Calvin Johnson will try and avoid the Madden jinx
Posted: 04.25.2012 at 6:43 PM

(AP) -- Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson has been selected to appear on the cover of Madden NFL `13, the popular video game, in a vote by fans.


Johnson beat out Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, by garnering 52 percent of the more than 651,000 votes cast in the competition between the two playmakers.    

Former Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, was on last year's game cover.


Johnson, who says he's "shocked" to win the vote, had 96 catches for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

He signed an eight-year deal with the Lions worth up to $132 million last month.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)