Madden 2013 Cover: Patrick Willis Deserves Highly-Coveted Cover

Patrick Willis has long been one of the elite players in the NFL, and his life story is tremendous.

That is why Willis should beat out Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers and Calvin Johnson for the highly-coveted Madden '13 cover in 2012.

Willis, in addition to being the most dominant inside linebacker in the game today, grew up with an abusive father in Mississippi. In ESPN's E:60, he talked about how he would give his hard-earned money to his father and watch him blow it on drugs in high school. He's the model of what a superstar should be: humble and dedicated no matter how high he eventually soars.

Willis helped lead the 49ers to an improbable 13-3 campaign last season, knocking off the high-powered New Orleans Saints in the playoffs before losing a squeaker to the eventual champion New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game. As the 49ers toiled for years with poor talent and poor management, Willis never took a down off, never gave up. And it's in part because of his dedication that the 49ers shocked the world last season.

Former head coach and Hall-of-Fame linebacker Mike Singletary said in E:60:

"

He's the guy who has every reason to quit, every reason to hate everybody. Greatness is not about the guy who has all the skills and talent. Greatness is measured by the setbacks you had in life. Have you been able to fight through them and become stronger?

"

Willis is a tremendous football player who plays the game the right way and has been a model teammate throughout the years in San Francisco. While Newton, Rodgers and Johnson are all certainly deserving, Willis' life story should be the difference in the Madden '13 cover voting.

Plus, c'mon, there's nothing like delivering a bone-crushing hit in Madden.

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