Madden 2013 Cover: Breaking Down Pros and Cons of Cam Newton and Megatron

As we vote on the last two contestants in the Madden '13 cover vote, we will all use our own criteria to determine the winner.

Athletes have won the cover vote in a variety of ways in the past, whether it be an upstart campaign, a popularity contest or years of playing at a high level.

Here's a look at the pros and cons of Madden '13 finalists Cam Newton and Calvin Johnson, so you can weigh what means most to you and make your final decision.

Choose wisely, folks.

Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

Pros

• When all was said and done last season, Cam Newton had produced one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in NFL history. He completed 60 percent of his passes for over 4,000 yards, with 21 passing touchdowns to 17 interceptions. He also added 706 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He lived up to being selected No. 1 overall in the 2011 draft.
• He's a likable guy. It's funny how he was being labeled with "character concerns" before last year's draft, only to become a leader and become the backbone of the franchise. 
• He would be a blast to play with in Madden. With his running ability, combined with his arm, I'll probably be adding him to my faves, the San Francisco 49ers, and trading Alex Smith (sorry, Alex).

Cons

• He's only done this for one season. There are a lot of worthy veterans out there (Calvin Johnson, included) who have been succeeding for years in the National Football League. If you think a player must earn respect through the years, Newton is not your pick.
• He's on the Carolina Panthers. This isn't a knock on the Panthers necessarily, but they still have a ways to go before they are a contender. They went 6-10 last season and, as well as Newton played, they simply didn't win a lot.
• He may get injured if you play with him in Madden. You could just sit back in the pocket with Newton, but I know you Madden fanatics too well. You are going to want to run with him, and it only takes one bone-crushing hit to send him home.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

Pros

• He was the most dominant receiver of 2011. Calvin Johnson was the best receiver in the NFL last season, bar none. He racked up an astounding 1,681 receiving yards (best in the league), 16 receiving touchdowns (second-best) and 93 catches (third-best). Megatron became more powerful and his foes were obliterated.
• He's been doing this for years. This will be Johnson's sixth season in the NFL. He has never had fewer than 756 yards in a season. He's had at least 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons. Keep in mind, he did a lot of this before Matthew Stafford blew up in 2011.
• If you like controlling receivers in Madden, he's your guy. Some Madden fanatics simply throw the ball and let the computer catch it. The more hands-on gamers will control both the quarterback and receiver. Side-stepping cornerbacks and leaping in the end zone for miraculous catches sounds like a lot of fun to me.

Cons

• He's a receiver. It's easier to control a quarterback or a running back than a receiver. That's why Newton could have the edge in the cover vote. Newton is more visible on the playing field and Johnson will be lined up on the sideline all the time. He's simply not going to have the ball in his hands as much as Newton.
• He's older than Cam. Some football fans are drawn more to the young up-and-comers than the steady veterans of the league. Johnson may only be 26 years old, but that's not really young in NFL terms. Newton is 22 years old and is still growing.
• He's not flashy enough. I'm not one to applaud flash, but in a game like Madden, flash is a nice attribute to have. Johnson is so well-respected because he plays the game the right way and doesn't have a giant ego. For some gamers, they could care less—they just want to run down the field, stiff-arm a few people and do the "Cam-Cam" in the end zone.

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