James “Sweet Feet” White, sporting the number “28” for the New England Patriots may be the most underrated player in the entire league. He’s the product of consistency and reliability in an otherwise known, Bill Belichick, Russian roulette style backfield.
White grew up in Fort Lauderdale, FL and attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School. There, he would begin his road to attain his NFL dreams. He helped St. Thomas to the 2008 National Title while (fun fact) splitting carries with Giovanni Bernard who currently plays for the Cincinnati Bengals.
White left St. Thomas Aquinas H.S. in Fort Lauderdale, FL for the University of Wisconsin after his Prep Football days. His Wisconsin tenure included the 2010 BIG 10 Freshmen of the Year, and a Wisconsin record of longest rush from scrimmage at 92 yards. White amassed a total of 4,685 all purpose yards while again, splitting carriers with a few more guys’ names you’ll most likely recall… Montee Ball (bust), and Melvin Gordon (stud).
Sweet Feet, was drafted in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots at 130th overall.
He made it, but things didn’t start well. He was inactive for 13 games his rookie season and that included the Super Bowl XLIX win over the Seahawks for Tom and Co. Could you imagine sitting that one out? Ouch.
However, you can’t keep a good man down. James finally busted onto the scene with a 2 TD performance to seal a win in week 11 after the Pats lost Dion Lewis to a season ending knee injury. He seized his opportunity and was Belichick approved from then on.
A player who throughout his entire career, including the high school gridiron, has had to prove himself worthy over and over and over again. Wake up people.
Which brings us to one of the most low-key Super Bowl MVP snubbing’s in NFL history. Sweet Feet stockpiled 139 total yards while breaking TWO… not one… TWO NFL records. He recorded 14 receptions as the most receptions in a Super Bowl game which was previously set and held by Demaryius Thomas just a few years earlier. Secondly, he recorded 3 TD’s and a crucial Two-Point Conversion for a total of 20 points, which is the record for most points scored. That game he also became the ONLY player to score a game winner in a Super Bowl overtime (due to that being the first time the Super Bowl has ever had an Overtime). It was thought to be such a snub, that the GOAT himself (Tom Brady, not Patrick Mahomes… yet) gave the Super Bowl MVP prize to him and stated that White deserved it more.
Number 28 is currently 3rd in the NFL in receptions at the RB position with 32 so far on the year, as well as 3rd in reception yards with 270 behind Saquon Barkley and Alvin Kamara. All while, again, sharing backfield duties. Yet is he getting the glory that these other guys (deservingly) get? No. The disrespect. #ImForJames
Categories: NFL, Uncategorized