Madden 12 News Post

Hillis Ahead of Vick For Madden NFL 12 Cover

03:35 PM - April 24, 2011 by Steve_OS

According to some Darren Rovell sources, if the vote ended today, Peyton Hillis would be on the cover of Madden NFL 12. Strong rumblings around the web say, it's a wrap.

Official word comes Wednesday.

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Member Comments

# 181 mjhyankees @ 04/27/11 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cre8


	Hoping like crazy that Hillis rains down on all the haters...

For what it's worth I think Hillis winning is a joke....he plain doesn't deserve it.....but given a choice, I'd choose him over Vick. I still wonder about Vick.....did he really change or is his behavior different because everyone's watching now. I'm also not sure he's sorry for what he did....just sorry he got caught. (boy this ought to stir up a hornets nest

# 182 bichettehappens @ 04/27/11 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhyankees


	For what it's worth I think Hillis winning is a joke....he plain doesn't deserve it.....but given a choice, I'd choose him over Vick. I still wonder about Vick.....did he really change or is his behavior different because everyone's watching now. I'm also not sure he's sorry for what he did....just sorry he got caught. (boy this ought to stir up a hornets nest

If he wins the right to be on the cover exactly the way it was meant to be won (fan votes), how doesn't he deserve it?

# 183 Tengo Juego @ 04/27/11 11:03 AM

The cover winner is announced today, right?

# 184 mjhyankees @ 04/27/11 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bichettehappens


	If he wins the right to be on the cover exactly the way it was meant to be won (fan votes), how doesn't he deserve it?

By definition any "cover athlete" is usually an elite player in his sport. That goes for covers of games, magazines etc. He doesn't fit the bill. The fact that he "got votes" is irrelevant to his deserving it. If I find a 100 bill on the floor...do I "deserve it"? No...I did nothing to earn it but it's mine nonetheless. Same with Hillis.

# 185 Exonerated @ 04/27/11 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhyankees


	By definition any "cover athlete" is usually an elite player in his sport. That goes for covers of games, magazines etc. He doesn't fit the bill. The fact that he "got votes" is irrelevant to his deserving it. If I find a 100 bill on the floor...do I "deserve it"? No...I did nothing to earn it but it's mine nonetheless. Same with Hillis.

Theft by finding!!!!

# 186 djordan @ 04/27/11 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengo Juego


	The cover winner is announced today, right?

YUP!!...............

# 187 mjhyankees @ 04/27/11 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exonerated


	Theft by finding!!!!

Luck via voting

# 188 The GIGGAS @ 04/27/11 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhyankees


	By definition any "cover athlete" is usually an elite player in his sport. That goes for covers of games, magazines etc. He doesn't fit the bill. The fact that he "got votes" is irrelevant to his deserving it. If I find a 100 bill on the floor...do I "deserve it"? No...I did nothing to earn it but it's mine nonetheless. Same with Hillis.

OK, he doesn't deserve it, whatever.

Doesn't change the fact that it looks like he's going to win it.

Deserve or not is irrelevant now. The fans voted for their person, and Hillis is apparently the winner.

# 189 mjhyankees @ 04/27/11 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The GIGGAS


	OK, he doesn't deserve it, whatever. Doesn't change the fact that it looks like he's going to win it. Deserve or not is irrelevant now. The fans voted for their person, and Hillis is apparently the winner.

Well yeah, if you put it that way. I'm standing on line at midnight either way. But apparently many have the opinion that this is a bad choice. For the record the "voting" was somewhat bogus anyway. It was a playoff type vote with guys getting eliminated along the way. I'd bet if it was a straight up poll....hey wait I have an idea.

# 190 The GIGGAS @ 04/27/11 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhyankees


	Well yeah, if you put it that way. I'm standing on line at midnight either way. But apparently many have the opinion that this is a bad choice. For the record the "voting" was somewhat bogus anyway. It was a playoff type vote with guys getting eliminated along the way. I'd bet if it was a straight up poll....hey wait I have an idea.

I don't see why you think it's bogus. It was decided in the same way that almost every sport decides a champion. They play games in a tournament (where in this case, games were polls).

If so many people have the opinion that Hillis is a bad choice, why is he winning? Perhaps we're extrapolating the belief of a vocal minority to the majority?

# 191 mjhyankees @ 04/27/11 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The GIGGAS


	I don't see why you think it's bogus. It was decided in the same way that almost every sport decides a champion. They play games in a tournament (where in this case, games were polls). If so many people have the opinion that Hillis is a bad choice, why is he winning? Perhaps we're extrapolating the belief of a vocal minority to the majority?

