One of the many positive things about not having an NFL Lockout is Madden 13 will be able to be released in a fairly timely manner. Last year, the folks at EA Sports ran a tournament to determine the cover athlete, with Peyton Hillis securing the honor. While many don't believe in "curses", the Madden cover jinx has become a much-talked about curse. It has not hit every year, but Peyton Hillis did nothing to dispel the notion of a curse with his performance last season.

This year, EA Sports is back with another tournament and two 49ers are in the running. Patrick Willis and Vernon Davis. EA is trying something new this year. Each team has two players nominated. The opening round of voting will actually be a play-in round in which you have to vote for one of your team's two players. So this is pitting Vernon Davis against Patrick Willis for the right to advance to the round of 32.

You can head over and vote now. The folks at 49ers.com suggest voting for each one once to force a tie and send both to the next round. That's tricky to pull off, but it'd be pretty awesome if that worked out somehow. Whatever the case, you have to pick and choose your strategy once we get into the regular tournament. If you are a believer in the curse, I'd imagine you will be voting against the 49ers. Add in that this is Madden "13" and the jinx talk will be at a fevered pitch.

So who do you vote for in this? VD or Bamm Bamm?