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PrintTim Tebow is the favorite to become the next Madden cover athlete.
The polarizing Broncos star is listed at 5-to-1 in odds released by Bovada sportsbook, slightly ahead of Cam Newton (5.5-to-1) and Rob Gronkowski (7.5-to-1). This is the second straight year that the cover athlete is chosen by a world vote, with each player paired in a head-to-head bracket style tournament.
Newton, who is going head-to-head with Steve Smith, currently has the most votes of any of the 64 players in the contest. As for Gronkowski, his odds imply that he has a decent chance, but history suggests otherwise.
There have been 14 athletes (in 13 years) showcased on the cover, none of which have been tight ends.
Peyton Hillis won last year’s vote.
Positional breakdown for Madden NFL’s cover through the years:
- Quarterbacks: 6
- Running backs: 5
- Defensive: 2
- Wide receiver: 1
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Complete odds for Madden NFL 2013 cover athlete
Tim Tebow (DEN) 5/1
Cam Newton (CAR) 11/2
Rob Gronkowski (NE) 15/2
Aaron Rodgers (GB) 12/1
Calvin Johnson (DET) 12/1
Victor Cruz (NYG) 12/1
Arian Foster (HOU) 18/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 20/1
Jason Pierre-Paul (NYG) 20/1
Ray Rice (BAL) 22/1
Drew Brees (NO) 25/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 25/1
Michael Vick (PHI) 25/1
Patrick Willis (SF) 25/1
A.J. Green (CIN) 30/1
Chris Johnson (TEN) 30/1
Darrelle Revis (NYJ) 30/1
Jared Allen (MIN) 30/1
Marshawn Lynch (SEA) 30/1
Matt Forte (CHI) 30/1
Von Miller (DEN) 30/1
Andre Johnson (HOU) 35/1
Demarcus Ware (DAL) 35/1
Jimmy Graham (NO) 35/1
Julio Jones (ATL) 35/1
Maurice Jones-Drew (JAC) 35/1
Brandon Marshall (MIA) 40/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 40/1
Troy Polamalu (PIT) 40/1
Antonio Gates (SD) 50/1
Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) 50/1
Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) 50/1
Wes Welker (NE) 50/1
Phillip Rivers (SD) 60/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 80/1
Terrell Suggs (BAL) 80/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 125/1
Dwayne Bowe (KC) 125/1
Dwight Freeney (IND) 125/1
Stevie Johnson (BUF) 125/1
Field 25/1
