At the mid-season point I put together a list of potential candidates for the Madden NFL 13 cover. The assumption was made that another tournament would be held and for the purpose of that analysis any players that were eligible the year prior were eliminated as were those scheduled to be free agents. Now that the season is complete and details about the cover tournament have come out it’s time to reassess who may be in play for the honor this year.

64 players will be included – 2 from each team that will face off in the first round to be their respective team’s representative in the bracket of 32. This will make it easier to include some players for a second straight year but free agents will likely still be excluded. Here’s a look at the favorites for EA Sports to involve in the cover tournament process for the AFC!

*Current Madden NFL 12 overall rating in parenthesis for selected players

Broncos: Von Miller (87), Tim Tebow (77)
Tebow has all but been confirmed by EA to be involved in the tournament and he earned his spot with memorable moments. Whether he’s considered the favorite to win the whole thing is arguable but whoever he goes up against is going to get slayed. That caused the removal of Champ Bailey as it might come across as an insult to him, as a veteran with a brilliant career, to be picked but obviously headed out of it immediately. He probably should have been involved in the tournament last year rather than Tebow. So the well-deserving rookie Von Miller who recorded 11.5 sacks could be the second choice.

Chargers: Antonio Gates (96), Eric Weddle (92)
Surprisingly the Chargers don’t have many great options to be their representative. Gates gets the nod for his career work and past marketing relationship with EA Sports – he put up 64 catches and 7 TDs despite dealing with an injury that cost him 3 games. Pro Bowler Eric Weddle could take the slot that many would give to Philip Rivers who also made the Pro Bowl despite a down season (20 INTs and 7 FUMs) after being involved in last year’s tournament. Weddle tied for the league lead with 7 INTs.

Chiefs: Tamba Hali (95), Brandon Flowers (93)
Season long injuries cost Kansas City’s most marketable players, Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry, the shot at the cover. Brandon Flowers and Derrick Johnson performed well enough to consider while Dwayne Bowe had strong numbers but a big drop-off in TDs and is a free agent. Tamba Hali though really stepped up, particularly in nationally televised games, and is the highest rated player on the team and Brandon Flowers gets the second slot for similar reasons.

Raiders: Shane Lechler (99), Sebastian Janikowski (98)
This could be an opportunity for EA to get unorthodox with their selections. Why not go with the two extraordinary special team players? Shane Lechler is the only punter to reach the 99 overall rating while Sebastian Janikowski is the highest rated kicker in the game and tied the record for longest field goal in NFL history this season. Darren McFadden was in the tournament last year so he’s taken out of the running now not just for that reason but due to injuries that limited him to 7 games played. In turn that could open the door for Michael Bush. Richard Seymour might be the best option otherwise – he has been a premiere player for the Raiders since they got him from the Patriots – but 29 tackles and 6 sacks doesn’t exactly scream cover athlete worthy.

Bengals: AJ Green (87), Andy Dalton (81)
Last year all the Bengals could offer for the tournament was Carlos Dunlap – that makes it pretty obvious that the two impact rookies could be the guys this time around. Both players made it to the Pro Bowl and helped take a team expected to be in the cellar to the Playoffs. Leon Hall or Jermaine Gresham could also be considerations.

Browns: Joe Thomas (98), Joe Haden (90)
There’s no way EA will let another player from the Browns get the cover. The expectation here would be for a couple unappealing candidates to be presented – probably from the offensive line or kicker. They may very well avoid Josh Cribbs and even Joe Haden for that reason. Browns fans don’t seem thrilled with Thomas’ performance this past season – so that could give him an edge – while I’ll go ahead and slot in Haden over Phil Dawson. It’s unlikely any Browns contingent will make a strong push this year after getting saddled with the “cover curse” on Peyton Hillis.

Ravens: Haloti Ngata (98), Terrell Suggs (96)
The choice would almost certainly come from the defense – the problem is there are four terrific options. Ngata is the highest rated along with Ed Reed at 98 but both Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis are right behind them. A slight edge here for one spot goes to Ngata who signed a five year contract a few months back (he would be one of the few defensive tackles in the league that could make it in) with Terrell Suggs and his growing high-profile persona getting the second spot as the Defensive Player of the Year winner. Suggs could be one of the favorites to win it all.

