Super Bowl 2012: Eli Manning and Players Who Can Change Legacies with a Victory

Winning the Super Bowl can take what was a mediocre career and turn it into great one.

Of those star players remaining in the NFL playoffs, there are a few who need to win it all in order to be recognized as one of the better players to ever play the game. 

Reaching the Super Bowl is one thing, but being able to take home the hardware and call yourself a champion does wonders for a football player's career. 

That being said, here are three players who can change their NFL legacies by winning Super Bowl XLVI. 

Eli Manning 

Having already won one Super Bowl, Manning needs to get a second to truly be considered one of the elite quarterbacks of the NFL. 

What's more, winning it all this year would give him one more ring than his brother Peyton, who is regarded as a much better quarterback. 

In the NFL, players are often judged not just on their stats alone, but also by how much they win. There's no bigger stage than the Super Bowl, and if Eli can bring another one to New York he will be a hero. 

Eli has had his ups and downs over the years, but winning a second Super Bowl would be a tremendous accomplishment for him, as well as force his critics to eat their words. 

Joe Flacco 

The Baltimore Ravens' quarterback is known for choking in the big moment and failing to deliver in high-pressure situations, but all of this can change if he wins the Super Bowl. 

It won't be easy, but Flacco has to step up and execute to near perfection if he wants to win it all and change his legacy. For years now, the Ravens have been praised about their defense and how much the stellar defensive play carries the team. 

By winning the Super Bowl, Flacco will be given the respect he so desires. Of course, if he plays terrible and the defense is why the Ravens win it all, Flacco will still take heat. 

He shouldn't get too much though because pointing out the negatives after winning the Super Bowl is pretty ridiculous. 

If Flacco wants to stop being hated on by virtually everyone, he has to deliver a Super Bowl to Baltimore. 

Alex Smith 

Since he was selected No. 1 overall in the 2005 NFL draft, Smith hasn't amounted to much in his career. 

That is, until Jim Harbaugh took over the team this season. Smith has found his clutch gene and is playing superb football for the San Francisco 49ers. 

All those horrible years he had can be wiped away with a Super Bowl victory. The NFL is no easy place to play, especially for a QB. Smith finally has the right coach to help him succeed, but some won't truly forgive the organization for drafting him No. 1 overall until they see consistent success. 

Restoring glory back to the 49ers will re-shape Smith's legacy as an NFL quarterback, but should he never win one, he'll go down as another draft day bust.