Madden 13 Cover: Calvin Johnson's Humility Makes Him an Atypical Coverboy

Calvin Johnson isn't cocky enough to be on the cover of Madden '13, but maybe that's what makes him the perfect candidate for this year's honors.

The Detroit Lions wide receiver beat out Cam Newton after garnering 52 percent of the vote in ESPN SportNation's month-long contest.

While he was pumped—what Madden fan wouldn't be?—the lack of trash-talking and self-indulgent bragging is a bit disconcerting.

Megatron appeared on the Dan Patrick Show on Thursday, and he got plenty of opportunities to display the typical behavior that's expected of most Madden cover stars—and wide receivers in general—these days.

However, he didn't take any of the bait.

Patrick asked him if he trashed-talk Newton (who made perhaps the most indulgent of all indulgent campaigning videos last week) after winning.

Johnson said no, there's no need. Plus, Newton's bigger than him, so he didn't want to make him mad.

Patrick asked him if NFL quarterbacks get too much preferential treatment in the NFL. Johnson declined to let loose on his thoughts, since he doesn't want anything to happen to his own QB.

Patrick gave him the opportunity to say he could dominate superstar wideout Larry Fitzgerald. Johnson instead told Patrick that he'll let Fitzgerald have the top-receiver honors "until I make a one-handed diving catch like he did."

This, obviously, is not your average wide receiver, and not just because he was better than all the rest of them in the league in 2011. The NFL thrives on showboating receivers, who take every touchdown as an opportunity to make the game all about themselves.

Johnson didn't take any time to forge a celebration after winning the Madden '13 contest. He doesn't care about using the game to promote his personal brand, unless it has to do with his charity.

His charity, he hopes, is the primary beneficiary of his cover-boy status. He told Patrick: 

"

Being on the cover is going to help me do huge things for my foundation, and that was what I was excited most about. 

"

No, there haven't been many Madden cover stars like Johnson.

Therefore, if there is anyone who can break the curse, it's him.