Richard Sherman is your Madden NFL 15 cover athlete

The fans have spoken, and Seattle Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman will be on the cover of Madden NFL 15 this year. Sherman faced off against Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in the finals this past week and received 56% of the votes compared to Newton's 44%.

Prior to his victory over Newton, Sherman also beat out Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. In total, this year's Madden NFL 15 cover vote received approximately 10 million votes over the course of the contest. In other words, expect a similar format to determine the cover of next year's game.

"Richard Sherman is a fantastic cover athlete selection by the fans," said Anthony Stevenson, Vice President of Global Marketing for EA SPORTS. "Defense is a big focus for Madden NFL 15, and Sherman is one of the brightest defensive stars in the NFL. He shares the same energy and passion for the game as our ‘legion' of Madden fans."

Sherman has been a standout defensive back in the NFL for quite a while now. Since entering the league in 2011, Sherman has totaled more interceptions (20) and more passes defended (60) than any other player. But it was his on-the-field comments last year, following the Seahawks victory over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, that really saw Sherman in the limelight. Following the game, Sherman was interviewed by Fox about the game, and Sherman's game-saving deflection on a pass in the end zone intended for Michael Crabtree.

"I'm the best corner in the game," Sherman said. "When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you're going to get. Don't you ever talk about me."

Sherman said he was talking about Crabtree, adding, "Don't you open your mouth about the best or I'll shut it for you real quick."

Sherman received a lot of backlash and criticism for his comments, but it appears that fans have since forgiven him. And why not? I can think of players that have done much worse than talk a little trash after what was probably the biggest point in Sherman's career (until his Super Bowl victory, that is).

Given Madden NFL 15's focus on revamping the entire defense, I can't think of a more fitting cover athlete than the leader of the Legion of Boom.

What do you think of seeing Sherman every time you open the case of Madden NFL 15?