A History of Super Bowl Shenanigans

Image via Complex Original

Game: Super Bowl I, Los Angeles (1967)
People involved: Max McGee, Green Bay Packers

Incident: Just in case you thought this was something of a modern trend, the first incident of Super Bowl shenanigans occurred the night before the very first big game. Not expecting to actually play in the Super Bowl, backup tight end Max McGee violated team curfew and went out drinking all over Los Angeles. He even reportedly told starter Boyd Dowler the following morning, "I hope you don't get hurt. I'm not in very good shape." Yikes.

Result: As luck would have it, Dowler got injured on the Pack's second drive. McGee quickly had to shake off his, "oh, crap," face, and get into the game. Luckily for him, and Green Bay, McGee finished the day with seven receptions for 138 yards and two scores, helping the Pack to a 35-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Game: Super Bowl XIII, Miami (1979)
People involved: Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, Dallas Cowboys

Incident: Throughout his career, Hollywood had a reputation for being a bit of a badass party animal. But Henderson took the rollercoaster that was his life to the next level when he decided to hit the slopes—on the sideline. Tucking an inhaler of liquefied cocaine inside his uniform, Henderson still couldn't find the extra energy needed to stop the 'Boys being edged by the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 35-31. He also did a good job of pissing off Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw before the game.

Result: Well, Henderson's tale was really just beginning. Despite throwing away his football career and doing a two-year bid because of cocaine, he would have the last laugh after winning $28 million in the Texas lottery in 2000. He's also reportedly been clean and sober for 30 years. This has Hollywood reenactment written all over it, who ya got playing Henderson?

Game: Super Bowl XX, New Orleans (1986)
People involved: Jim McMahon, Chicago Bears

Incident: Known for his bravado and brash attitude, Jim McMahon once again made headlines for a stunt he pulled at a Bears practice before Super Bowl XX. McMahon took a break to drop his pants and moon a news helicopter hovering overhead.

Result: Everyone got a laugh, and the Bears pummeled the Patriots 46-10. It looks like the mooning was nothing compared to some of the other fuckery McMahon engaged in down in New Orleans.

Game: Super Bowl XXIII, Miami (1989)
People involved: Stanley Wilson Sr., Cincinnati Bengals

Incident: After being late to the last team meeting before the game, the fullback was found in the bathtub of his hotel room sweating and shivering, high on cocaine.

Result: Wilson was left off the active roster for the game, which the Bengals lost 20-16 to the San Francisco 49ers. Already a two-time offender of the NFL's drug policy, his third violation led to a lifetime ban. Three strikes and you're out, Stanley. Damn, that blows.

Game: Super Bowl XXVII, Pasadena, Calif. (1993)
People involved: Darryl Talley, Buffalo Bills

Incident: You know this can't be good for Talley because it involves a run in with Magic Johnson at the Sunset Boulevard hotspot, Roxbury. But it's not what you think, or at least not what we thought. Talley thought he was being funny when he jabbed HIV-positive Magic, for being in the club in the first place. Johnson's bodyguard apparently didn't share the same sense of humor. He decked Talley in the face for his remarks.

Result: The Bills quickly scrambled to deny the incident ever occurred, but several Cowboys saw a bloodied Talley on the floor with no teammates coming to his aid. What were you thinkin', son? The Bills were shook, and the Cowboys knew what to do with a wounded animal. They thumped Buffalo to the tune of 52-17. For the love of god, just stay inside the hotel.

Game: Super Bowl XXXI, New Orleans (1997)
People involved: Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers

Incident: Unfortunately for the Packers, a part of Favre's MVP season in 1996 was spent responding to reports of his alcohol and pain killing medication use. That talk resurfaced the very night before the Packers were set to take on the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, as Favre was reportedly seen partying on Bourbon Street with a beer in his hand.

Result: Favre and the Pack downplayed the reports, despite the fact the MVP was sighted puking right before kick off. The team said he suffered from the flu. Sure, guys, whatever. Favre went on to throw for two scores and run in another as Green Bay rolled to a 35-21 win over the Patriots. Don't ever complain about being hung over at work.

