In 1993, Bills linebacker Darryl Talley allegedly was punched in the nose by one of Magic Johnson’s bodyguards before Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena. That’s what witnesses reported, anyway. Talley denied the altercation, right through game day. The Bills lost. The Bills always lose.
In 1997, Brett Favre was photographed at Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans during Super Bowl week with beer in hand, after making public his fight with addiction to painkillers and alcohol. Favre then became sick before the big game, although he played just fine in victory.
In 1999, before Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami, Falcon safety Eugene Robinson was arrested by an undercover cop for soliciting sex on the eve of the game. Robinson played in the Super Bowl but did not fare well. In 2003, at Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, Oakland center Barret Robbins disappeared on Saturday and headed across the border to Tijuana for a day of partying.