APLions fans who believe in curses just got some bad news. Lions fans who don’t can celebrate another sign of their team’s return to relevance: Calvin Johnson is on the cover of this year’s Madden game.
Johnson, the Lions receiver who’s coming off a brilliant 2011 season, was rewarded with the most lucrative contract in NFL history this offseason, and now he’s been selected by the fans who participated in the Madden NFL ’13 vote brackets as the cover player for this year’s game. In the final round of voting, 52 percent of fans chose Johnson, to 48 percent for Cam Newton. Nearly 20 million votes were cast in the 32-player “tournament” to choose one man for the Madden cover.
Whether the Madden curse is real or whether it’s just an example of regression to the mean, Johnson is now the player who will carry that burden into the 2012 season.
Channel Finder
well deserved!
Megatron = Curse Breaker
There goes my keeper league
Should be Gregg Williams.
Doesn’t Megatron die in the movie?
Much better him than Willis! Maybe he blows that curse away, something the 11 or so other guys couldn’t do, I mean if you believe in that stuff…
(I don’t accept for The Curse; it burned many a fantasy team when I was in college!)
does that mean they would rather see Johnson hurt over Newton? just saying with the curse and all
YES! No Madden curse for Cam!
Panthers = 2012 NFC South Champs
Nothing wrong with a down to Earth, hard working superstar, making the cover.
“They voted for Calvin over Cam because they’re racists” -Jemele Hill
as a Packers fans who gets nervous playing CJ all i have to say is YAY!!!!! Madden curse???
The Madden Curse doesn’t affect machines.
Megatron=Broken Madden Curse
i’ll gladly take this dude in my fantasy draft if he slips due to curse. maybe the ‘curse’ will affect his stats and he’ll post a meager 10 TDS and 1200 yards receiving.
“Nearly 20 million votes” how many people WITH NO LIFE does this represent?
Calvin Johnson will break the curse, he is just too classy and good to be taken down by it.
Thank you Calvin for helping me win my fantasy league, but Cam just had the best rookie QB season ever… And most people including myself thought he would be a flop… Cam should have won it
Nothing against the lions or the players but their fans are obnoxious and annoying I hope the curse hurts team not Calvin
As a Panthers fan I’m elated even though I don’t believe in curses
Calvin deserves it, though, the guy is definitely the best WR in the game and a class act off the field
What? Cam didn’t have 200k on hand to buy the votes?
Congrats Calvin Johnson
As it should be. Megatron is steps ahead in talent and ability. Not taking anything away from Cam, but he needs to prove himself, and one season, no matter how great isn’t enough. Plus, if Cam is as great as everyone thinks he is, then I’m sure he will get his chance when he deserves and earned it.
As for my joy (and some worry) congrates too Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson. These will be the two best covers ever for me at least.
Yea, Carolina fans won out!!!! I knew we could do it! No way we wanted the curse in Carolina on SuperCam!
Even though I’m not a Lions fan, I’ve always been a fan of Megatron’s.
Time this “curse” got broken!!
ninerdynasty…..now that’s funny
He deserves the honor, but based on the pic Megatron doesn’t look too happy about it.
So glad it wasn’t Rodgers!
If he has a healthy and productive season does the curse still stand since Megatron is pretty much a cyborg with how he plays?
Hes to good and amazing to be cursed, bit seriously how often to wide receivers end up on the cover of madden?
Man, NFL fans must hate Detroit!!!
That’s why you vote for players that you’re sick of hearing about!!!! Next year, make the Madden cover boy be Tim Tebow!!!’
Stafford is my keeper in my fantasy league. There’s a $100 down the drain.
nice. I voted for cam… i REALLY wanted him to get the madden curse.
Great player, seems like an even better person. Can you say Canton?
Now I see why CJ wants the lions to run more. The madden curse still lives on, glad cam didn’t get chosen because that would that would put a toll on a second year QB
I love CJ so I voted for Cam, roughly 200,000 times.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I was going to be so angry if someone who has a 1:1 TD/INT ratio was on the cover. I mean, EVEN TIM TEBOW who everyone loves to hate had a 2:1 ratio.
I think we have our curse breaker
thank god. good for cam
Curse? What curse?…..megatron destroys curses.
The Curse will be broken.
damn! i was really hoping janikowski would have won..
