Reggie Wayne, Drew Brees battle for Madden cover

March 9, 2010
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With six days left to vote for the cover of the Madden 2011 video game, it appears the race is down to Indianapolis Colts’ receiver Reggie Wayne and New Orleans’ Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

This is the first year the game’s maker has allowed fans to vote for the cover. The vote is done via a promotion with Doritos, which has been promoting the contest heavily since early February in grocery stores nationwide. The vote concludes March 15. Fans can still vote at Doritoschangethegame.com.

Minnesota Vikings’ defender Jared Allen is the third finalist, but sources familiar with the voting said Brees and Wayne have pulled ahead.

“Some people are going to look at the list and think Drew Brees is going to win, but Reggie Wayne had an amazing statistical season, and I think he’s the best wide receiver in the NFL,” said Chris Erb, senior director of partnership marketing for EA Sports.

Brees still remains a slight favorite to win the cover. That might be OK with Colts fans given the “curse” associated with being on the Madden video game cover.

Shaun Alexander, just one of a number of stars who became injured after appearing on the Madden cover, thinks talk of the “curse” is overblown. Alexander still benefits financially from the deal, continuing to do promotions for EA Sports, the game’s producer.

“Football is a physical game, and people get hurt,” Alexander told USA Today last month after doing a promotion for the 2011 version in conjunction with Doritos.

Alexander pointed out that LaDainian Tomlinson and Tom Brady both begged off being on the cover. “And they still both got hurt,” Alexander said.

Curse or not, the Madden cover gig can be a lucrative deal for the NFL player chosen. Sports marketers estimate its value at low- to mid-seven-figures for the athlete, with some players continuing to do EA promotions long after the year they appear on the cover.

The Madden video game is one of the best selling video games worldwide, typically grossing more than $100 million in the week of sales after its initial release.
 

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  • Let Brees Win!!! We need Reggie!
    AndrewMarch 9, 2010 10:39 AM
    Let Brees win the cover! We don't need the Madden curse hanging over Reggie!

    Oh, and Shaun Alexander's comments... hmmm... how well is he doing in the NFL now? Yeah... maybe he shouldn't be commenting.
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  • Drew Brees just deservs it!
    football jerseysMarch 9, 2010 10:46 PM
    When the Saints won the Super Bowl XLIV game over the Colts, I was a bit surprised but very happy. The story of Brees helping Saints win their first Super Bowl champion was so moving that even the Colts fans would like to celebrate for them, although they beleive that their beloved team still has chance to win the title again, the player in No. 9 NFL jersey and his team are still just respectale.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Reggie is undervalued
    MattMarch 11, 2010 8:27 AM
    I don't believe in curses. Anthony Gonzalez wasn't on the cover of Madden and look what happened to him. Football is a violent game and a risky business. Reggie is not only a great player but a great personality and very undervalued as a person and a marketer. Anyone who's ever heard him on local radio station WXLW knows this. The guy has a lot to offer. And would be great on the Madden cover.
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  • Let Reggie win
    ChrisMarch 11, 2010 1:21 PM
    Give it to Reggie, Brees can have it in a few years after the saints create their dynasty.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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