PHOENIX — Doug Baldwin led the Seattle Seahawks in catches and yards receiving.

He ranked 42nd in the NFL in both categories.

Forty-second.

It’s no surprise that Hall of Famer and NFL Network’s Deion Sanders dissed Baldwin and the rest of Seattle’s receiving group.

Few analysts give them any credit. So after Baldwin had six catches for 106 yards in the NFC championship game against Green Bay, he directed one of his rants toward Sanders.

“That’s just what `pedestrian, average, mediocre’ receivers do. What’s up my man Deion Sanders?” Baldwin said right after the game.

Criticism of Seattle’s receivers comes from ex-players-turned-broadcasters, other reporters and plenty of fans on social media.

“It’s thrown in my face day in and day out,” Baldwin said. “I have friends that text-message me whatever is out there. I don’t mind it because I use it for extra motivation.”

The New England Patriots aren’t saying anything this week to motivate Baldwin even more going into Sunday’s Super Bowl.

“They work hard, they play hard and they are very passionate,” Patriots safety Patrick Chung said of Seattle’s receivers. “I see that on film. I’m not going to label them. They are here for a reason. They are here because they are good and they can make plays.”

Baldwin has calmed down as the Big Game approaches. He even said he’d rather Marshawn Lynch win the MVP award on Sunday.

“We are not about statistics here, obviously,” Baldwin said. “We only care about winning games and winning championships.”

There’s no Megatron, Dez Bryant or A.J. Green on the Patriots, either. They also have an unheralded group of receivers.

Julian Edelman led New England with 92 catches, but he was 25th in the league in yards receiving with 972. Brandon LaFell had 74 catches for 953 yards.