Madden 2012: Don't Vote for Peyton Hillis

I know what you’re thinking, Peyton Hillis for President, or at least, Peyton Hillis for Madden Cover Athlete.  I’m here to tell you: Choke your motor Browns Fan.

Believe me, I’m with you.  I’d love for Hillis to adorn the cover of the much loved video game title, but am I willing to watch the team—or his career—go in the tank?  No, I’m not willing to do that.  If Hillis loses the Madden 2012 Tournament for cover athlete, I’m not going to be upset, but elated.

Our inability to promote him to tournament champion does not say that we are lazy voters or apathetic—it says we have gotten wise and are willing to let this one slip away.

Here me out: 12 of the last 12 (two athletes in 2010) cover athletes went on to get either injured or collapsed.

What I am saying is that the team needs Hillis to be competitive this coming season.  Peyton is a huge part of our offense statistically, but he also gives the team a “punch you in the mouth and then tear your face off” identity.

We all want the Browns to win, but this is a loss we should happily accept.  Be careful what you wish/vote for.

I digress…

2011—Drew Brees

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GRAPEVINE, TX - FEBRUARY 03: NFL player Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints attends the EA SPORTS Madden Bowl XVII at The Glass Cactus on February 3, 2011 in Grapevine, Texas. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Madden Bowl XVII)

2011—Drew Brees 

Poster boy from the 2010 Super Bowl, Brees started the year off slow and had everyone thinking, “Super Bowl Hangover.” While there was no tiger, Mike Tyson or random baby, the season had a rather unmemorable ending as the Saints lost to the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks in the opening round of the playoffs.

2010—Troy Polamalu/Larry Fitzgerald

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals gets tackled by Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by A

2010—Troy Polamalu/Larry Fitzgerald

Polamalu, the glue that held Pittsburgh’s defense together, injured his knee in the season opener against Tennessee and only saw action in a handful of games that season.  The Steelers went 9-7 and missed the playoffs one season removed from a Super Bowl conquest.

Fitzgerald went on to put up his usually gaudy stats; however, he hurt his knee in the playoffs and missed the seasons Pro Bowl game.

2009—Brett Favre

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 11: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on against the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 11, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

2009—Brett Favre

What I believe was to be a conspiracy by EA Sports to break the curse, they awarded a then retired Brett Favre its cover.  As the story goes, Favre came back to football as a New York Jet, much to the chagrin of EA curse-breaker (name not confirmed) hopefuls. 

The season started off strong as the Jets raced to an 8-3 record, but injuries took over as Brett tore his bicep and New York limped to a 9-7 record missing the postseason.

2008—Vince Young

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 21: Quarterback Vince Young #11 of the Tennessee Titans talks with a member of the training staff after leaving a game against the Washington Redskins at LP Field on November 21, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Redskins won 19-

2008—Vince Young

This season, VY missed one game due to injury and led the team to the playoffs behind a rushing attack that featured LenDale White and Chris Johnson.  Problems were only just beginning for Young, though.

The following season he was injured in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars to open the season and lost his starting job to veteran Kerry Collins.  Collins marched the team to a 13-3 record but wound up losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs.  Since then, Vince Young’s life and career has been roller-coaster.

2007—Shaun Alexander

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 12: Running back Shaun Alexander #37 of the Seattle Seahawks runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional playoff game on January 12, 2008 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Sea

2007—Shaun Alexander

After being named the NFL’s MVP following the previous season, Alexander sustained a crucial foot injury which led to the downfall of his career.  He did run for 896 yards, however, averaged only 3.6 yards a touch.  Two years later, Alexander was out of football after nine seasons.

2006—Donovan McNabb

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Donovan McNabb #5 of the Washington Redskins on the sidelines against play against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2006—Donovan McNabb

A sports hernia and torn ACL highlighted McNabb’s cover season.  Since 2005, Donovan had played all 16 games only once.  While his stats wouldn’t lead one to assume his career had turned embattled—it has. 

He was constantly the topic of discussion for trades when it came to talking Eagles football—especially after the drafting of Kevin Kolb and signing of Michael Vick.  McNabb was formally ousted last offseason and struggled mightily under Mike Shanahan in D.C.

2005—Ray Lewis

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reads the play in 2011 AFC wild card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/G

2005—Ray Lewis

Lewis, who had other issues prior to his Madden Campaign in the 2004-05 season, saw his year end prematurely after injuring his wrist in Week 15. Lewis finished the year with one sack, zero interceptions and one forced fumble.

The following season was much worse as he tore his hamstring in the sixth game of the year against the Cleveland Browns.

2004—Michael Vick

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles scrambles against A.J. Hawk #50 and Desmond Bishop #55 of the Green Bay Packers during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadel

2004—Michael Vick

Where to start. In 2003, Vick broke his leg while being horse-collar tackled in a preseason game and didn't play until week 13. Madden, however, cannot be blamed for his poor decision-making because he missed two full seasons after being locked up at Fort Leavenworth for operating a dog-fighting ring.

2003—Marshall Faulk

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 5: Marshall Faulk looks on after being inducted into the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class during an announcement at the Super Bowl XLV media center on February 5, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

2003—Marshall Faulk

Listen to these numbers—1,054, 1,319, 1,381, 1,359 and 1,382. Faulk's rushing stats from 1997-2001. He was even as dangerous a receiver (471, 908, 1,048, 830, 765) in that same time period.

Then, Madden 2003 hit the shelves and so did Faulk's career. He never again rushed for over 1,000 yards nor did he receive for more than 540. A shell of his former self, Faulk retired in 2005 after a series of knee surgeries.

2002—Daunte Culpepper

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DETROIT - JANUARY 03: Daunte Culpepper #11 of the Detroit Lions looks to throw a fourth quarter pass while playing the Chicago Bears on January 3, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Chicago won the game 23-37. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

2002—Daunte Culpepper

In 2001, Daunte Culpepper absolutely stunk!

After making a deep playoff run the year before, sights were set high for his Minnesota Vikings team. To not help the cause, Culpepper threw 14 touchdowns versus 13 INT's while also losing seven fumbles.

While being criticized his entire career for having small hands, Daunte developed chronic turnover issues that plagued his career. Thankfully, for Vikes fans, they only had to endure 11 games of Culpepper because a knee injury cut his season short.

2001—Eddie George

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: Running back Eddie George #27 of the Tennessee Titans carries the football against the New England Patriots in the AFC divisional playoffs on January 10, 2004 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 17-14

2001—Eddie George

This first player to ever grace the Madden Cover (previously the cover was always John Madden looking at you as if he'd just eaten six Tur-Duc-Ens at a Brett Favre rally)—the mother of all Madden Curses.

George rushed for 1,509 yards that season, but his meager average of 3.7 a carrier meant a heavy workload. Be it a lack of focus caused by a violent 16 game season, Eddie failed to pull in a pass in a playoff game against the Ravens. The result was an interception returned for a touchdown, swinging the momentum and victory in Baltimore's favor as they defeated George's Titans 24-10.

In the following season, Eddie George averaged a pedestrian three yards a carry and retired after the 2004 season.