Texans running back Arian Foster, buoyed by an unlikely victory over flavor-of-the-month Tim Tebow in the contrived Madden cover bracket, campaigned on a “reverse the curse” platform.
It didn’t work.
Foster “lost” to Lions receiver Calvin Johnson as the field was trimmed from 16 to eight.
The other seven quarterfinalists are Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis, Giants receiver Victor Cruz, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Ravens running back Ray Rice, and Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The process will continue for the next three weeks, with the winner determined on April 25.
And so look for curse-conscious Cardinals fans to vote for Newton, Panthers fans to vote for Fitzgerald, Niners fans to vote for Cruz, Giants fans to vote for Willis, Packers fans to vote for Rice, Ravens fans to vote for Rodgers, Patriots fans to vote for Johnson, and Lions fans to go for Gronk.