He definitely deserves it. He should now give it to Cam since he wanted it so bad.
stay away from suh when he gets mad megatron….#maddencurse
I can’t believe that many people voted. Again, I guess it shows the popularity of todays NFL.
johnson might not get hurt… but stafford might
the curse is no joke
I’m glad to see it for all the right reasons. Classy guy & until last year, I thought he’s been overlooked too often!
Mad props!
CJ should of just said no thanks and gave it to cam Newton
Ouch. Tough break Lions fans. I can see Detroit 6-10 on the horizon as Panthers fans everywhere breathe a sigh of relief.
Cue the curse in 5, 4, 3, 2,……
Big sigh of relief for carolina fans!!!
I thought for sure all the cam haters where going to vote him to the cover to see if the curse had a effect on superman
He already beat the biggest curse of all….Matt Millen. Madden’s got nothin.
Good news for my BEARS due to the Madden curse!
Season ending injury… To him or stafford to drop his numbers…. Look at the track record. Why don’t these guys decline cover……
Good cuz i wanna c another personal great season out of cam newton!
Deserved for sure, but now it looks like the Lions will have to wait another year to take that next step..
Congrats Cam!!
Here come all the stupid guys trying to put the “curse” in here.
The curse is real. Johnson just got crossed off my fantasy big board.
This is NOT good ! How many past cover boys have said they weren’t worried about the curse only to be injured ? Anyone out there got a number on that ?
Man hasn’t Detroit sufferd enough?!
Just when they were starting to turn the corner BAM Madden Curse!
There goes my fantasy keeper
All of the NFC North rejoices!
He’s gonna get hurt and come back stronger as Galvatron.
as a browns fan i was hoping big ben would be on the cover or maybe we can just curse him
Calvin Deserves it, Great guy and GREATEST WR in the game!!!
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
I predict a season-ending poke in the eye by Suh.
Maybe next year Cam, LOL!
packers fans rejoice
Say it aint so!
I voted for CJ, f*** it ! you only get a once in god knows to see your team’s player on madden .let’s get it lions !
Hate to see the ‘Tron get it, helluva player. I’m a Viking fan but this guy is the total package. Here’s to him breaking the freaking CURSE!
Pictured above is pre-season Calvin looking up at a Madden Billboard and thinking,
“There’s no such thing as the Madden curse… right? Course not what am I thinking…. But still…”
-Megatron
4thquartermagic says: Apr 25, 2012 7:40 PM
Pictured above is pre-season Calvin looking up at a Madden Billboard and thinking,
“There’s no such thing as the Madden curse… right? Course not what am I thinking…. But still…”
-Megatron
_______________________
Then it comes smashing down on top of him.
nyyjetsknicks says:
Apr 25, 2012 6:56 PM
Stafford is my keeper in my fantasy league. There’s a $100 down the drain.
If Stafford is your best player to keep in fantasy….YOU LOST YOUR MONEY A LONG TIME AGO!!!!
Gamemakers were shocked to find that someone had taken the cover, painted over Johnson’s picture with black paint, then written “Property Of Cam Newton” on top of that.
Calvin > Madden13
Not a Lions fan, but certainly I like the way Calvin Johnson plays. Rooting for him to beat the “curse”
Don’t care who it was just as long as T Sizzle and Ray Rice wern’t on it. The curse is real, look at the track record of guys on the cover.
Having said that: Good luck Megatron, hope you break the curse you’re a beast and a class act.
He gonna get hurt and come back stronger as Galvatron…. – El Pirate Del Caribe (That quote isn’t mine. I can’t even claim it. Gotta give credit where it is due.)
And in related news Calvin Johnson suffers high ankle sprain during OTAs
Thank god it’s not Ray Rice!!!
Not a good way to start the 2012 season for the Lions.
Well…..guess I can take him off my fantasy draft board.
Some of these hateful posters must believe in witchcraft and black magic. What ignorance.
I wonder who Cris Carter voted for…?
Madden Curse, my a$$. Megatron and StafFord have already beaten the longest-running NFL curse ever … the Curse of Bobby Layne.
musabucks says:
Apr 25, 2012 6:41 PM
“They voted for Calvin over Cam because they’re racists” -Jemele Hill
___________________________________
Quote of the year.
Calvin will break the curse. Technically Megatron is a villain, so two negatives equal a positive.
Who had the better year last year?
Cam Newton or Tim Tebow?