Game: Super Bowl XXXIII, Miami (1999)
People involved: Eugene Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Incident: The same day he received the Bart Starr award for "high moral character," the safety known for his strong religious beliefs was arrested for trying to get orally blessed by a woman of a somewhat lesser standard of moral ethics. Unfortunately for Robinson, that woman was an undercover officer. That's what you get for only trying to spend $40 on some sloppy top.

Result: Although Robinson admitted he didn't get much sleep upon being released from prison the night before the game, he should probably consider himself lucky. At least the only time he got burned that weekend was when he allowed Rod Smith to get an 80-yard touchdown as the Denver Broncos cruised to a 34-19 win.

Game: Super Bowl XXXIV, Atlanta (2000)
People involved: Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

Incident: Ray Lewis wasn't even playing in Super Bowl XXXIV, but he still found a way to become the center of negative attention. The former Ravens linebacker got into a brawl at an Atlanta nightclub, that resulted in the stabbing death of two men.

Result: Lewis ended up being acquitted of murder charges—because, you know—but did plead guilty to a misdemeanor obstruction of justice charge. Lewis would go on to win the Super Bowl the very next year, and be named MVP in the process. Remember kids, a year on probation beats life in jail every time.

Game: Super Bowl XXXVI, New Orleans (2002) / Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, Ariz. (2008)
People involved: New England Patriots

Incident: The allegations that Bill Belichik and his staff had engaged in illegally videotaping coaching signals and actual practices were leveled early in the 2008 season. Belichick and the Patriots were punished by the league and forced to apologize. But the plot thickened when former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh came out with claims that the Pats had taped the St. Louis Rams walkthrough before their Super Bowl clash back in 2002.

Result: The Patriots denied the allegations, but perhaps they took their tole. The undefeated Patriots missed out on perfection with a 17-14 loss to the New York Giants. Walsh was dismissed as shaky, and the Boston Herald, who reported the story, eventually ran a retraction. Did the Patriots have a little extra edge when they took down the greatest show on turf? The world may never know.

Game: Super Bowl XXXVII, San Diego (2003)
People involved: Barret Robbins, Oakland Raiders

Incident: Twenty four hours before the big game, Robbins, who had a history of depression, disappeared from the team hotel and ended up going on a drinking binge in Tijuana, Mexico. Can't make this shit up. Here's the kicker: Robbins claimed he was so delusional that he thought the Raiders already won the game.

Result: After the Raiders' starting center finally resurfaced, he was sent home for being an incoherent mess. Robbins got to watch the Tampa Bay Bucs crush the Raiders, 48-21, from a San Diego hospital. He would later say that he thought if he played in the game, the Raiders would have won. Maybe he snuck some tequila into that IV. Another reason a Super Bowl in the north isn't such a bad idea.

Game: Super Bowl XXXVIII, Houston, Texas (2004)
People involved: Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake

Incident: Widely considered one of the biggest Super Bowl scandals, in history although we're not exactly sure why, this famous wardrobe malfunction during Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's halftime performance changed the game forever. You remember it well, at the end of their show Justin ripped off a piece of Janet's outfit and for a brief moment the world got a peak at her boob and a nipple shield.

Result: The NFL took swift action by making sure MTV never produced a halftime show again. The CBS network was fined a record $550,000 by the FCC, and we will never have any sort of sexually implicit halftime performance ever again. *sigh* The FCC fine was later overturned by a judge. Small victory.

Game: Super Bowl XLI, Miami (2007)
People involved: Prince

Incident: During the halftime show at Super Bowl XLI, Prince treated the crowd to a performance of Purple Rain. However, as you can see from the picture above, Prince made it look more like he was about to make it rain if you know what we're saying.

Result: The clean-cut NFL did not see the performance as offensive, or as a deliberate attempt to spark controversy. Did Prince know exactly what he was doing? You be the judge.

