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Megatron says he doesn't believe in the Madden curse (Getty Images)
After 64 players, seven weeks and 20 million votes, Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson was named to the Madden NFL 13 cover Wednesday afternoon. He was serenaded to cheers of "Megatron" from fans during a live broadcast from Times Square.

Johnson beat out Panthers quarterback Cam Newton for the cover honors. Both players were on hand for the announcement. "I thought you guys loved me," Newton said after learning his fate. "Just kidding," he added with a smile. "Big ups to Megatron." More than 20 million votes were cast by fans to whittle the list of candidates from 64 to one.

The news all but guarantees that Megatron will be the next victim of the Madden curse, which he says he doesn't believe in. And neither does Newton. "If you do what you got to do there won't be no jinx," said the Panthers' quarterback. That prompted ESPN's Colin Cowherd, who was co-hosting the spectacle, to ask Johnson, "You're not going to turn your ankle in Week 1 or something?"

Cowherd was booed loudly by the crowd.

The Madden curse might seem more like the intersection of conspiracy theories and bad luck, but just take a look at its history. And then there's this from Peyton Hillis, last year's Madden cover "winner."

"No doubt about it," Hillis said back in December when asked if the Madden curse was real. "Things haven't worked to my favor this year. There's a few things that happened that made me believe in curses. Ain't no doubt about it."

Johnson disagrees. We hope he's right. "The people voted, they got what they wanted," he said. "I'm very grateful for that, this means a lot, this is great."

I'd still take Calvin Johnson as my first WR off the fantasy board.  Curse or no curse.

Duff you can have him cause I'm not touching him exspecially after hearing what Hillis said there.                              On another note       Miami just stole a second round RB in the fourth.

<h1 id="watch-headline-title"> Lamar Miller</h1>

<br /> Lamar is 5' 11" 220 lb and runs a 4.36 40 yard dash.  I is really happy now! We have a speed burner with real size I love it!  Talk about biggest steal Scape this will be one for sure. Other notible steals. T-Hill and Jonathan Martin. Who also happen to now be Miami Dolphins and of course Stephen Hill will be the best WR from this years draft. Stinks he ended up with the Jets.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Would still have loved to get him over Jonathan Martin but with the Martin Pick who was a steal too and now Miller it looks like Miami is going old school and will have a pound and grind offense till T-Hill gets his feet wet.

Well Foot.  The Dolphins had to grab Martin and Miller cause they're gonna have to run the ball most of the time.  Tannehill still doesn't really have any real receiving threat to throw to.  Just a bunch of #2 and #3 WR's.  You sure the Browns and Dolphins aren't one and the same team?  Maybe they're Siamese twins joined at the hip with reversible jersies with Browns colors on one side and Dolphins colors on the other. 

They should just call themselves the Brolphins or the Downs.   

Doesn't really matter though.  Just call them both "Cannon Fodder" for the rest of the real NFL teams.

Duff - I want your opinion and any one else who knows these guys. Do you guys like Miller? And how about Martin. Anyone think Miami made the right choice taking Martin over Stephen Hill? 

I don't think the Dolphins are looking for explosive receivers. Philbin has even said he doesn't think they need a true #1 WR (and their draft Bears that out, since they didn't take a WR until Cunningham just now, in the 6th). I get the impression they are looking more for execution - that they would be satisfied with WRs that run decent routes and don't drop the ball, and just let the Xs and Os work for them.

For similar reasons I think it will be several games before Tannehill sees the field.

Cunningham should be a good fit - and from a fantasy perspective the kind of guy that floats around the edge of the waiver wire.

The Jets are almost always an exciting mess of a team, and that should be no different this year. I expect Hill to have a couple of beautiful game-changing TD grabs, yet also go a few games with goose eggs (after which he will complain, in true WR diva fashion).

Hmmmm interesting,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Thanks Wil

Man I just love this Miller guy. I think Miami drafting him just shows they are not feeling Danial Thomas like I said last year. I think Miller will be great. I love our draft this year and I think wr Edmond Gates who we drafted last year in the fourth with his 4.32 speed is the reason we didn't go after wr higher in this year's draft. Gates is the next Mike Wallace waiting to happen. I think it is going to be a fun year watching the Dolphins after all.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Nothing against Daniel Thomas but i just wasn't crazy about the seconder last year. I hope he can be used in short yardage situations successfully this year, but unless he works harder I don't know if it can happen. Might be why they drafted the 2012-2013 heisman trophy winner and first overall selection in the 2013 draft this year had he stayed in college another year.