You are obviously an intelligent guy (extrapolate?...havent' heard anyone use that word in years). And I'm not trying to be a Dick here now...just engaging in a philosophical argument. Let's take your above point.
1. A tournament that's played has winners and losers (same as the voting) however the team (or player) controlls their own outcome. Thus making it more valid a measure of rating teams. Hillis did nothing to win this honor....it was given to him...unlike the Packers who WON ON THEIR OWN in a tournament setting to become the ultimate winner. Your analogy falls apart there.
2. While the tournament style vote is novel, fun and feels like "playoffs", it is not a true measure of people's opinions. Why you ask? Because with each round your choices were limited. With each round Hillis picked up votes from voters who may have voted differently if they had more choices. Take Rodgers for example. He got beat in a round by someone (forgot who) whose to say he woundn't have won if he was against someone different? Or who's to say that a voter like myself wouldn't have voted for Rodgers over Hillis if that choice came up. I'd vote Hillis over Vick but not Hillis over Rodgers. The only reliable and valid measure of people's opinions of who the cover athlete should be would be to let them vote for ANY player once. The player with the most votes wins....period. This tournament vote was not valid or reliable (I'm talking statistic here folks, not morals) because your sample pool was constantly changing, forcing votes that may not have been placed in different circumstances.
I started a thread on this other vote btw and wonder what people have to say.
Now that said, I like Hillis, I prefer him to Vick and I'll buy the game no matter who is on the cover.

# 192 mjhyankees @ 04/27/11 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheelman990


	Tell all the people Hillis hit with smashmouth football he didn't deserve. I think he earned it with every single blow. Since he made it all the way to the final voting, and may even win. Pretty obvious most don't agree with you. Your welcome to your opinion though.

Like I said this wasn't a true measure of people's opinions. Do you think he would have won if it was a true vote (everyone picks one player they'd like to have on the cover)? I think not. Again the sample pool kept changing making it a statistically unreliable and invalid measurement of people's opinions. That's just a fact.
As to your point. The fact that he played "smashmouth" football and ran some people over (he WAS fun to watch) is irrelevent. By that criteria I could name dozens just as deserving. MJD comes to mind, so does AP and how about other positions. You think someone that got hit by Ray Lewis would think Hillis was more smashmouth?
If you are happy he won so be it. If I'm not, you're right it's an opinion. But it's a FACT that the voting method was flawed and didn't give a fair measurement of peoples opinions as to who the cover athlete should be. It actually was more akin to flipping a coin in the sense that you never knew who would be matched up from round to round, therefore the number of different outcomes is exponential depending on how matchups could have changed. A single vote is far more reliable and valid.
It's also a FACT that just looking at the numbers, there were at least 10 more deserving running backs not to mention other position players.
Hillis won by chance outcomes based on chance matchups based on popularity I'd guess.

# 193 The GIGGAS @ 04/27/11 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhyankees


	You are obviously an intelligent guy (extrapolate?...havent' heard anyone use that word in years). And I'm not trying to be a Dick here now...just engaging in a philosophical argument. Let's take your above point. 1. A tournament that's played has winners and losers (same as the voting) however the team (or player) controlls their own outcome. Thus making it more valid a measure of rating teams. Hillis did nothing to win this honor....it was given to him...unlike the Packers who WON ON THEIR OWN in a tournament setting to become the ultimate winner. Your analogy falls apart there.

I slightly disagree in this case. I see your point, but I think the popularity they gain while playing the games gain them victories. While we do rely on the fickleness of the users to put in forth their victories, the athletes already influenced the "game". I don't necessarily feel he was "given" it.

Quote:


	2. While the tournament style vote is novel, fun and feels like "playoffs", it is not a true measure of people's opinions. Why you ask? Because with each round your choices were limited. With each round Hillis picked up votes from voters who may have voted differently if they had more choices. Take Rodgers for example. He got beat in a round by someone (forgot who) whose to say he woundn't have won if he was against someone different? Or who's to say that a voter like myself wouldn't have voted for Rodgers over Hillis if that choice came up. I'd vote Hillis over Vick but not Hillis over Rodgers. The only reliable and valid measure of people's opinions of who the cover athlete should be would be to let them vote for ANY player once. The player with the most votes wins....period. This tournament vote was not valid or reliable (I'm talking statistic here folks, not morals) because your sample pool was constantly changing, forcing votes that may not have been placed in different circumstances.

In tournaments, you can only beat who you're placed against. Looking at Hillis' opponent history, he had to face:

Ray Rice, a popular running back on a playoff team
Matt Ryan, a popular quarterback on a playoff team
Jamaal Charles, a running back on a playoff team
Aaron Rodgers, the Super Bowl winning QB

and now,

Michael Vick, a popular quarterback on a playoff team

He's not slid through this competition facing guys like the 12th Man and Jordan Gross. Arguably, he's gone against three to four major favorites for the cover (Ryan/Rodgers/Vick, perhaps Rice).

