Black Roman
04-27-2011, 02:31 PM
Didn't see a Madden 2012 thread yet ...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6438406
ESPN.com users have spoken, and the face of Madden NFL 12 will be Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis.
Hillis was announced Wednesday as the winner of the fan vote, under way since March 21, on "SportsNation" on ESPN2. In all, almost 13 million votes were cast during the process -- including more than 1 million in the final.
[+] Enlarge
Jason Miller/US Presswire
Peyton Hillis completed his surprising run through the Madden cover bracket and will be the face of this year's game.
The 10th-seeded Hillis overwhelmingly defeated Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, seeded third, garnering 66 percent of the vote in the final of the 32-player bracket to become the cover of this year'’s version of the popular NFL video game franchise. This is the first year fans were allowed to vote for the game's cover.
After he was named the winner, Hillis said he was "excited" and that he didn't think he had a shot against Vick, whom he has "always looked up to."
Hillis acknowledged the support he has received from Browns fans and said: "I just want to tell them thanks and I'm going to play my best for them."
Vick said he was happy for Hillis and was proud of how far he made it in the voting.
"My fans, they stuck in there," Vick said. "I made it this far and that’s a plus for me."
Hillis upset higher seeds throughout the vote. Hillis beat Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (the No. 7 seed); Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (No. 2); Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (No. 6); and No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers to get to the final.
Hillis was buoyed by an online campaign that included front-page treatment on the Browns' website, as well as ongoing Twitter and Facebook campaigns by the team.
Hillis Wins Madden Cover Vote
Peyton Hillis ran over the competition and onto the Madden 12 cover! What does it mean? Robinson blog
• Hillis/Vick chat wrap
• Photos: Hillis zoom gallery
In an ESPN.com chat earlier Wednesday with Hillis and Vick, the Browns' running back said he'’s not afraid of the "Madden Curse." Several players have been injured or had down years the season immediately after being on the game's cover -- including Vick, who suffered a broken leg before the 2003 season (Vick was on the cover of Madden NFL 2004, which was released in August 2003) and missed 11 of the Atlanta Falcons' games that year.
"For people to believe in this so-called curse, I can't wait to prove people wrong," he said. "From what I believe and where I am in my spiritual life, it would be good to prove them wrong in that sense."
(full article at link)
Can there be a curse if there is no season? Is Hillis going to trip over his coffee table and miss his vacation in Cancun? :lol:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6438406
ESPN.com users have spoken, and the face of Madden NFL 12 will be Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis.
Hillis was announced Wednesday as the winner of the fan vote, under way since March 21, on "SportsNation" on ESPN2. In all, almost 13 million votes were cast during the process -- including more than 1 million in the final.
[+] Enlarge
Jason Miller/US Presswire
Peyton Hillis completed his surprising run through the Madden cover bracket and will be the face of this year's game.
The 10th-seeded Hillis overwhelmingly defeated Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, seeded third, garnering 66 percent of the vote in the final of the 32-player bracket to become the cover of this year'’s version of the popular NFL video game franchise. This is the first year fans were allowed to vote for the game's cover.
After he was named the winner, Hillis said he was "excited" and that he didn't think he had a shot against Vick, whom he has "always looked up to."
Hillis acknowledged the support he has received from Browns fans and said: "I just want to tell them thanks and I'm going to play my best for them."
Vick said he was happy for Hillis and was proud of how far he made it in the voting.
"My fans, they stuck in there," Vick said. "I made it this far and that’s a plus for me."
Hillis upset higher seeds throughout the vote. Hillis beat Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (the No. 7 seed); Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (No. 2); Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (No. 6); and No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers to get to the final.
Hillis was buoyed by an online campaign that included front-page treatment on the Browns' website, as well as ongoing Twitter and Facebook campaigns by the team.
Hillis Wins Madden Cover Vote
Peyton Hillis ran over the competition and onto the Madden 12 cover! What does it mean? Robinson blog
• Hillis/Vick chat wrap
• Photos: Hillis zoom gallery
In an ESPN.com chat earlier Wednesday with Hillis and Vick, the Browns' running back said he'’s not afraid of the "Madden Curse." Several players have been injured or had down years the season immediately after being on the game's cover -- including Vick, who suffered a broken leg before the 2003 season (Vick was on the cover of Madden NFL 2004, which was released in August 2003) and missed 11 of the Atlanta Falcons' games that year.
"For people to believe in this so-called curse, I can't wait to prove people wrong," he said. "From what I believe and where I am in my spiritual life, it would be good to prove them wrong in that sense."
(full article at link)
Can there be a curse if there is no season? Is Hillis going to trip over his coffee table and miss his vacation in Cancun? :lol: