Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Players Who Will Choke on Huge Stage

The following players will be well served to enjoy the untainted excitement of the Super Bowl lead up, because this is as good as it is going to get for them. They are going to choke once the bright lights of the big moment shine down upon them. 

Here are three players that are going look back on the Super Bowl with pangs of regret. 

Giants' WR Victor Cruz

Cruz has salsa danced his way onto the NFL stage out of nowhere. He was an essential piece to this offense as he finished with 82 catches and 1,536 yards. 

He had numerous clutch plays, but he also had a few big drops, and one exceedingly head-scratching ridiculously bonehead play. 

Cruz seems to almost get a little too amped up at times, and this leads to potentially fatal mistakes. With all of the pressure and hype of this game, Cruz is bound to make a big gaffe that costs his team. 

Patriots' TE Rob Gronkowski

I hesitate to put Gronkowski on this list because he is dealing with an injury.

However, if you are on the field, then you are expected to perform. This injury is going to make Gronk much easier to cover, and it is going to limit the production of a man that has been crucial to the Patriots' success.

His lack of production will lead to a frustrated Gronk, and that is going to lead to a bonehead play or penalty.

Patriots DB Devin McCourty

McCourty has had a rough season in the Patriots' battered secondary. Since the last week of the season, the Patriots have been moving McCourty to safety in the nickel package. 

The Giants will exploit him all game long. Hakeem Nicks is going to toast him when McCourty is lined up at corner, and the Giants coaching staff is undoubtedly scheming ways as I type to exploit him when he is playing safety. 

Look for the Giants to take advantage of his inexperience at safety and burn him deep.