The first-round results from the Madden NFL 2013 Cover Vote by ESPN SportsNation were posted on March 28, 2012. There weren't many surprises other than No.11-seeded Patrick Willis advancing into round two after he secured 62-percent of the final vote over No.6-seeded Matt Forte. Willis will face No. 3-seeded Maurice Jones-Drew in round two.
Amongst those participants who avoided a first-round upset was Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers advanced after he secured 79-percent of the votes over Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden. Cam Newton and Rodgers both advanced as the No. 1 seeds in this tournament.
Rodgers, the 2011 Super Bowl MVP and 2011 NFL MVP, was considered as a favorite to grace the Madden NFL 2012 cover. However, he was eliminated in the semifinals by Browns running back Peyton Hillis. Hillis would defeat Michael Vick in the championship.
Hillis went on to have a season full of contractual disputes, injuries and sicknesses, amongst other controversies. With Haden only receiving 21-percent of the votes, it appears as though there are some Ohioans who have bought into the idea of a "Madden curse."
Rodgers will face Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch in round two. The No.8-seeded Lynch secured 71-percent of the votes over Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson. Lynch was the NFL's seventh-leading rusher with 1,204 yards in 2011. Lynch had the most rushing yardage amongst former first-round picks.
Does Lynch stand a chance against Rodgers? ESPN Sportscenter anchor Robert Flores is picking Lynch in an upset. According to Flores:
@moneylynch pulls off an upset since he's had a Madden-like run in real life: "So much determination though" (Guy from YouTube voice).
Personally, I think Lynch will need to add Lucky Charms to his diet of Skittles if he's going to have enough luck to pull off an upset. Regardless of all the rainbows that Lynch has tasted throughout his football career, Rodgers is the leprechaun who is holding the gold (and green). Rodgers will continue on his quest to become the first player to win the Super Bowl in the same season where he was put on the Madden cover.
The second round will conclude on April 4. The winner of Lynch versus Rodgers will face the winner of Drew Brees versus Ray Rice in the quarterfinals (Elite Eight). You can vote for or against Rodgers here.
Joshua Huffman graduated from Middle Tennessee State University as a marketing major in 2009. He's been a Middle Tennessee resident from 1986-88 and 2001-present. He lived in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin from 1988-01 and for approximately eight months in 2009-10 as he completed a 20-game volunteer position with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers. His favorite sports organizations include the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. He can be found on Twitter HERE.
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