Adrian Peterson: Madden 09 cover front-runner
by 
Last year prior to the Madden 08 cover announcement I supported the idea of putting selecting Devin Hester. There was no doubt he was one of the most valuable players in the league and arguably the most exciting. The impact he had for his team was unmatched although in a non-traditional way through special teams.
This year it’s another rookie that looks like he could be the most appealing option for the Madden cover. Adrian Peterson has quickly established himself as the best RB in the league, even breaking the single game rushing record this past weekend with 296 yards. Not only does he lead the league in rushing, he is over 300 yards ahead of Willie Parker who is second. Oh, and he does all of this while the Vikings have no passing game and the opposition keys in on trying to stop the run.
Something that has been sorely lacking from Madden the last couple years is the level of overall excitement. There is no “game day” feel, everything just comes across as bland. Choosing a cover player that could get across improvements to that aspect of the game and fit in with the yearly hype behind Madden would be ideal. Peterson would be a great representative, better than Vince Young was. Young had success as the Titans overachieved, however it was more due their defense than him performing at a high level. That has been the case again this season. I’m not sure there is anyone that even makes sense other than Peterson right now.
When you look at possibilities for 09, guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Randy Moss are basically invalidated due to previous covers they have been on. LaDainian Tomlinson has already turned down the Madden cover so he won’t be given another opportunity. Choosing Young for 08 went away from how EA had previously put a player that represented the game’s theme for the year. So it is hard to know whether that will become a trend or if they’ll go back to it. Will they look for a defensive player or just the most marketable? There are a lot of variables to consider.
We’ve only reached the halfway point of the season so things may look completely different by the time the year ends. But as of right now who do you see as the top candidates for the 09 cover?
March 4, 2008 at 8:07 pm
brett favre is going all the way to be on the cover
March 4, 2008 at 8:08 pm
brett favre is three time mvp and the lengend
March 8, 2008 at 9:36 pm
sean taylor
March 8, 2008 at 9:37 pm
sean taylor 2-1
March 8, 2008 at 9:38 pm
sean taylor 2.1
March 8, 2008 at 9:38 pm
twenty one sean taylor
March 8, 2008 at 9:49 pm
redskins safety
March 13, 2008 at 2:22 pm
[quote comment="5766"]the madden 09 coverboy should be RYAN LEAF…
that’s right, i said…and i know all of you were thinking it…
and if you weren’t…let me put it to you this way…
RYAN LEAF and MADDEN NFL…both have all of the tools and hype to be successful…but once it comes time to actually take the field…you know that your untested product on the next level (NFL or Next-Gen consoles) is going to give you more problems than you could have ever imagined…[/quote]
this is probably one of the dumbest things i have ever read with my own eyes and now im using a butane lighter to burn my eyes out for wasting my god given vision on this…..yea
March 14, 2008 at 10:06 am
If its going to be a defensive player it should be Albert Haynesworth or Shawne Merriman. And the only reason Tom Brady Did so good this year is because of mainly all of his receivers’ speed and nothing else. Peyton Manning is way better than Brady
GO CHARGERS
March 14, 2008 at 10:13 am
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March 14, 2008 at 10:14 am
LT
March 25, 2008 at 12:44 pm
brett favre is the best guy for the cover
March 25, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I’m retired guys, so i can’t be in the cover.
March 29, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Antonio Cromartie Foos!
March 31, 2008 at 8:53 am
Andre Johnson is worthy of being on the madden cover in the future (10-12)
April 9, 2008 at 9:53 am
I love madden 08 so much but their online games need to get some improvement i want to play games that have meaning like a tournment a real one or a torunment that is for a prize there are alot of people that plat online and i think we all are looking for the next best thing……
April 9, 2008 at 9:56 am
Devin Hester is the next 09 madden cover player hands down that man is amazing <<>>
April 9, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Madden doesn’t put non African-American Athletes on their cover. I don’t know why everyone skirts the issue. Its just the facts. Also with the exception of Ray Lewis (which was a theme based pick for that year) The cover has always been a QB or a RB. Currently there are no QB in the NFL that are both African-American and Explosive enough to grace a Madden Cover, not even David Garrard.
That leaves only the RB spot from which to select from and that choice is a simple no brainer. LT will never get it since he turned it down and the only other selection is ADRIAN PETERSEN.
Barring any freak deviation from the norm AP is the only choice, but if a freak deviation is the order of the day then my choice would be Devin Hester.
If Devin Hester was is on the cover, they had better revamp that special teams play otherwise its a wasted cover.
April 18, 2008 at 3:07 pm
why not tony romo hes hell of good and madden 2009 and romo#9 its a perfect fit all the around.
April 18, 2008 at 5:09 pm
it should b a.p but madden curse lives so it should antonio cromatie cause he picked peyton 3 time 1 night or sean taylor 2 pay respect 2 him
April 19, 2008 at 9:05 am
it should b ocho-cinco cause he better den randy moss but not tony homo
April 20, 2008 at 2:20 pm
hey alex tony homo sucks balls he is lucky he has jessica simpson it should be randy moss or tom brady or adrian peterson
April 21, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Eli Manning becuase he was the Super Bowl MVP, he’s a great quarterback like his brother and plus we never had a white player on the cover of Madden. He’s always focused and calm. He took his team to the playoffs and to the super bowl and upset the patriots which I’m glad they lost because I don’t like the Patriots. That was one of the best super bowl upsets I’ve ever watched. He didn’t even turn the ball over in the playoffs. Also his brother Peyton won the super bowl two seasons ago. Now Eli won the super bowl the following season his brother won it. That’s incredible. That’s why I say he should be on the cover of Madden’09.
April 25, 2008 at 1:39 pm
hah brett favre made the coooooooooooovvvvvvverrrrrrr
April 25, 2008 at 4:42 pm
breet favre is anonced at http://www.madden09.com
June 6, 2008 at 10:19 am
Sean Taylor on the cover! RIP # 21!!!
September 25, 2008 at 6:19 am
NEXT YEAR IT SHOULD BE CUTLER OR BRANDON MARSHEL