Chat: Michael Vick, Peyton Hillis
Welcome to Sportsnation! Back on March 21, we started our Madden 12 Cover Vote project by chatting with two of the candidates -- the Eagles' Michael Vick and the Browns' Peyton Hillis. Little did we know that four weeks and more than 10,000,000 fan votes later these two would be meeting in the finals!
Vick is coming off a career-best season in which he completed 62.6% of his passes, threw for 3,018 yards and 21 touchdowns. He had the fourth-best quarterback rating in the NFL at 100.2. If Vick wins the SportsNation vote he will be the first two-time cover athlete in the history of Madden.
Hillis also had a career-best 2010 with the Browns in which he rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. He quickly became a fan favorite after his first start against the vaunted Ravens defense in which he posted 144 yards and a 6.5 yard per carry average.
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Buzzmaster (1:25 PM)
Michael Vick and Peyton Hillis will be here at 1:30 p.m. ET to take your questions!
RBrooks (Ann Arbor)
Keep up the great work Vick, and Hillis, keep running them over!
Nathan Wilson (West Virginia)
Though Mike Vick should get the cover I think Hillis could be a dark horse!
Mike (Salem, Ohio)
Hillis is the perfect choice. Is there a more "Madden" player in the NFL right now? I don't think so.
Buzzmaster (1:30 PM)
OK everyone. Mike and Peyton are here!
Joe (Chicago)
What did you think the first time you saw a video game version of yourself?
Mike Vick (1:33 PM)
When I first saw it, I was excited, when I was in college. I thought I would be more excited, but it was normal. I didn't get a kick out of it like I thought I would. But it was still cool.
Peyton Hillis (1:33 PM)
I'm like Vick, you grow up watching it and playing it and you think about it. But when it happens, you just move on.
Daniel Stillfried (New York)
Mike, what are your thoughts on Cam Newton?
Mike Vick (1:34 PM)
I'm excited about seeing him. How he'll develop nad how he'll do. The biggest thing will be how he develops over the next few years.
David E. (Scottsdale, AZ)
Vick vs. Hillis...Who is more likely to shoot under 90 on 18 holes of golf?
Mike Vick (1:34 PM)
Oh Peyton probably. Definitely. I'm so inconsistent.
Peyton Hillis (1:34 PM)
Oh yeah.
Dave (Philadelphia)
Mike, when you left prison, there were a lot of stories about how you were working with Tony Dungy. Are you still working with him? What advice has he given you? How has he helped you?
Mike Vick (1:35 PM)
I'm still working with Coach Dungy. He's always encouraging me to make good decision son a day to day basis. He helps me keep my confidence and keep my structure in life.
Joe (MA)
Peyton, you have pretty big biceps. Do they get in the way when you're trying to carry the ball? This is an entirely serious question.
Peyton Hillis (1:36 PM)
They don't. I've never thought about it twice, actually.
Graham (CT)
Are you guys watching the NCAA Tournament? Picks?
Mike Vick (1:36 PM)
I'm watching it, but I only picked one team to win it all. UConn.
Peyton Hillis (1:36 PM)
I picked Ohio State.
Dan (KC)
How do you explain your improvement in passing? We all knew you would come back with your speed and elusiveness but you really surprised everyone with your accuracy.
Mike Vick (1:37 PM)
I think we throw the ball so much in practice. In each and every game, you don't have a choice but to get into a rhythm and we have good coaches to teach the passing game.
Cameron Manchester (Erie, PA)
Peyton, As a Browns fan I would be very excited to see you on the cover of Madden NFL 12, but I would be just as nervous because of the Madden curse. Do you have any fear of this "curse" affecting your season.
Peyton Hillis (1:37 PM)
No fear. What curse?
Hal (Euclid, OH)
Peyton- if you win would you want the cover to be you trucking, leaping, stiff-arming or celebrating a TD?
Peyton Hillis (1:38 PM)
Trucking somebody.
Buzz (Maine)
Mike Vick, did the style of offense in Philly fit you or did you have to fit into it? Would you consider youself a passer now or still run before pass? Even though I'm a Giants fan...good luck to ya.
Mike Vick (1:38 PM)
It was the style of offense that was a good fit for me. I always wanted to be in an offense that we threw a lot.
Peyton Hillis (1:39 PM)
The West Coast where you throw a lot and gives you more time to read. And if he takes off, he can take off.
shawn (cape cod mass)
Mike, and Peyton, how do you guys feel about you attributes in madden11? and do you think any of them should boosted in Madden12?
Peyton Hillis (1:39 PM)
I think they were fine. I would like to see them boosted, so I can be the best you can be on there.
Don (Philadelphia)
Mike, Do you think the way us fans here in Philly supported you was a huge part in your success this year? It seemed like the whole city was behind you
Mike Vick (1:40 PM)
Absolutely. The whole city was behind me. That was the whole reason I wanted to have success because of that support. I wanted to show them I was worthy of being an Eagle.
Coy (PA)
Peyton, your the man. What is your favorite player to use on Madden? (Other than yourself.)
Peyton Hillis (1:40 PM)
Mike Vick. Honestly.
Griffin (Michigan)
Mike - Do you think your worthy of a 2-time Madden Man?
Mike Vick (1:41 PM)
Yes, I do, absolutely.
