Cam Newton deserves to finally be on Madden NFL cover

11:21 AM ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Will this be the year Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton finally makes the cover of EA Sports Madden NFL?

The reigning NFL MVP has finished as the runner-up twice, losing the 2013 cover to Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson and the 2015 cover to Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman.

Newton didn’t make the top two in the fan vote last year, when New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. beat out New England tight end Rob Gronkowski.

But the decision on which player will grace the Madden 17 cover — to be announced live on Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter — is not in the hands of fans. EA Sports is changing the process and is picking the player it believes is the right fit.

So is Newton the right fit? Or will EA go with Houston defensive end J.J. Watt? Or maybe Gronkowski?

What about Newton’s teammate, middle linebacker Luke Kuechly?

You could make a case for any of those players, but I’m going to make one for Newton. Here are five reasons he should be on the cover:

League MVP: The spotlight has never been brighter on Newton after he led Carolina to an NFL-best 15-1 regular-season record and the NFC championship and won the league MVP …

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