He's won each one. I don't have a problem with it. The fans voted for whatever reason, and Hillis is in the championship.

As for poll vs tournament, a tournament is far more fun and longer lasting than a poll. Of course, if it was a flat poll, one of the favorites would have won. But what's the fun in that? Also, it would have been a story for a couple of days, and then everyone probably would have forgotten about it.

Having a new set of matchups every week helped keep the vote and Madden in consumers' minds. So regardless of the cover athlete, the job was completed successfully. This always was much more than a simple decision on a cover athlete. It was a calculated PR and sales strike, which was a staggering success.

# 194 mjhyankees @ 04/27/11 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The GIGGAS


	I slightly disagree in this case. I see your point, but I think the popularity they gain while playing the games gain them victories. While we do rely on the fickleness of the users to put in forth their victories, the athletes already influenced the "game". I don't necessarily feel he was "given" it. In tournaments, you can only beat who you're placed against. Looking at Hillis' opponent history, he had to face: Ray Rice, a popular running back on a playoff team Matt Ryan, a popular quarterback on a playoff team Jamaal Charles, a running back on a playoff team Aaron Rodgers, the Super Bowl winning QB and now, Michael Vick, a popular quarterback on a playoff team He's not slid through this competition facing guys like the 12th Man and Jordan Gross. Arguably, he's gone against three to four major favorites for the cover (Ryan/Rodgers/Vick, perhaps Rice). He's won each one. I don't have a problem with it. The fans voted for whatever reason, and Hillis is in the championship. As for poll vs tournament, a tournament is far more fun and longer lasting than a poll. Of course, if it was a flat poll, one of the favorites would have won. But what's the fun in that? Also, it would have been a story for a couple of days, and then everyone probably would have forgotten about it. Having a new set of matchups every week helped keep the vote and Madden in consumers' minds. So regardless of the cover athlete, the job was completed successfully. This always was much more than a simple decision on a cover athlete. It was a calculated PR and sales strike, which was a staggering success.

Your last point is correct....it was a more fun way, better PR etc. My statement of more deserving player winning it should have been worded differently. We can debate his worthiness based on his stats, not on the vote. His winning the vote is more about the types of measurements we used to find the winner. I'm pointing out that it's a statistically invalid and unreliable measurement. I understand the confusion because I started out debating his credentials....poorly constructed argument in all, but I feel my points are valid.

# 195 mestevo @ 04/27/11 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjhyankees


	Your last point is correct....it was a more fun way, better PR etc. My statement of more deserving player winning it should have been worded differently. We can debate his worthiness based on his stats, not on the vote. His winning the vote is more about the types of measurements we used to find the winner. I'm pointing out that it's a statistically invalid and unreliable measurement. I understand the confusion because I started out debating his credentials....poorly constructed argument in all, but I feel my points are valid.

It's simply a popularity contest, there's no 'statistically valid' way to justify 99% of the NFL to be on the cover.

# 196 roadman @ 04/27/11 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mestevo


	It's simply a popularity contest, there's no 'statistically valid' way to justify 99% of the NFL to be on the cover.

Agreed.

Just the like the NCAA bracket, anyone can beat anyone at any given moment. That's what the voting was based off, the NCAA bracket.

If you look at it that way, then it was done in a proper fashion.

Is Connecticut the best team in the country or were they the hottest team in the last month or two?

# 197 bigdfan76 @ 04/27/11 12:44 PM

Don't get me wrong, I really like Hillis. He's a versatile, bruising back. But I'm not so much voting for Hillis as I am voting against Vick. I can't believe that dog killer made it this far. Oh and it has NOTHING to do with me being a Cowboys fan. I mean come on! He's an ex-felon. Kids are buying these games. If I had a kid that wanted Madden 12 and Vick was "gracing" the cover. I'd buy it with out my kid there and replace it with a custom cover. Then I'd tell him why Vick is a pile of poo! Go Hillis!

# 198 Noles4ever @ 04/27/11 12:54 PM

I don't know why people are complaining who is on the cover and who isn't because of star power. No one buys the game because of who is on the cover. They buy the game because it's the only NFL game on the market.

# 199 MrSkagTrendy @ 04/27/11 12:57 PM

The thing is, the cover will not determine whether people DO buy it. The people that were going to buy it before Vick was put on the cover still will.

BUT

The people that maybe were going to buy it (for themselves or for children) now may not, because of what they think of Vick's image.

# 200 OSUFan_88 @ 04/27/11 01:15 PM

My answer to whether Hillis deserves it or not?

Scoreboard.

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