Super Bowl Predictions 2012: 9 Monster Contracts That Will Come out of Big Game

The "Larry Brown Factor," as I call it, tends to play out on a consistent basis following the Super Bowl. Some marginal player, who hasn't had much success in the past, steps up in the big game and earns himself a huge contract.

While this might not be the case following Sunday's Super Bowl because there are a ton of valuable players set to hit the free-agent market from both teams in March, you can bet other organizations will attempt to find that "diamond in the rough."

This article is going to focus on nine players from Super Bowl XLVI who could find themselves hitting gold after standout performances on Sunday.

9. Brian Hoyer, QB, New England Patriots

The idea of Tom Brady's backup having any impact in the Super Bowl has to scare the crap out of Patriots faithfuls, but it has to be taken into consideration with the New York Giants pass-rush.

Just imagine, if you will, a scenario in which Brady goes down to injury and Brian Hoyer has to step up and lead the Patriots offense.

Something quite to this level has never happened in the Super Bowl. Sure, Mark Rypien led the Washington Redskins to a Super Bowl, as did Jeff Hostetler with the New York Giants. Both were backups who had to come in and replace the starting quarterback midseason, only to win the Holy Grail.

In fact, Tom Brady made Drew Bledsoe into a modern version of Wally Pipp in 2001 when he led the Patriots to the Super Bowl.

Insiders around the NFL have concluded that Brian Hoyer has a future as a starting quarterback in the NFL, and the Super Bowl couldn't be a bigger stage for the backup.

For the purpose of full disclosure, I hope to the heavens and earth that Brady doesn't get injured. But this would make for a really interesting story.

8. Dave Tollefson, DE, New York Giants

Most of the focus on the Giants front seven goes to the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

However, Dave Tollefson has had a strong under-the-radar season.

With the Patriots sure to focus on those three aforementioned pass-rushers, there is a strong possibility that Tollefson will be facing one-on-one coverage.

If this happens, you can expect him to put pressure on Tom Brady and grab a sack or two.

It goes without saying that teams are looking for players to rush the passer. If Tollefson can show that he has that ability on the biggest stage, you can expect him to get a rather lofty free-agent contract.

7. Chase Blackburn, LB, New York Giants

The New York Giants are going to do everything in their power to retain the services of Chase Blackburn, who impressed a great deal after joining their defensive rotation in early December.

It isn't a coincidence that the Giants defense improved a great deal once he got more playing time.

If Blackburn can man the middle of the field, somewhat limiting the success of the Patriots' two-headed monster at tight end, he will get more play on the open market.

After all, good coverage linebackers are hard to come by.

With that said, the sample size for this seventh year linebacker is extremely small at this point, and there is no telling that his last two months of play isn't a mirage. He did start 29 games in 2008 and 2009, without much success.

Buyer beware.

6. Rocky Bernard, DL, New York Giants

Rocky Bernard has been a consistently good player for about seven seasons now.

He is getting a lot more press recently because of the success of the Giants front seven in 2011.

Front office and talent evaluators know exactly what the former Texas A&M standout brings to the table, no matter how unheralded it might be.

This means that the defensive linemen is going to get some decent play on the free-agent market, no matter what happens in the Super Bowl.

A great performance against the elite New England Patriots offense will dramatically change his free-agent stock from an average addition to a major difference-maker.

This is where the Super Bowl and its stage does become somewhat of an individual platform for players to show what they can do.

5. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, New England Patriots

This is a real wild card.

The New England Patriots definitely do not rely on the running game a great deal.

Instead, they focus on timing runs that are called in formation at the line by Tom Brady.

So it is extremely hard to gauge the ability of one of their backs to be an every-down player, because they don't utilize them in that aspect.

Green-Ellis did gain more than 1,000 yards in 2010, averaging a solid 4.4 per rush.  He has also accumulated 24 rushing touchdowns over the course of the last two seasons.

