HOFers his whole career. Randy didn't have that luck.
Randy didn't miss the kick that cost him the 98 NFCCG.
Randy had caught the game winning TD in the Super Bowl, until helmet catch happened, and he didn't.
Wes Welker was a nobody in San Diego and Miami. Then he became an All Pro type in NE.
Jerry also cheated during his career, and even said it himself.
Players do their jobs, then depend on 52 others to do theirs. I get why you believe the only ones that matter are the ones that win in the end, because that's as deep as you understand, but that's not what I base players/talent on.
Winning doesn't always tell the whole story.
Stats don't always tell the whole story.
There's so many variables in multiple different areas that can affect what you place on one guy.
Barry Sanders never won anything, I need that to somehow tell me how good he was, or wasn't?
You see QB's throw for 400 yards and lose in playoff games, and see QB's throw for 100 yards and win.
KIurt Warner is 2-3 yards away from being 3-0 in the Super Bowl, he's also a yard away from being 0-3. LAYERS of impact that cannot be measured as to how good he was, or wasn't vs someone else.
You try to simplify it, because you need it simple to understand. It's not always like that.
Of the sports, Basketball is actually the easiest one to dissect, and even that's not perfect. But fewest positions, and players play both ways. Barry Bonds can't pitch to help his team win. Randy Moss can't kick field goals, or play Safety. At least an MJ, or LeBron, or Kobe can play on offense and defense and impact his team on either side, adapt to what his team needs. Can't do that in football or baseball. So simplifying doesn't work.
Absolutely Super Bowls are important, and matter. But it's not excuses when some guys don't get the top glory you speak of. Just as the ones that actually win don't deserve all that much credit for when they do win, because they may not have done all that much to earn that glory.
#Context