Steelers: Brett Kiesel (92), Mike Wallace (91)
There could be the question of whether the NFL would be alright with James Harrison representing their product. For that reason, along with Ben Roethlisberger being far from an ideal spokesperson, Mike Wallace would be a solid pick here. He’s actually a restricted free agent but is all but certain to be back. LaMarr Woodley or Brett Keisel would then come into discussion and that would be a toss-up with the beard being the advantage. Also can’t count out Troy Polamalu despite not having quite the same impact as of late and becoming a tired Madden option (on Madden 10 cover, in tournament last year).

Colts: Adam Vinatieri (90) Pat Angerer (81)
As the worst team in the league no option is going to be particularly appealing. Robert Mathis would be the highest rated on the team but is slated to be a free agent as is Jeff Saturday. Adam Vinatieri for his career work and Pat Angerer got the most consideration here then. Second year player Angerer was fourth in the league in tackles. EA could also possibly fall back on Dwight Freeney again after having been involved in several past campaigns.

Jaguars: Maurice Jones-Drew (98), Daryl Smith (93)
The Jaguars one offensive threat, Maurice Jones-Drew, got his shot last year but would seem a lock to be back yet again. Leading the league in rushing on a terrible offense is no small feat. He has a strong relationship with EA Sports and takes Madden seriously so he’ll always be in the mix. Beyond him though there is very little to pick from. Daryl Smith is the highest rated player otherwise while Rashean Mathis and Josh Scobee are both set to be free agents. Paul Posluszny or Smith will probably get that second spot.

Texans: Arian Foster (96), J.J. Watt (88)
Foster should be considered a lock to be involved in the tournament. Who will be paired with him, and probably lose handily, is the question. Andre Johnson would be the immediate name that comes to mind but he was in the tournament last year and I suspect EA will be hoping Foster goes a long ways in the tourney and therefore will put him up against someone more easily beatable. Johnathan Joseph, Brian Cushing, or JJ Watt next come to mind. The rookie Watt, who made the big INT-TD in the Wild Card round against the Bengals, would make for the best opponent for Foster without being a real threat.

Titans: Rob Bironas (97), Michael Roos (92)
What team was the most difficult to find two suitable cover candidates for? Easily that is the Titans – somewhat surprising considering they were on the cusp of making the Playoffs. Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin are set to be a free agents while Kenny Britt was out for most of the season. That leaves names like Rob Bironas, Michael Roos, David Stewart, or Chris Johnson (off a terrible year). EA could also go forward-thinking and maybe choose Jake Locker but he would stand out in a group of players who earned their way on rather than sat most of the season.

Bills: Fred Jackson (92), Nick Barnett (89)
The obvious choice here is Fred Jackson, who took his initial Madden NFL 12 rating from 80 to a peak of 93 before getting injured and missing the last 6 games of the season. The second option will be more difficult to determine. Stevie Johnson was in the tournament last year and is a free agent so he’s out. Marcell Dareus, Nick Barnett, or Jairus Byrd might be the names considered. The edge might seem to go to Dareus but my pick is Barnett – Jackson will likely move on regardless of who he faces.

Dolphins: Cameron Wake (95), Reggie Bush (82)
Miami was one of the two teams last year that got stuck with an offensive lineman as their rep. I don’t think they’ll do that again so Jake Long is out. Brandon Marshall and Vontae Davis would be worthy of the recognition but Cameron Wake and Reggie Bush seem like the two favorites here. Bush, as a former EA cover athlete, actually would have justified his placement with a strong close to the season (519 yards rushing in the last 4 games).

Jets: Darrelle Revis (98), D’Brickashaw Ferguson (91)
It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Revis getting a nomination and advancing for the Jets. He finished the year rated 98 but was 99 at one time and is the definition of a “shutdown” corner. After that things get more shaky for the dysfunctional team. Mark Sanchez definitely doesn’t deserve to be in again – so Nick Mangold and D’Brickashaw Ferguson are probably the two guys who deserve some consideration. Revis will be moving on regardless of who he faces.

Patriots: Rob Gronkowski (98), Vince Wilfork (97)
At the mid-season point Wes Welker looked to be a sure thing as a Patriots cover representative in a tournament. He didn’t do anything to drop himself out of the running considering he had 122 receptions – just other players surged in a more dramatic fashion later in the season and in the Playoffs. He’s also a free agent but probably will be back. So instead the focus shifts to the record-breaker for tight ends with 17 TDs in Rob Gronkowski (he got more pub than anyone leading up to the Super Bowl due to his ankle injury) and Wilfork who has been a dominating force in the trenches and even has a couple memorable INTs from the season. Tom Brady again is not a reasonable expectation for any Madden cover involvement.