Kelly (Charlotte)
Seriously, what is there to do in Cleveland? Was Joakim Noah right?
Peyton Hillis (1:42 PM)
There is a lot to do in Cleveland. It's just those December, January, February months that are tough. But there is a lot to do there.
Zach (Boston)
Who would win if you guys played each other in Madden?
Mike Vick (1:42 PM)
You never know. You never know a guy's talents.
Peyton Hillis (1:42 PM)
You have got to feel each other out. See what they're going to do.
Dante (Philadelphia)
Vick, what are your goals for this season (if there is a season) for the eagles?
Mike Vick (1:43 PM)
Super Bowl. That's it. That's it.
Peyton Hillis (1:43 PM)
Is there any other goal? That's it. Simple.
Pat (Cleveland)
Peyton, if Lebron was standing in front of you, would you truck him? Go Browns!
Peyton Hillis (1:44 PM)
No, I'd jump over him.
Jeff (RI)
Peyton, has anyone mistaken you for Vicka??s bodyguard today?
Peyton Hillis (1:44 PM)
No. But I would love to be his bodyguard. I charge a high rate.
Nick (Orlando)
Hey Vick, without access to the Eagles' coaching staff and film, how do you plan on mentally furthering your game for the upcoming season?
Mike Vick (1:45 PM)
I have every game from last season. I have all of the good plays and the bad. And I have almost every game plan from last year.
ESmith (Cookeville, TN)
wat are ur thoughts on the lockout and how would the madden game work if there has a possibility of no season
Peyton Hillis (1:46 PM)
To tell you the truth, like I've been telling everybody. We just hope it all turns out right. We hope for the best.
Katie ((cubicle at work))
Were you warmly received by all the Eagles players or did you have to win some guys over?
Mike Vick (1:47 PM)
It was a warm welcome from the fans and the coaches. I felt I was at home from Day 1.
Jim (Knoxville, TN)
Who is faster: Vick or Hillis?
Mike Vick (1:47 PM)
I say Peyton.
Peyton Hillis (1:48 PM)
C'mon man.
Azeem Rathore (Jacksonville, Florida)
Hillis, what do you think of your new coach?
Peyton Hillis (1:48 PM)
Great. He's perfect for the West Coast. Real team leader. Real players' coach. Looking forward to playing for him.
alex (michigan)
Vick do you plan on getting your team together and setting up practices while you can't contact the coaches?
Peyton Hillis (1:49 PM)
We've already set up work outs and stuff. When it's time we'll set up practices.
Mike Vick (1:49 PM)
Yeah, we have some workouts set up.
Ryan (Toledo)
Michael how would it feel to go through everything you went through, and then to be on the cover of the country's favorite game. It would be awesome to see you make it this far!
Mike Vick (1:50 PM)
It would definitely show that hard work is paying off. That I'm moving in the right direction. I'm hard to please with accolades and things like that. Being on the Madden cover the first time and if there's a chance the second time, it would be something to cherish the rest of my life.
Mike (Cleveland)
Hillis, whats your favorite color
Peyton Hillis (1:50 PM)
Peach.
Jake (Cleveland, Ohio)
if you guys could play another other position what would it be
Mike Vick (1:52 PM)
CB. Or safety.
Peyton Hillis (1:52 PM)
Quarterback. QB's have it good. They don't take any hits. They have the most pay. The most glamour.
Marc (Charlotte)
Gas or Charcoal Grills?
Mike Vick (1:53 PM)
Charcoal. That's it. I grill out every day in the summer time.
Peyton Hillis (1:53 PM)
Charcoal.
roy (Austin, Texas)
speaking of quarterbacks what do you think of colt mccoy, peyton?
Peyton Hillis (1:54 PM)
He's a good QB. He's young. Developing. He'll be good. It will just take some time.
Patrick (Pittsburgh)
If your not on the cover who do you want to be on it?
Mike Vick (1:54 PM)
Aaron Rodgers.
Peyton Hillis (1:55 PM)
Aaron Rodgers.
Mike (New Jersey)
hey do you guys play madden? if so what system and what gamertag are you under?
Mike Vick (1:56 PM)
XBox.
Peyton Hillis (1:57 PM)
XBox.
Mike (Washington)
Hey Vick, How bad did your school VA Tech get snubbed this year?
Mike Vick (1:57 PM)
Bad!!!!!
Tim (Cleveland)
Which rookie do you both think will be drafted number one?
Peyton Hillis (1:58 PM)
Patrick Peterson. He's by far the best player and athlete in the draft.
Mike Vick (1:58 PM)
Patrick Peterson.
Peyton Hillis (1:58 PM)
If Cam Newton gets picked No. 1 overall, I will throw a table out the window.
Anthony (Philadelphia)
Who are your favorite and least favorite d's to play against?
Mike Vick (1:59 PM)
Favorite? I don't have one. Every defense is tough to play against in the NFL.
Peyton Hillis (1:59 PM)
I think all of them are tough. But the Pittsburgh defense is tough and I want to play against the best.
Mike Vick (2:00 PM)
Toughest is probably Dallas and the Bears.
Peyton Hillis (2:00 PM)
Go Cleveland!
Mike Vick (2:01 PM)
Go Eagles!
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