PHOENIX — Byron Maxwell no longer feels like the other member of the Legion of Boom.
The Seattle Seahawks cornerback might not be an original member of the band. But given a chance after Brandon Browner left Seattle, Maxwell hasn’t missed a beat.
And now the fourth-year player from Clemson will get a chance on football’s biggest stage Sunday in Super Bowl XLIX against New England.
Maxwell isn’t shying away from the spotlight.
“I mean the sky’s the limit,” he said. “Defensive MVP of the Super Bowl would be nice. That’s what I’m saying, there’s no ceilings. I just want to take it as far as I can take it.”
It’s easy to be overshadowed when you play in the same unit as Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Their immense skill is matched, especially in Sherman’s case, by outsized personalities.
But Maxwell has made his mark through consistency and dependability. His 39 tackles are a career high. He rarely has been beat even though quarterbacks prefer to throw his way to avoid Sherman on the opposite side.
“I don’t think Maxwell gets enough credit because he’s a hell of a corner,” Seattle linebacker Bruce Irvin said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in (Maxwell) and it’s been a privilege to play with him the last three years. I think he’s a great guy and I don’t think he gets enough credit as is due.”
Maxwell doesn’t feel like he plays fourth fiddle to the other Seahawks in the defensive backfield. He just doesn’t seek the spotlight.
“To the media it would seem that way, but I’m no pushover,” he said. “That’s who they are, but this is who I am, just cool, chillin’.”
Maxwell played in every game last year and inherited the starting role from Browner, who missed much of last season due to injuries and a drug suspension. Browner signed as a free agent with New England in the offseason.
Maxwell was ready for the challenge, even if he knew opposing quarterbacks would try to pick on him.
“He welcomes it,” Chancellor said. “He loves it. That’s just more opportunities. We want opportunities so we can take advantage of it, and that’s what Max does. Any time you want to call him a weak link or want to pick on him, that’s good for him. That’s an advantage for him.”
Maxwell missed three games earlier this season with a calf injury. But even that provided an opportunity to add versatility to his game.
While out, second-year cornerback Tharold Simon shone in Maxwell’s absence. That made Seattle’s coaches comfortable with shifting Maxwell inside to guard larger slot receivers while Simon remained outside in nickel defensive alignments, when five defensive backs are used.
It made Maxwell more valuable to the Seahawks. It also made him a bigger catch on the free agent market, which he will test this offseason.
It will be tough for Seattle to resign Maxwell and stay under the salary cap. After this season, quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner will become eligible to sign long-term contracts, with Wilson likely commanding $20 million a year and Wagner $7 million.
The Seahawks already have highest-paid defensive backfield in the NFL with Sherman, Thomas and Chancellor slated to make a combined $113.7 million.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider said he will try everything he can to keep Maxwell in Seattle.
“Quite frankly, one of our first priorities is to talk to Maxey,” Schneider said last week. “He’s going to be a highly-sought free agent after the season, and he should be, but we would like to have the opportunity to try to retain him.”
Maxwell has at least one more game in Seattle. He would like to make Sunday one that keeps him in the minds of Seahawks fans for years.