The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.

•THQ has released a new trailer for UFC Undisputed 3.
•EA Sports has released another trailer for FIFA Street.
•Jose Bautista will be on the Canadian cover of MLB 12: The Show.
•MLB 12: The Show on PS Vita requires a memory card for it to even boot up.
•Madden NFL 12 is available to download on SEN (formerly PSN) for $30 and XBL on 2/28.

Side-blogs on Google Plus tackling industry topics – add to a circle and +1 while there! Also results of any ‘quick polls’ held on Twitter and Facebook.

•On FIFA 12′s digital revenues and other companies playing catch-up.
•On MLB 2K12′s thin features list.

•Where Will Peyton Manning Play Next Season?
MIA 17%, SEA 14%, WAS 13%, NYJ/ARZ 11%, IND/SF 10%, KC 7%, BAL/DAL 3%, Retire 1%

News and content that may have been missed from the last week around the site.

•DVD/Blu-ray Releases This Week. Headlined by Twilight and Harold and Kumar.
•The Hunger Games Super Bowl Spot. See the ad from Super Bowl Sunday.
•G.I. Joe: Retaliation Super Bowl Spot. See the ad from Super Bowl Sunday.
•Showtime Renews Sunday Night Lineup. Shameless, Californication, and House of Lies.
•Trailer for The Cold Light of Day. Stars Bruce Willis and Henry Cavill.
•Teaser Trailer for Game of Thrones Season 2. Premieres on April 1st.

Coming off the disaster of a broadcast last year EA Sports and ESPN managed to pull off a fairly unoffensive show this time around for Madden Bowl XVIII. Though it had a largely dull and unfunny entire first hour – taking far too long to get to any Madden action – there were at least some attempts made to be entertaining.

The Teams
All-Madden: Arian Foster, Maurice Jones-Drew, Patrick Willis
Madden Legends: Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders, Warren Sapp
Madden “Clutch”: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, and Tim Tebow
Incoming Rookies: Justin Blackmon, Robert Griffin III, LaMichael James

The evening at the Madden Bowl was hosted by Michelle Beadle and Trey Wingo – both of which (somewhat justifiably) seemed to treat the whole thing like nobody was really watching anyway. That aforementioned first hour was set up in “talk show” format with a few guests coming on set for brief interviews while the two played off some manufactured tension over Wingo taking over the lead role while the interviewees then ignored Beadle.

It all fell pretty flat but was made worse by a broadcast riddled with technical issues. There were audio problems – including one interview with Greg Jennings where his mic wasn’t even turned on – while the hosts seemed to be lost at times as to what was happening or to come next.

At least some credit has to be given for creating segments that could have potentially been interesting or funny even if they ultimately were not. The intentionally awkward “blue carpet” interviews for example were at least more relevant than the video packages put together last year and the structure of the broadcast in going from the “talk show” to game room interviews and eventually the Madden Bowl Finals was an improvement. Making a Madden NFL 13 related announcement about the upcoming cover tournament was also a nice decision.

It wasn’t until 58 minutes had passed that the actual Madden Bowl made an appearance however and that is still inexcusable. It’s hard to imagine who EA/ESPN thinks is the target audience tuning in to the Madden Bowl for the purpose of watching interviews and attempts at comedy that are low in production value and effort. Judging by comments on Twitter many viewers tuned out of the program pretty quickly when it became apparent that’s all it was. The semi-finals were not shown and only briefly mentioned – at the very least some highlights would have been fun to see as it’s not as though they didn’t have time to fill.

The pleas following the previous Madden Bowl were answered at least when it came to showing the Finals. The focus for the last half hour was completely on that with every second of gameplay action broadcast while a secondary window on screen focused on either the athletes involved or the hosts. Thankfully message notifications were turned off meaning the audience wouldn’t be subjected to offensive material constantly popping up on screen.

As with last year the actual game footage held up well and featured dramatic moments making Madden NFL 12 look respectable and quite fun. The “Clutch” team seemed to take it seriously and show enthusiasm. That’s something EA could capitalize on – how even the athletes like Drew Brees can genuinely get into Madden in a competitive fashion. The choice to use Online Team Play worked out well here because of the determination and excitement demonstrated by the “Clutch” team but the “Rookies” just lounged around and relaxed for the most part.

