Super Bowl 2012: Players That Deserve to Win This Year's Super Bowl Ring

The Super Bowl matchup is finally set in stone. 

Now that every team except the New England Patriots and New York Giants is eliminated, it's time to look at the roster from both teams. Who really deserves a Super Bowl ring this season? Of course, whichever team ends up winning the game will deserve it, but I'm talking about the players that haven't been fortunate enough to celebrate any football player's dream.

These could be players that haven't won a ring yet or could really put themselves in elite class by winning another. We all know about the superstars from each team, but it's really fun to comb the rosters and to see players that have finally been put in a position to succeed. Last year it was Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson.

We always have those arguments where one person will say, "Yeah, he did everything in his career except win a championship."

These players have the opportunity to no longer be included in those conversations. 

Here are a few players from both teams that are most deserving of a Super Bowl victory.

New England FB: Lousaka Polite

Lousaka Polite hasn't contributed at all for the Patriots this season, but if you remember him from his Miami Dolphin days, you'll know that he is a hard-nosed player. He isn't the type to get a lot of credit for what he does, but he is an effective third and short back and nearly always picks up the first down when called upon.

The last two seasons with Miami, he converted 30-31 on third-and-one or fourth-and-one. Again, not flashy, but effective.

Polite has been in the league for seven seasons and has yet to experience much team success. With Tom Brady leading his team, he may have the opportunity to be on a championship team for the first time in his career. 

New York QB: Eli Manning

Yes, I know Eli Manning has already won a Super Bowl ring, but what if he wins another? And what if it happens to once again be against one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in Tom Brady?

Can we really call Eli "elite" or do we even push the issue and make the argument that he's even better than his brother Peyton Manning?

Of course a lot of things have to play out before we begin these arguments, but it's worth thinking about. Eli has had a fantastic season and has played brilliant this postseason.

If he plays well and finds a way to once again knock off Bill Belichick and company, I guarantee many people will feel differently about Peyton Manning's younger brother than they did before the season started. 

New England WR: Chad Ochocinco

This has to be the most obvious choice of any player on either of these teams. He's in his 11th season and hasn't really accomplished anything. Sure, he is a well-known receiver and has over 11,000 career receiving yards and 67 receiving touchdowns. He hasn't won a single playoff game he's actually played in.

This season with New England has arguably been the worst of Ochiocinco's career and he hasn't exactly been what the Patriots have hoped for. A season of only 15 catches for less than 300 yards aren't the numbers we're use to seeing from this guy.

Regardless, adding a Super Bowl ring to his resume will just about complete his career and give the receiver with a huge ego something else to brag about.

New York S: Antrel Rolle

We all know all of the great players that are on that Giant defensive line, but nearly every one of them has already won a ring. One of the most underrated players on the entire defense is safety Antrel Rolle. He's in his second year with New York, and in those two seasons he has 162 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Before his Giant days, he was stuck on a few brutal Arizona Cardinal teams. Although he was just a play away from winning the Super Bowl in 2008 before Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes pulled off their little miracle.

Rolle has been a consistent player throughout his career and a Super Bowl ring could possibly be the start to giving him the respect he deserves.

New England DE: Shaun Ellis

This may be Shaun Ellis' last chance to try and win a Super Bowl ring. It's his first year as a Patriot, as he spent the last 11 years with the New York Jets. Despite not producing much for New England this season, he does have seasons where he's had 12.5, 11, 8.5 and eight sacks. He has a total of 73.5 sacks in his career.

He's one of those players that has just shown up to work everyday and has given it all he has. Doesn't receive much credit, as he's only made two Pro Bowls, but a Super Bowl victory will finally give him something he's been working hard for the last 12 seasons.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]