Unlike the previous five editions, this year's Madden NFL cover will not be determined by a fan vote. Hence there is speculation that it might be because they want a player that would not win a popular vote. I think that might indicate Cam Newton but also someone like Peyton Manning or a defensive player light Von Miller.
Honestly I don't know how they don't put Newton on this year's Madden NFL cover. He's the reigning offensive MVP and Madden NFL obviously leans towards offensive players versus defensive. Only two defensive players have been on the cover since 2001:
The 5 players who could be on the cover of Madden NFL 17 | FOX Sports
Previous players on the cover by position:
Six running backs: Eddie George, Marshall Faulk, Shaun Alexander, Peyton Hillis, Barry Sanders and Adrian Peterson
Six quarterbacks: Daunte Culpepper, Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, Vince Young, Brett Favre and Drew Brees
Three wide receivers: Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Odell Beckham Jr.
Three defensive players: Ray Lewis, Troy Polamalu and Richard Sherman
So how are the most likely to grace the cover besides Cam Newton?
QB Tom Brady - It's quite amazing Brady has never made the cover to date really.
QB Aaron Rodgers - Another good, SB winning QB that has never been on the cover.
DE JJ Watt - The best defensive player in the league is a good bet.
TE Rob Gronkowski - One of the best TEs in history is very popular.
I'll even add in this option myself because you never know:
DE Von Miller - Might his SB performance launch him to the cover?
But let's be real. This is about video games and when given the option of picking any QB in the NFL to play in Madden why would you not pick Newton? His running ability as a QB is a huge advantage in the video game (just like his real game). Plus even more important to EA Sports, its about selling video games:
Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera joked that he voted for Richard Sherman when Cam Newton was a finalist for the Madden 15 cover to avoid the Madden curse, but Newton dabbing on the cover of Madden 17 would be the most talked about cover in the series' history.
So there you go. How could they resist putting a dabbing Cam on the cover? Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Now before you elicit the 'What about the Madden curse' mantra remember Calvin Johnson destroyed the curse in 2013. Though he missed two games he still put up 1,492 yards and 12 TDs the season after being put on the cover. So put that notion to bed.
So what do you think? Would a dabbing Cam on the cover of Madden 17 make you run out and buy one asap?
I rest my case.