Calvin Johnson Gets Madden 2013 Cover: Lions Receiver Voted Over Panthers' Cam Newton

NEW YORK (AP) — Megatron is a mega hit with Madden fans.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson was selected Wednesday to appear on the cover of Madden NFL '13, the popular video game, in a vote by fans.

Johnson beat out Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, by garnering 52 percent of the more than 651,000 votes in the competition between the playmakers. ESPN revealed the results live on its "SportsNation" show in New York's Times Square.

"Man, it's great," a smiling Johnson said. "Just to see yourself on this Madden (cover) and seeing all the guys that have been on Madden? C'mon, man."

Former Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, was on last year's game cover. Other players to have appeared on the cover of the EA Sports game include Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Brett Favre and Drew Brees.

Johnson, who said he was "shocked" to win the vote, had 96 catches for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. He signed an eight-year deal with the Lions worth up to $132 million last month.

The competition for the cover drew nearly 20 million votes, with Johnson beating out Dwayne Bowe, Arian Foster, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Rodgers before the final showdown with Newton.

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Comments

[blingbling65943]

01:29 PM on 04/26/2012

NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (its just bad dream.....big boys don't cry......No!!!)

[Jeremy Arthur Vandelay]

01:08 PM on 04/26/2012

Cam Newton?? What is all the hype about this guy, I watched him throw 4 interceptions in one game against the worst pass defense in football - the packers.

He had an 84.5 QB rating while Aaron Rodgers had an NFL record 122.5- statistically the best season a quarterback has ever had in the entire history of the NFL.

Cam Newton is just another Michael Vick. 2010 Vick was an incredible / unstoppable QB that won a $100 million contract with Philly. Where was he in 2011?

This guy is all hype, he'll disappear this upcoming season now that teams actually have some film to watch and prepare for.

Mega-tron on the other hand, what a specimen. Sorry to say the Madden curse is real, Lions fans should be very afraid.

[Michigan Tim]

12:43 PM on 04/26/2012

Noooooooo......my Lions are doomed. The Madden cover curse will strike us down.

[blingbling65943]

01:28 PM on 04/26/2012

Damm, you beat me to it...