Would you rather throw for 4,000 yards 21tds and 17 ints and go 6-10 in 16 games
or
Throw for 1700 yards 12 tds 6 ints and go 7-4 in 11 games win the division and win a playoff game
if only the Raiders would have picked him instead of Russell
“broomehandle says: Apr 25, 2012 6:53 PM
Hes to good and amazing to be cursed, bit seriously how often to wide receivers end up on the cover of madden?”
Calvin is #2.
The 10 cover had Larry Fitz. on the cover, and he only went on to set a career high for TDs that year…
BUT he shared it with Polamalu, who injured himself in the first game.
Maybe there is no curse for WRs
. Or just guys who have signed $120+ million contracts
Cam could not be happier for Calvin Johnson.
packattack1967 says:
Apr 25, 2012 6:44 PM
“Nearly 20 million votes” how many people WITH NO LIFE does this represent?
—————–
Coming from someone who takes the time to respond to an article
If Stafford is your best player to keep in fantasy….YOU LOST YOUR MONEY A LONG TIME AGO!!!!
Yea because you’re not doing crap with 5,000+ yrds and 41 td’s. I can’t believe some of the crap i see on here.
Fitzgerald shared it with Palamalu a few years back, Fitz was fine, hot head/hair did. Suck it steelers
I just moved from Charlotte NC so I cheer for the Panthers but how good could they make Cam on the game?? 98……Prob not. Megatron=Animal
didnt**
I won my fantasy league last year because of Calvin and Stafford killing it every week. They knocked my Raiders outta the playoffs on my fantasy playoff bye week, and I still loved them.
I’m gonna be sad not drafting Calvin next year.
dang!!! i was hoping Tom Brady wouldve won it!! oh wait, that team has been cursed since cameragate came out…………nevermind!!!
peyton hillis warns calvin to beware…be very afraid, it will haunt u for the whole year, break u down mentally and physically!! be very afraid!!!
I was there and Cam was definitely a little disappointed to lose, but was gracious nonetheless. Even though it means nothing at the end of the day it showed that Cam definitely enjoys these extras that come with the game… And he was entertaining.
Congrats Calvin! Not worried about the curse with CJ. Besides, Jay Cutler, and Matt Forte from the 2011 bears are proof that you don’t have be on the cover of madden to have your season ended with injuries (2 major offensive players on one team – that’s a curse). Besides we finally got Bobby Lane Curse figured out. Go Lions!
voted cam because i didnt want johnson to get the curse
Was hoping Newton would win since he was so fun to play with on Madden 12.
I will buy an XBOX360 and the game for the person who guesses what the injury is, what week it’s going to happen, and how long he’ll be out.
Homer Voice, “Thank Jeebus Cam wasn’t picked”. I can now stop voting 100 times a day for Megatron. My work has been stacking up since the final was announced, lol
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
of course the curse will be broken…he does play for the Lions…after all
The curse is baloney, Drew Brees didn’t get injured with any degree of seriousness the year he was on the cover.
People say he had a bum knee but he never missed a snap and didn’t need any surgery after the season, so maybe they were just wishful thinking.
If Johnson gets hurt he would’ve gotten hurt cover or no cover, likewise if Newton gets hurt is everyone going to be running around saying it’s the curse of the rejected Madden cover?
The curse began with their first player ever on the cover- Barry sanders/sudden retirement. The curse will be created and destroyed by the DETROIT LIONS!
Great news for Bears fans everywhere!
Glad to see Megatron beat out Cam for the cover of Madden ’13. I don’t believe in the Madden Curse. Megatron will still dominate in ’13 and beyond.
Megatron best WR in the L, hands down…
The best receiver in the game? Please. He plays WAY too many games for that. Andre Johnson is the best. He doesn’t even have to prove it!
Moondog has eaten one too many space cakes. I would much rather have a starter than a side show.
I honestly don’t believe Calvin will be affected by this “Madden Curse” he is just too good. But if he somehow is, then ladies and gentlemen this curse is REAL
Good thing the curse only causes harm to humans and not giant robots hell bent on destroying Autobots and catching TD’s.
Madden Curse, my a$$. Megatron and StafFord have already beaten the longest-running NFL curse ever … the Curse of Bobby Layne.
—————————————
The ’62 Lions weren’t too shabby. Perhaps you mean the Curse of Milt Plum?
The curse will be broken!!!! Just like the last eleven years.
Madden curse plus the #13 on the box. The guy may die on the field!!!
This is terrible news for the Lions.