Madden 2013 Cover: Cam Newton's Charisma Will Earn Him Honor

Cam Newton has this one in the bag.

The Carolina Panther's QB is facing Calvin Johnson in the final for the Madden 13 cover vote. The official announcement of the winner will be made at 5pm ET on ESPN's SportsNation. But I can't imagine a scenario that has the reigning NFL Rookie of the Year not showing up on the cover of the legendary sports game.

While Johnson is a much more accomplished player, he'll come up short in this vote. He will simply be out-smiled and out-swagged by Newton.

None of it is his fault.

Johnson is a good guy, and the NFL's premier receiver. But that is part of the problem: he's a WR competing in a popularity contest with a QB.

Very few—if any—receivers will ever win that battle.

It doesn't help his cause that he is a mild-mannered, mostly quiet guy by nature. Newton is lights, camera, action. From his huge smile to his Superman celebration and exciting brand of football, he is perfect for this type of honor.

He fired the final and telling shot when he challenged Johnson to a game of Madden 13. He challenged fans abroad—but specifically, he challenged "Mr. Megatron" to a game.

Newton has presented himself as a true Madden player, and he challenges Megatron's ability to play the game they both hope to endorse.

Here is the video:

As a sports gamer myself, I can tell you, gamers love celebrity gamers. If we believe that an athlete is truly a gamer, it makes them better suited for the cover.

If the dynamic personality difference wasn't enough—I was sold after the video.

I'm guessing the rest of Madden Nation will be as well.

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