So much for Aaron Rodgers being the favorite to grace the next cover of Madden. The competition for who will appear on the cover of the next EA Sports Madden NFL game is down to two. Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick vs Browns RB Peyton Hillis. The latter's inclusion in the final is a bit of surprise given that he was matched up against tournament favorite Aaron Rodgers in the previous round. However, Hillis easily progressed past Rodgers with 61% of the vote. Vick also advanced to the finals pretty comfortably with 59% of the vote.
Cue all the Packers fans saying "We didn't want him on the cover anyway because of the curse!" I guess they'll just have to make do with that little winning the Superbowl thing.
I don't really see it as a huge shock when you consider what the contest is really all about. It's a popularity contest. Rodgers is a great QB, but he's boring. You really can't pick a more stereotypical, cookie cutter version of the classic NFL QB than Rodgers. Whereas the finalists are very much out of the typical mold of their positions. Michael Vick is unlike any QB in the game and has been a longtime favorite of Madden players. As for Peyton Hills, he's white right? Can we assume that's what setting him apart from every other top RB in the NFL? Plus, he really was a great story in the NFL last year becoming a pro bowl after basically being a castoff from the Broncos.
Before the contest started I assume that Michael Vick would win easy given his popularity with Madden players and the fact that he got so much support in the pro bowl voting. But given how the support for Hillis has grown over this competition, I think it's hard to tab a favorite here.
You can cast your vote the winner here.