Super Bowl XLIV: Picking an Unlikely MVP

If you're a big "props bet" guy/gal, this may be an article you take into serious consideration .

The days of Joe Montana winning three Super Bowl MVP's are long gone. Just look at the 1997 Super Bowl, where Brett Favre played a heck of a game (three total touchdowns), only to see kick/punt returner Desmond Howard run away with the game MVP award.

And then there was Deion Branch a few years ago for the Patriots. Or, if it wasn't an obscure guy winning the award, it was another guy stealing the show in the final moments.

James Harrison and his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown had him as the front-runner for last year's Super Bowl. Of course, that was before Santonio Holmes put the finishing touches on his 138-yard (and game-winning touchdown) performance.

Or how about the year before, when Wes Welker racked up 11 catches for over 100 yards and was a lock for the award, only to see Eli Manning throw a touchdown in the final minutes to Plaxico Burress , giving Manning the individual trophy.

So, will it be another Manning this year (Peyton), Drew Brees , or another popular, well-known player?

Or will another obscure player come out of nowhere, or at least out of the shadows, to steal the show?

Here's The Red Zone Report 's top five guesses at who could be this year's unlikely MVP winner of the league's biggest game:

Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis Colts

Granted, Freeney isn't even a lock to play in this game, but that's the beauty of him being unlikely to win it. Add the fact that there has been just one defensive end given the award in Super Bowl history, and you've got yourself a real unlikely hero in Freeney.

The Saints' offensive line only allowed 20 sacks on Drew Brees during the regular season, and shut the top ranked Minnesota Vikings pass rush down (for the most part), so if Freeney can do some damage, he'd be a great candidate for this award.

Reggie Bush , RB, New Orleans Saints

Bush broke-out in a huge way and helped the Saints destroy the Arizona Cardinals, only to come back down to earth a bit in the NFC Championship game.

But Bush loves nothing more than to perform on a big stage, so where better than the Super Bowl to suggest to everyone that he isn't an NFL bust?

There's no question Bush isn't a great running back, but is he a great performer? It's very arguable that he's been worth the selection, especially with his team in the Super Bowl.

If he does make a huge impact, it will be by channeling Desmond Howard and earning the award as a returner, while potentially offering a big lift as a rotational back and as a receiver. With his explosiveness, he's probably a decent bet, but still more unlikely than a few of the other options.

Dallas Clark, TE, Indianapolis Colts

When's the last time a tight end (if you can even call Clark that; he's basically a receiver) won the Super Bowl MVP?

Try never.

Clark has the ability and talent (and role) to pull it off, though, and become the first tight end recognized as "the" guy in his offense in the biggest game of the season.

With the proven ability to score multiple times in any given game, rack up over 10 catches, and crack well over 100 yards, Clark has to be a quiet candidate, especially if Peyton Manning confides in him early and often. And if there is one weakness in the Saints' pass defense, it's their ability to consistently cover the tight end.

See: Visanthe Shiancoe.

Darren Sharper, FS, New Orleans Saints

Sharper is a big name, but after having a quiet NFC Championship game, all eyes are no longer on him and his play-making ability.

He easily has the potential to pull a Larry Brown-esque performance out of nowhere and pick off Peyton Manning once or twice. The question is, can he bring all those defensive touchdowns to the big stage and help the Saints win their first championship?

Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts

He's Gridiron Experts ' X-Factor for the Super Bowl, so why not?

Collie is already a master in the slot, and he's only a rookie. So who better to steal the Super Bowl spotlight than a rookie receiver who operates out of the slot, came from BYU, and is white?

White receivers are a rarity, and so are white receiver that are as talented as Collie. Pierre Garcon ranks right up there with Collie as a decent "unlikely" MVP possibility, as he hails from a D-III school, and has burst onto the scene behind a magnificent Peyton Manning-led offense.

Hit the polls to see who B/R thinks has the best shot at being named MVP out of this list, and then go here for all your NFL needs.