It was fitting then that the “Clutch” team won both games in dramatic late-game fashion. The Finals looked to be all but wrapped up with 1:30 left and “Clutch” (Saints) about to go in for the game-sealing score. That is when “Rookies” (Lions) forced a fumble that was returned 97 yards for the TD to take a 4 point lead. The “Clutch” team then drove down the field and won it on a TD pass with 10 seconds left.

While still sub-standard as a whole the Madden Bowl XVIII broadcast showed some improvement by providing more relevant content and eventually turning its focus to what those who tuned in actually wanted to see. The Madden Bowl Final was presented well and was enjoyable to watch – it’s just a shame that it took a full hour to get to anything remotely interesting.

For a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card send me your predicted score and MVP winner for the Super Bowl by kickoff! In the case of a tie the MVP selection will be used to help break it and if that doesn’t do it then the winner will be randomly selected from qualifying entries.

For contact purposes all predictions directed at me on Twitter, posted on the Facebook page, or commented on Google Plus will qualify. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments but only entries that come through those social outlets will be considered for the contest. Good luck!

The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.

•The opportunity to claim Alistair Overeem for UFC 3 has been extended till release day.
•2K Sports has released the first trailer for MLB 2K12.
•EA Sports has released a new trailer for FIFA Street.
•New Grand Slam Tennis 2, FIFA Street, and SSX screenshots in the gallery or FB albums.
•Release day delivery – free with Prime or $1 otherwise – has been added for the following upcoming games at Amazon that are offering $10 promotional credits: UFC Undisputed 3 (360 – PS3), Grand Slam Tennis 2 (360 – PS3), SSX (360 – PS3).

Side-blogs on Google Plus tackling industry topics – add to a circle and +1 while there! Also results of any ‘quick polls’ held on Twitter and Facebook.

•On EA’s attempt to implement Kinect in Tiger 13.
•On SCEA’s decision to split dev time with MLB 12: The Show.
•On the MLB titles possibly lacking new playoff structure and division tiebreaker game.

News and content that may have been missed from the last week around the site.

•DVD/Blu-ray releases this week. Headlined by Drive, The Thing, and In Time.
•NBC Plans Dwight Schrute Spin-off. He’ll leave The Office mid-next season.
•Trailer for Lockout. Action thriller starring Guy Pearce.
•Trailer for Jeff, Who Lives at Home. Comedy starring Jason Segel.
•Oscar Nominations Announced. Led by Hugo and The Artist.

It’s become clear in recent days that Peyton Manning is unlikely to return to the Colts next season. Whether that will be due to his release (he’s owed $28 million guaranteed if kept on the roster come March 8th) or his retirement due to health concerns – Indy looks to be planning a fresh start with a new coach, GM, and Andrew Luck.

If his health allows him to return there are a number of teams that, by adding Peyton Manning, would become instant contenders. Here is a look at those who could consider making a play for his services under the right circumstances. 

Miami Dolphins

•Reasons for: Been searching for a franchise QB forever. Generally good weather at home.
•Reasons against: May be able to get a QB high in the draft could be targeting Matt Flynn. AFC East will be tough challenge every year.

Arizona Cardinals

•Reasons for: Home indoor environment. Team was successful with Kurt Warner late in his career. Larry Fitzgerald.
•Reasons against: Money going to Kevin Kolb (and trade capital they gave up for him) but he could too be released in March.

Seattle Seahawks

•Reasons for: Lots of young talent on offense and an emerging defense. Just need a franchise QB. Available cap room.
•Reasons against: Doesn’t fit the preferred offensive system which values mobility at QB. Team may want to groom a rookie for long haul.

Washington Redskins

•Reasons for: Team is known for signing high profile/pricey free agents. Need an answer at QB.
•Reasons against: Not much talent on offense. May prefer not to play in circus of the NFC East and against Eli twice a year.

San Francisco 49ers

•Reasons for: Alex Smith had a good year but limitations were seen in the NFC Championship game. Dominant defense.
•Reasons against: Still could have made it to the SB despite Alex Smith. Need help at WR.

There are only a handful of teams that wouldn’t ideally love to have a healthy Peyton Manning so any number of sleepers for his services could emerge. The New York Jets would love an upgrade over struggling Mark Sanchez but that doesn’t look to be an appealing option for Peyton (dysfunctional locker room and brash leadership, sharing crazy NY market with Eli). The Broncos, Chiefs, and even Ravens might make some sense too but would seem to be long shots.

The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.