Game: Super Bowl XLI, Miami, Florida (2007)
People involved: Tank Johnson, Chicago Bears

Incident: Super Bowl XLI was billed as a matchup of the Bears great defense against Peyton's prolific Colts offense, but Tank Johnson offered an interesting subplot. The Bears defensive tackle had been arrested just six weeks prior to the big game, his third time in the previous year and a half. This time, Johnson was arrested after police found unregistered assault rifles in his possession. You know, because he thought the Bears O needed a little extra firepower.

Result: The Bears suspended Johnson for a game, and although a judge decried he couldn't leave the state of Illinois, he was granted permission to travel for the Super Bowl. Peyton proceeded to shred Tank and Co. en route a 29-17 victory.

Game: Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, Ariz. (2008)
People involved: Willie Andrews, New England Patriots

Incident: Leave it to a backup safety to put his name front and center for all the wrong reasons. Just two days after being stunned by the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, Willie Andrews was caught with $6,800 in cash and a half-pound of marijuana in an unregistered Ford Crown Victoria in Lowell, Mass.

Result: Andrews was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, oh, and for operating an unregistered motor vehicle. Ironic that the day Andrew was caught would've been the day of the Patriots victory parade. Andrews was arrested again in June of 2008 for assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm, and the Patriots cut ties with him the following day.

Game: Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, Arizona (2008)
People involved: Adrian Awasom, New York Giants

Incident: Being on injured reserve after breaking his neck during the regular season, the backup defensive end just had way too much time on his hands. This can only end poorly. Awasom partied like there was no tomorrow, and ended up getting arrested on suspicion of "extreme DUI," that means he was double the legal limit for all of you non-legal eagles.

Result: Awasom was sent home and couldn't even be with his team for one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history, as the Giants defeated the undefeated Patriots 17-14. At least he didn't have to pay his own airfare to the game like former Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey.

Game: Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa, Florida (2009)
People involved: Comcast

Incident: Fans watch the Super Bowl for the excitement, the drama, and the debauchery? During Super Bowl XLIII fans in Arizona were on the edge of their seat watching the Cardinals lock horns with the Steelers, but for a brief period that all went out the window when 30 seconds of adult entertainment took the place of 300-pound lineman going at each other.

Result: Comcast, the network that broadcast the free show, claimed the glitch was "an isolated, malicious act." Customers received a $10 credit for their emotional stress, but we bet more than a few dudes welcomed the snafu. Eventually, the guy responsible fessed up for the hack.

Game: Super Bowl XLIV, Miami (2010)
People involved: Warren Sapp, NFL Network

Incident: The former defensive tackle was in Miami covering Super Bowl XLIV with the NFL Network, but his conduct turned out to be anything but professional. The day before the big game, Sapp was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery. The police were led to believe that he assaulted his girlfriend at the Shore Club Hotel at 5 a.m. and tried to choke her. It's a proven fact that nothing good happens after 2 a.m., five is just, well you see what happens. Sapp claimed he was trying to help her up, and she fell. Nice one, Warren.

Result: The NFL Network pulled Sapp from the coverage, but things would turn out okay for the big man. Towards the end of March that year, prosecutors dropped the charges because of inconsistencies between the victim's statements and evidence. The former Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion dodged a bullet there.

Game: Super Bowl XLVI (Indianapolis (2012)
People involved: Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers

Incident: Smith, who has made more than a few waves in his first two NFL seasons, got in trouble the week before Super Bowl XLVI, despite his team not even being involved in the game or the fact that he was no where near Indianapolis. After his Niners lost the NFC championship to the Giants, Smith obviously needed to get over the loss one way or another. Unfortunately for him, he chose to cope by drinking down in Miami Beach and trying to drive home. Yikes.

Result: The former Mizzou Tiger was arrested by Miami Beach police on a DUI charge, and held on a $1,000 bond. The charges were later reduced, but Smith's shenanigans continue.