Super Bowl XLIV: The Top "Under the Radar Players" To Watch For

Mark Twain said, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." 

Okay, so it's not exactly the most quirky out and there quote around town, but it gets the job done. Talking about getting the job done, that is something that both the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints hope to achieve in two weeks in Miami.

With the usual spotlight names such as Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Matt Stover, and Reggie Wayne grabbing the headlines, there is little room for discussion of the players who aren't taking Super Bowl 44 for granted and are hoping to have the game of their lives on that given Sunday.

With both rosters packing star-studded talent and both coaches having their jaws exercised due to over-excessive questioning, rookies and once-deemed-talentless superstars may not be grabbing the headlines, but they are at least being noticed. Here are the top four underrated players to watch for in two weeks.

1. Tracy Porter (New Orleans Saints)

With the corner back position lacking a real attention grabbing player, Tracy Porter will be expected to fill the void for the Saints. Defensively, New Orleans has been astounding.  Given they have allowed 568 passing yards during this postseason, the Saints defense has been successful in the times when it matters. 

The old cliche Digging it out in the trenches is exactly what New Orleans has done all season long.

Much of the credit, though, is due to the Saints secondary and Tracy Porter in particular. With an interception this week against the Minnesota Vikings, Tracy and his teammates enabled a complete shutdown of wide receivers Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, and Bernard Berrian and ultimately won the game for the Saints.

One thing that Tracy has proven to be a genius at is knocking the ball free. Loose ball handing by wide receivers is often taken advantage of by number 22, and if he gets you in a one-on-one tackle, nine out of 10 times he'll go for the strip. 

This could not only prove costly for New Orleans, but it could prove costly for Indianapolis as well. Tracy Porter vs. Austin Collie is an inevitable matchup at least once in this game, so pay close attention to Porter's hands.

2. Gary Brackett (Indianapolis Colts)

If you looked up underrated in the dictionary, chances are you'd see a picture of Gary right next to it. Unfortunately, though, for a man of his stature, he would likely take up a page, rather than just a column.

Jokes aside, Brackett's play has been vital for Indianapolis, not only in the postseason, but all season long. 

The seventh-year pro has had a rather quiet season with only 99 tackles, one interception, and one sack, but for the Colts, his presence will be needed in Miami, especially when it comes to stopping Reggie Bush, who will be on the go from the beginning, knowing Sean Payton.

His tackling stats may not be the highest in the league, but his outside play is what has given him his reputation. Bush is sure to look for a quick seam on the outer sidelines every once in a while. More often that not, though, expect a blue-and-white jersey to be there with the name Brackett stitched on the back.

3. Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans Saints)

Football followers and non-bandwagon New Orleans fans, you may remember Shockey's storied, controversial but overall great career with the New York Giants. A favorite of mine growing up, Shockey provided us all with great tight end plays and numerous touchdowns that constitute his resume.

During the Giants' 2008 Super Bowl run, Shockey was injured. He was down, he was shattered, and although he got a ring, it wasn't the same ecstatic feeling that the rest of the team had.

Now that he's back, a new face in a new place, the long-haired rocker is set to make an impact off the Saints' line of scrimmage. Always a force on the field, Shockey's presence is equally as vital for New Orleans as his game play. A leader type of guy if you will, Shockey will be expected to keep the younger guys in the right state of mind and make the big plays when it matters.

Heck, he'd want to. For the season he's had, it would be almost disappointing to see him vanish into the shadow of Marques Colston and Pierre Thomas.

4. Antoine Bethea (Indianapolis Colts)

Mediocre would be the best word to describe him, but he's been okay at times. With four interceptions, zero sacks, and two interceptions, Antoine is the meaning of the term "stock market season."

With Drew Brees throwing like an elite Joe Montana during his glory days, the Colts' free safety and strong safety both need to be 100 percent accurate on reading their opponents' routes. One mistake, and Brees will burn you. He proved that against Minnesota this week.

With no Bob Sanders and no true leader in the backfield, it is no Castaway set just yet, but the Colts' safeties may need more than a volleyball to talk to come Sunday. 

For a position that will receive little media attention, both the Saints' and the Colts' backfield men will have the opportunity to stay off TV and focus on their game. Antoine Bethea needs a big game, and he needs some big tackling efforts. If Bush gets going (which is always unpredictable), tackles may be needed as a last minute resort to save six. Colts fans better just hope that Antoine and Melvin Bullitt are in tune; if not, it could cost them the game that they so dearly wish to win.

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