Super Bowl 2012: 6 Stars Under Most Pressure to Perform in Big Game

The NFL is a "stars" league, and the Super Bowl is designed to be the grandest stage possible for those stars to shine.

Legends have been made and broken on the field during Super Bowl contests and the need for premier players to perform is never higher than it is on Super Sunday.

Super Bowl XLVI has no shortage of star power with names like Brady and Manning filling up the spotlight, but there are other players who are under enormous pressure to perform if their teams hope to raise the Lombardi Trophy.

Along with Brady and Manning, here are the players that New York and New England are relying on most to perform.

Eli Manning

The New York Giants must feel like they finally have the quarterback they had hoped for in Eli Manning. Even though he has already helped bring a Super Bowl to the Giants, this season could be the first time that he almost single-handedly took them there.

Manning was the king of the fourth quarter this season and if he can keep that trend going in the Super Bowl, he may cement his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks to play in New York.

Furthermore, Eli is threatening to climb out of the shadow of his brother Peyton and as much as he may say that's not on his mind, everyone should know that he is probably lying. In order to be the best, he first needs to add one more championship than his brother. 

Rob Gronkowski

"Gronk" is still in the throes of one of the most productive seasons ever by a tight end in NFL history. In order to put the perfect cap on it, he needs to help his team win the final game of the season.

The biggest hurdle in the way of Gronkowski being dominant in this game is his health, and in the end it may give him an excuse should he not deliver.

Still, Gronkowski knows as well as Tom Brady that for their offense to stay on schedule, he needs to be a big part of it.

Ahmad Bradshaw

If the New York Giants are going to win this game, they need to play it their way and that means running the ball. Eli Manning has shown the ability to get into a shootout and win, but the truth is that New York is built to run the ball.

Ahmad Bradshaw needs to be as strong inside as he is fast on the outside and demonstrate his all around game that helps dominate the clock for the Giants.

His offensive line will obviously play a huge role in helping him do that, but when opportunities materialize, Bradshaw has to capitalize.

Kyle Arrington

The New England Patriots are not going to survive if both Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz go off in the Super Bowl for over 100 yards and a touchdown. Therefore, it is up to Kyle Arrington to shut down one of them, or at least one side of the field.

Arrington led the Patriots in interceptions with seven, which was also tied for most in the NFL this season, and New England will be hoping to steal the ball from Eli Manning as much as possible.

Arrington has to know that he has the potential to become "posterized" by Nicks or Cruz after they turn a short slant into a 70-yard touchdown run. Brady and company need to hope that he is up to the challenge. 

Jason Pierre-Paul

The Giants are not going to win if Tom Brady feels no pressure from the defensive line. Jason Pierre-Paul seems to be the heir apparent to Michael Strahan and he must play like it in the big game.

Pierre-Paul is on the precipice of becoming a megastar in the NFL with the likes of DeMarcus Ware and Julius Peppers, but on February 5th, he will have the chance to add some hardware that none of those players have, a Super Bowl ring.

JPP knows that he has to get up close and personal with Tom Brady on several occasions in order for his Giants to complete their magical run.

Tom Brady

On Super Bowl Sunday, Tom Brady will have the chance to join the likes of only Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana as four-time champion quarterbacks.

If he were to do so, there are many who would anoint him the "Greatest To Ever Play" which cannot help but enter his mind on a fairly regular basis. 

Brady knows what is on the line, and it is his calm demeanor around such things which allows him to perform in these situations. 

Although, the difference between 4-1 and 3-2 in Super Bowls is an entire legacy apart.