Season 4 Cover Athlete

Based on the most recent Thrillride (ep. 26), and the fact that we're in week 12 of the (4th?) season, it's time we start talking about this season's cover athlete.

Let's discuss, essentially, the "player of the year," or the player that we think makes the cover of this season, and why. And yes, we'll photoshop it together, too. It will be awesome. And it can be any player for any reason, we don't have to stick to any rules, but we can discuss the rules on who gets cover as well.

After we pull together a solid list of contenders, we'll put it to a vote in the playoffs.

Discuss!

To start, I'm putting Jamaal Charles, HB from the Dolphins on the board.

Also, it's going to be fun/a pain to photoshop players into new jerseys, or rookies into existence entirely. But it'll be worthwhile, and I'm sure some of the PShop kings in the league can help make it happen.

Baby-eating Cover Athlete

Double cover athlete special:

The Colts' two 90+ Tight Ends, Dallas Clark and Jason Witten.

It looks like a lot of people in the league use their HBs and TEs for passing quite a bit (myself included...when I'm not throwing to opposing CBs) and I think the dominance and yards that those two dudes rack up for The Colts is cover-athletetastic.

Also, why is Jesus trying to eat that baby? Sunday School always taught me that he loves the little children.

I think Charles is going to be most deserving of it, but if we need nominees I'm going to say...

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie

He's gotten 32 tackles and 13 interceptions through 11 games, which makes the Browns pretty happy.

I'm going to be selfish and nominate:

Bengals QB Pat White!!!!!!!

He could be on the cover in a Royals uniform with a Bengals helmet. After taking his team to a 7-4 record despite a 69 OVR rating, Pat White is a superstar in the making.

I say SWEET BARBECUE SAUCE BBQ WILLIAMS KC WILLIAMS SAUCE. Come on, hes the most famous of the fictional players in the league!

I'm with Zack. Cromartie is excelling like a motherfuck.

Also, I like the SB-style cover like Madden did with Fitz/Polamalu: with Sweet Barbecue helmet-ramming Calvin Johnson.

GAUNTLET THROWN!

Here's some other ideas...

Best Kicker on the cover.

Best 4th String player on a team (I'm pretty sure there are teams with 4 Tight Ends and Fullbacks.)

The continent of Australia.

PoopieDeLoopie wrote:Here's some other ideas...

Best Kicker on the cover.

Michael "Silver Toe" Koyack, Punter, Houston Texans. Done.

PoopieDeLoopie wrote:Best 4th String player on a team (I'm pretty sure there are teams with 4 Tight Ends and Fullbacks.)

The continent of Australia.

I'd like to revise this:

The continent of Australia, but broken up as if your browser isn't loading the image properly, to represent its laggy-ness.

I'm voting for either Jamarcus Austin or my own Deshun Ivory.

Ivory has 33 tackles & 4 sacks in only 6.5 games (due to injury).

It has to be a fake Madden player, and must have a 4th String approved nickname.

radioheadhead wrote:I'm voting for either Jamarcus Austin or....

BOOOOOM!

I second that nomination. But cast my vote for an x-ray of a broken collarbone.

I think you should vote for Storm Williams, because he is the only reason you were able to draft JaMarcus Austin

Not hating - well kind of hating lol

Actually, Cromartie or Charles would be the best options I think.

We could always go the NHL 10/NHL 11 route and put another Chicago Blackhawk on the cover. Sharpie and Hossa are both good options. I say we go with Patrick sharp; hes 2nd in goals and top 15 in points this year.

toddzuniga wrote:I'm with Zack. Cromartie is excelling like a motherfuck.

Also, I like the SB-style cover like Madden did with Fitz/Polamalu: with Sweet Barbecue helmet-ramming Calvin Johnson.

GAUNTLET THROWN!

How about Ndamukong Suh raging out on Matt Forte?

but in reality id say Jamaal Charles.

I nominate Ben 'Captain Rape' Roethlisberger.

5000 yards, 40+ TDs, 75 percent completion percentage and the highest passer rating in the league.

Done.

ITs easy to have a 75% completion percentage when you throw to the FB 1/2 of all p;ays .

RealJeffSolo wrote:ITs easy to have a 75% completion percentage when you throw to the FB 1/2 of all p;ays .

Hey now, it's not like Norwood is my leading receiver! Just the second leading receiver.

So far, I'm thinking Jamaal Charles or Miles Austin.

Or if we went split-cover, we could have one of the two and Cromartie. Zack user-picks like a motherfucker with him.

Interesting to note:
Jamaal Charles: 10-6, won division
Miles Austin: 11-5, didn't make playoffs
Antonio Cromartie: 13-3, won divison

Maybe we need some candidates from stronger teams? Sweet Barbecue?

Here's the thing: Who the hell do the Bears have? Best record in the league, and not a single top-5 player on offense for the yearly awards in LM.

Split the cover between the NFC and the AFC. So Miles Austin and Cromartie.

mikesuszek wrote:So far, I'm thinking Jamaal Charles or Miles Austin.

Or if we went split-cover, we could have one of the two and Cromartie. Zack user-picks like a motherfucker with him.

Interesting to note:
Jamaal Charles: 10-6, won division
Miles Austin: 11-5, didn't make playoffs
Antonio Cromartie: 13-3, won divison

Maybe we need some candidates from stronger teams? Sweet Barbecue?

Here's the thing: Who the hell do the Bears have? Best record in the league, and not a single top-5 player on offense for the yearly awards in LM.

I call bullshit - no more nominating your own dude.

I'd down for Cromartie, with Colt McCoy riding on his back.

radioheadhead wrote:I call bullshit - no more nominating your own dude.

I'd down for Cromartie, with Colt McCoy riding on his back.

Exactly. And Miles Austin didn't get into the playoffs. Doesn't bode well for him.

Maybe it doesn't need to be a TOP player? I think we're looking for someone representative of the season. Jamaal Charles really works. If you got into the playoffs, AC, Chris Johnson would be a good one too.

Anyways, we need to compile a list and have a poll for it. First off, split cover or single player?

radioheadhead wrote:I call bullshit - no more nominating your own dude.

What, you don't think agents are in touch with EA 24/7 about getting their guy on the cover of Madden? You don't think movie studios are launching massive campaigns on behalf of their films come Oscar time?

Who better to speak for a player than their owners?

EDIT: Also, Vince Young made the cover of Madden without the Titans having qualified for the playoffs the year before.