•EA Sports has rolled out a revamp of the NCAA Football Online Dynasty website.
•Kotaku wonders what Mutant League Football is doing in NFL Blitz.
•A look at the new menu structure of MLB 12: The Show.
•Zynga may be planning sports-based social games.

Side-blogs on Google Plus tackling industry topics – add to a circle and +1 while there! Also results of any ‘quick polls’ held on Twitter and Facebook.

•On the return, maybe, of Mutant League Football?
•On poll results saying Tom Brady, or no one, for the 100 OVR rating in Madden NFL 12.

News and content that may have been missed from the last week around the site.

•DVD/Blu-ray releases for coming week. Headlined by Real Steel and 50/50.
•Trailer for Resident Evil: Retribution. The fifth entry in the series.
•The Expendables 2 Goes PG-13. Chuck Norris seemingly the reason for this.
•Hulu Launching Original Programming. First show starts next month.

The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.

•Madden Ultimate Team has a new playoff program ongoing.
•Producer blog details the new swing mechanic in Tiger Woods 13.
•A free Hyundai Veloster bonus pack for Forza 4 has come out.
•Kinect Sports S2 “Midnight Mountain Ski Pack” DLC (400MS points) has been released.
•Amazon has the 12 month Xbox Live subscription for $40 today – either card or instant code.

Side-blogs on Google Plus tackling industry topics – add to a circle and +1 while there! Also results of any ‘quick polls’ held on Twitter and Facebook.

•On the Wii version of Tiger Woods going from highest seller to cancelled in two years.
•On EA’s failure to resurrect the arcade-style sports genre.

Does the $1 million contest in MLB 2K12 make you more likely to purchase the game?
YES 4% – NO 96%

News and content that may have been missed from the last week around the site.

•2012 Golden Globe Award Winners. Homeland and The Descendants win big.
•DVD/Blu-ray releases this week. Headlined by Ides of March.
•The Walking Dead S3 gets extended. Next season will be 16 episodes instead of 13.
•The NFL Draft Section is up. Look for news and mock drafts in the future!

In 2011 EA Sports saw sales of their major franchises (Madden, NCAA, NHL, FIFA, Tiger) rise – what that really amounts to however is a blip rather than an actual expansion of the consumer base. Meanwhile other highly regarded series like NBA 2K and MLB: The Show had their sales drop off after especially strong years.

The sports genre of video games simply hasn’t grown this generation. As console sales continue to expand the potential number of consumers that hasn’t carried over in the past seven years to the pool of sports gamers. That is a major concern now and one that will have to be addressed soon – whether immediately or with the next generation of consoles.

Is there a compelling reason for someone to get into the sports genre of gaming now that wasn’t present years ago? There doesn’t seem to be any at all besides just doing so because one is a fan of that sport. As kids many of us grew up on these games and were drawn in by the fun factor and quickly advancing technology. Now frustration seems to arise more than simply being able to enjoy the games from year-to-year and potential goes untapped.

Though I continue to get indications that EA is working on a college basketball game there is (and will remain to be) little market to support one – even if there was the threat of lawsuits provides the dagger to consideration. We’ve seen contraction all across the sports genre throughout this generation. 2K Sports has essentially been reduced to just their NBA game given that this will probably be the last year of their MLB series. Development costs suddenly rose and potential consumer base either shrunk or got stagnant. That isn’t a combination that will elicit significant investment in risky products.

Arcade-style games are quickly dying out. Being handcuffed by the leagues is the biggest reason for that – but the companies haven’t found a way to compensate creatively. NFL Blitz, though a reasonably fun game, is about as bland as can be and appears as though it will likely be a one-off release with no future as a franchise. NBA Jam has been immensely disappointing, The BIGS (the best arcade game of the generation) is now dead. EA has attempted to resurrect arcade franchises but thus far completely mishandled them. Coming up are FIFA Street and SSX which will hopefully fare better otherwise there isn’t much hope for the arcade-style games in the future.

Meanwhile post-release support seems to have fallen off as companies either look to cut their losses or turn their full attention towards the next iteration in development. Madden NFL 12 only had one feedback-based patch though it has gotten great dedication in terms of consistent weekly roster updates. EA has abandoned promises to provide roster updates for NBA Jam: On Fire Edition. NCAA Football 12 got a number of patches mostly aimed at fixing problems and bringing the product to release-day standard. It doesn’t appear NFL Blitz will get a single roster update. The NBA season has been underway for nearly three weeks and the rosters are still missing many rookies and other transactions in NBA 2K12 while features like the web-element to Online Association are now over three months late. Many series like 2K and The Show have had terrible online experiences as a whole.

