These 16 players are one round closer to the Madden NFL 12 cover @ Gaming Target

Written by Matt Swider on March 28, 2011

News: Players that are still in contention include Aaron Rodgers, Danny Woodhead and Drew Brees.

Today, EA SPORTS and ESPN announced the 16 NFL players to advance through to the next round of the Madden NFL 12 Cover Vote campaign, hosted exclusively by ESPN.com and ?SportsNation.? Players that are still in contention to appear on the cover of Madden NFL 12 include Aaron Rodgers (QB, Packers), Danny Woodhead (RB, Patriots), Drew Brees (QB, Saints) and Michael Vick (QB, Eagles), among 12 others. Over 6.8 million votes were cast on ESPN.com's ?SportsNation? during the first week of the Madden NFL 12 Cover Vote campaign (March 21 ? 28).

Based on predetermined seeding, first round upsets included No. 10 Peyton Hillis (RB, Browns) over No. 7 Ray Rice (RB, Ravens) by 24% and No. 9 Adrian Peterson (RB, Vikings) over No. 8 Julius Peppers (DE, Bears) by 14%. The largest voting differential was 78% between Matt Ryan (QB, Falcons) and Jordan Gross (OT, Panthers), followed by Michael Vick (QB, Eagles) and DeMarcus Ware (LB, Cowboys) at 52%. The closest match-up was between Patrick Willis (LB, 49ers) and the Seattle Seahawks' 12th Man who were separated by only 6%, followed by Mark Sanchez (QB, Jets) who beat Jake Long (OL, Dolphins) by 10%. See below for the complete first round voting breakdown.

Round 2 voting is now open and fans can make their selections exclusively at www.ESPN.com/MaddenVote to determine which of the 16 NFL players advance to the next round of the Madden NFL 12 cover athlete voting campaign. Fans can tune in to ESPN's "SportsNation" every Monday at 4 pm Eastern throughout the campaign to see which players advance.

ROUND 1 BREAKDOWN OF MADDEN NFL 12 COVER VOTE CAMPAIGN
? 72% Aaron Rodgers / 28% Ndamukong Suh

? 57% Sam Bradford / 43% Larry Fitzgerald

? 61% Hakeem Nicks / 39% Brian Orakpo

? 62% Danny Woodhead / 38% Steve Johnson

? 66% Maurice Jones-Drew / 34% Dwight Freeney

? 64% Jamaal Charles / 36% Tim Tebow

? 62% Peyton Hillis / 38% Ray Rice

? 89% Matt Ryan / 11% Jordan Gross

? 67% Philip Rivers / 33% Darren McFadden

? 57% Adrian Peterson / 43% Julius Peppers

? 55% Mark Sanchez / 45% Jake Long

? 56% Drew Brees / 44% Josh Freeman

? 76% Michael Vick / 24% DeMarcus Ware

? 69% Andre Johnson / 31% Chris Johnson

? 54% Patrick Willis / 46% 12th Man

? 72% Hines Ward / 28% Carlos Dunlap