Bills on Madden Cover: Damar Hamlin, Not Josh Allen, Suggests RGIII

"Celebrate a moment that brought us all together for once regardless of what team you cheer for.'' - RGIII on why the Bills' Damar Hamlin should be on the Madden cover instead of Josh Allen.

EA Sports will this week reveal its cover athlete for Madden NFL 24 and there has been speculation that the "cover guy'' will be none other than quarterback Josh Allen. Nothing wrong with that idea to honor one Buffalo Bills big name, but Robert Griffin III believes he's got an even better concept.

"EA Sports should make Damar Hamlin the Madden 24 Cover Athlete,'' writes RGIII on Twitter. "Celebrate a moment that brought us all together for once regardless of what team you cheer for.''

Griffin, the NFL QB turned ESPN analyst, makes a compelling point that does nothing to take away from the merits of Allen. Griffin thinks that more publicizing of the Hamlin story is the greater good as Madden 24 can make generations of kids more aware of his story.

Griffin's initial post immediately went viral and as of Tuesday morning now has over six million views. ... with some fans arguing that the Madden cover should be reserved for true superstar players, and others suggesting that Hamlin - a rallying point for survival after his 2022 life-or-death fight from a frightening late-season cardiac arrest and injury -  shouldn't be subjected to the dreaded "Madden Cover Curse." ... a reflection of the idea that some of the athletes who have been featured on the cover of the Madden NFL series over the years have ended up injured or underperforming.

There is no "wrong'' answer here, on a number of levels. For one, the decision has already been made and will be announced Wednesday; it's unlikely that EA Sports would unplug and un-do the entire operation to make a change. Additionally, EA Sports is trying to run a business and has the right to do as it wishes ... while also reaping the benefits of the publicity that comes with the annual debate on who deserves to be featured on the cover.

Allen is an MVP candidate and certainly deserving of the honor, which takes nothing away from the merits of Griffin's Hamlin suggestion.

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Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983. He is the author of two best-selling books on the NFL.