I actually still can't believe Ryan Tannehill is on my team! I am so thankful to the Browns for not taking him. I was so scared the Browns were going to out smart us by planning on stealing him at 4. So happy, Ireland drafted him, can't wait to see him play. My bet is he will start the season. Every expert says he needs to sit for year. Why? He all ready knows the entire play book or at worst 80 percent of it since it's the same one he ran in college. He starts day one mark my words!

 Might be why they drafted the 2012-2013 heisman trophy winner and first overall selection in the 2013 draft this year had he stayed in college another year.

How did you guys draft Barkley? Oh, I get it now...............
Sam
PS Pretty happy with my teams draft. Lots o' peeps think they blew it by not trading up to get Blackmon but I am happy with their over all performance. If Brockers pans out (which he should) they might FINALLY be able to stop the run. If they can keep this Jenkins kid on the straight and narrow they will have two top of the line corners. Personally I am glad we went D..if we can keep from getting behind by 2 TD's in the 1st quarter maybe we can establish the run and be more effective with the play action.
Sam

Sam I just wish they would have taken Fleener.

Sam I just wish they would have taken Fleener.

I think they still have faith in Kendricks and hopefully they hit it with Quick..............fantasy wise I don't know that Fleener could have ended up in a much better place.
Sam

Well, guys, I really have no opinion on any of the guys that the Bears drafted. They took some heat for drafting Shea McClellin in the first round. But then when it came to light that the Packers and Patriots were realistically targeting this guy, suddenly the tune changed as a decent pick. Even though this McClellin kid has no bearing on FF (even in a deep IDP league).

I think the Bears did well before the draft by getting Brandon Marshall and Michael Bush. They picked up a WR in the 2nd round, this kid Alshon Jeffery, which I'm guessing they hope become the #2 guy. Big go-up-and-get-it type.

Again, I'll let all symantics play out in training camp/preseason before I get as excited as Foot.

As of right now there are only about 6 rookies that I'd realistically consider drafting on my fantasy team. And maybe 6 is stretching it. Richardson, Blackmon, RG3, Floyd, Quick and Martin. That's it (as of today).

. Richardson, Blackmon, RG3, Floyd, Quick and Martin.

I might add Fleener to that list. The thing that turns me off on Richardson in that freaking schedule they play. Didn't used to be so bad until the Bengals started playing defense. I would for sure (like you said Joe, as of right now) draft RGIII and Martin..............if Martin was to win the starting job that would be huge. Not so sure about Quick but Bradford does seem to pick out one receiver and target him a hell of alot..........Clayton got tons of targets till he got hurt and of course Lloyd last year.
Sam

I think the Bears did well before the draft by getting Brandon Marshall and Michael Bush. They picked up a WR in the 2nd round, this kid Alshon Jeffery, which I'm guessing they hope become the #2 guy. Big go-up-and-get-it type.

BTW Joe, not counting the draft I think you guys had an excellent off season and IF (notice the big if) you guys could sign Forte I think you guys are golden..........only problem is so are the Packers and Lions.................that's gonna be a competitive division.
Sam
PS Even if you don't sign Forte Bush can shoulder the load.

Joe the Bears made out wonderfully in the draft. They got Brandon Marshall in the third round.

Sam, not sure I put much trust in "strength of schedule" anymore. Mostly because the SOS is based on LAST season's numbers. Case in point, the Jaguars had the 3rd-toughest schedule in 2011 yet MJD led all RB with over 1600 rushing yards. And MJD's basically the only offense the Jags have. So the SOS didn't really affect him.

I have more faith in rookie RB than any other rookie positions too. Richardson may not be out in nickle situations (for blitz pickups), but most other times he'll get the rock and just be told simply to run. Maybe I'm alone on this view?

I never pay any attention to strength of schedual before the season at all. That only works when we are about near a third way through the season. Then strength of schedule based on the defensive ranks for that first third come in handy and only then do they matter. And the are a big factor. But going by last years teams they are completely irrelevant and should never be used cause things always change so much from year to year. I agree with joe for once.

He starts day one mark my words!

Marked.