If he is able to give New England a spark on offense, it will only go a long way in this franchise grabbing their fourth Super Bowl Championship.

It may also be his ticket out of New England and to a city that offers up more in terms of money and prestige.

4. Mario Manningam, WR, New York Giants

In a normal offseason, Mario Manningham would be one of the most sought-after free agent wide receivers on that market.

However, that position is absolutely stacked this season.

He is going to have a lot of competition heading into free agency, which could cause the former Michigan product to lose out on a huge contract.

I say could because he has one stage that these other receivers, outside of Wes Welker, don't have: the Super Bowl. With the Patriots' struggles against the pass and the fact that the Giants have Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz ahead of Manningham, there is a strong possibility that No. 82 finds himself in one-on-one situations.

If this happens, you can fully expect Manningham to have a huge game.

Teams like the San Francisco 49ers need a go-to guy on the outside, and Mario Manningham can play himself into that market with a huge game on Sunday.

Either way, it is difficult to envision him returning to the Giants in 2012.

3. Jake Ballard, TE, New York Giants

Jake Ballard is going to be an exclusive rights free agent following the 2011 season.

This pretty much means that he has no right to negotiate with other teams and can be offered a three-year deal at the league minimum. In a sense, he isn't free at all.

So, why would I have him on this list?

Well, Ballard's performance in 2011 has proven to the New York Giants that he deserves a long-term and somewhat lucrative contract.

In situations like this, organizations that are run well tend to reward that type of performance. The New York Giants fit under that category.

The New England Patriots are going to be rotating their coverage over toward the Giants' three-headed wide receiver corps, which means that Ballard should see some one-on-one coverage up the middle against linebackers and safeties.

He has also seemed to find a really nice connection with Eli Manning. This could lead to a huge day for the up-and-coming tight end.

A Super Bowl hero who is relatively young and looking for a big contract is probably going to get one.

2. Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants

Victor Cruz isn't a free agent following the 2011 season.

In fact, he will only be a free agent of the restricted variety following the 2013 season.

So, there really isn't anything to look at here.

Wrong. The performance that Victor Cruz had in the regular season was absolutely astonishing by every possible standard.

A player who went undrafted in 2010 breaking the New York Giants' single-season receiving mark while helping lead them to a Super Bowl berth.

This is what the Big Apple is all about. And we all know that "stars" in a city full of them want to get money.

I can easily envision a scenario in which Cruz catches double-digit passes for over 150 yards and multiple scores against a lackluster New England Patriots secondary. If this happens, you can fully expect the New York Giants front office and Jerry Reese to think hard about locking up the talented receiver this offseason.

Some may worry that one season can be a flash in the pan, but I don't buy into this idea. You don't put up these statistics if you are not going to maintain a high level of play moving forward.

1. Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots

I really don't know what to make of the possible value of Wes Welker once free agency starts.

On the surface, taking a look at his numbers, you would expect the receiver to become one of the highest paid at his position in the league.

But that is solely on the surface.

As hard as it might be to imagine, Welker has been in the league since 2004 and is turning 31 in May. He will not get a huge contract in terms of length, especially considering the shelf life a player of his stature has in the NFL.

With that said, you just cannot discount the success that this former San Diego Chargers practice squad player has had over the last five seasons. He has led the NFL receptions twice, acquired triple-digit receptions four times, more than 1,000 yards four times and has been named First Team All-Pro twice.

Wes Welker is going to get his money, that has already been decided. What looms large in regards to the Super Bowl is the fact that he could turn up one of those awe-inspiring performances that will lead some team to pay him like the top five receiver that he is.

If that happens, there remains a slim possibility that the New England Patriots refuse to match that offer and let Welker walk.

The more likely scenario is that Welker is franchised if he is unable to work out a long-term extension with the Patriots. A 10-catch, multiple-touchdown performance may hinder New England's ability to actually do that, because it would become somewhat of a public relations disaster.