Downloadable content has become the big way to compensate for the troubles. EA makes tens of millions off each game that has an Ultimate Team mode and offer $50 worth of extra courses for Tiger Woods. Other sources of DLC/microtransactions are now provided by every company and there are elements such as the “Online Pass” to factor in as well. That, unfortunately, looks to be the direction things are heading. If sales of the base product aren’t up then they need to get the average dollar amount spent by each consumer that has been obtained to rise.

Sports games are in a dangerous position right now – the only franchise that is really flourishing is FIFA. These companies only have themselves to blame as they’ve struggled to provide compelling products and on occasions that they have they’ve followed them up with disappointments. They’ve also rubbed people the wrong way with bug-ridden efforts and a reliance on patches to “fix” rather than “improve”. Consumers have grown weary of the same old rhetoric coming out and no longer are fooled by it.

Some will point to NBA Elite 11 and say that is the exact reason why no push towards innovation is made. The game ended up getting cancelled at the last minute because it was going to bomb and kill any chance of EA building back up an NBA series. The problem is that game had core issues that extended beyond just being a troubled gameplay experience due to a rushed development cycle. The leadership on down through marketing took the completely wrong approach and the warning signs were obvious – I was calling it out months in advance while other outlets instead glossed over all those indications. Going a different direction with a series doesn’t have to result in disaster – EA brought that one on themselves.

It may come down to the launch of the next generation of consoles to either rejuvenate the genre or see it fade into an afterthought for good. The opportunity will be there to innovate and try and capture a new group of consumers. Should these companies continue to play it safe and make minor transitions from year to year they’ll continue to see their sales degrade – there may be ‘one year wonders’ mixed in but not the consistent true growth that is needed to sustain for the long-term. There will always be a game representing each major sport but as competition dwindles, league control grows, and companies cut corners there isn’t much reason to get excited for where things are headed.

During his initial run of comebacks and displays of fourth quarter ‘magic’ Tim Tebow catapulted himself into a group of elite players that should find themselves under serious consideration for the cover of Madden NFL 13. Three straight poor outings at the end of the season seemingly dropped him out of the conversation. Following the thrilling slaying of the Steelers however there is no avoiding it – Tebow will be a contender for the cover whether the decision is made internally by EA Sports or through a fan-voting initiative. 

In the cover tournament for Madden NFL 12 Tebow was met with a first round ousting. There was some thought at the time that his supporters could push him further but coming off a season in which he was primarily utilized as a backup or in specific packages there was little traction for them or justification for others to throw their votes his way. After the story of this season comes to a close that will have changed dramatically.

Tebow helped lead the 1-4 Broncos to the playoffs and pull off a huge upset in dramatic fashion with more viewers watching than any Wild Card game in the last 18 years. Just today ESPN named him the most popular athlete in America and those huge TV ratings are no coincidence. This season he has engineered six late game winning drives – five of which were fourth quarter comebacks. Yes, he was a big reason why holes were dug in those games, but when the spotlight is on he has provided some brilliant moments and that is what people will remember. He even was recognized for the feats in Madden 12 by receiving the  ”clutch trait” during the run.

Where Tebow also reaches – beyond arguably any other NFL player – is an audience who isn’t necessarily NFL fans. His popularity has transcended sports in that regard. Whether he’s deserving of all that attention based on his on-field performance is certainly debatable but it’s hard to imagine anyone in the NFL right now that would make for a better marketing partner/endorser than Tebow. Luckily for EA Sports they already have an agreement in place with him following his cover appearance for NCAA Football 11. It’s not hard to picture them continuing that relationship with Tebow by cutting a deal with him to be the face of Madden 13.

Ultimately even heated debates about whether Tebow deserves the cover or not would be welcome exposure from EA’s standpoint for a series in Madden that has stagnated and lost critical cultural relevance. The news would spread beyond the typical gaming and sports reports and to the mainstream news outlets while social media activity would explode. It would be even better for the company if Tebow was a part of a cover tournament or voting process and ended up winning as that would give them an opportunity to milk the story for longer while touting that the fans were the ones who made the final decision.

Regardless of the fashion in which it may don’t be surprised if Tebow’s name comes up when the time arrives to discuss the Madden NFL 13 cover voting or selection.