9 Finalists for Madden NFL '10 Cover

There will be no retired player on the cover of EA Sports' Madden NFL 10. Instead, EA Sports will return to its custom of jinxing an active player picking one of the NFL's biggest stars for the cover of their best-selling annual game.

The game itself won't be released until August, but the process of choosing this year's cover boy is well underway. The company has narrowed its choices down to nine finalists. If you think we're due for a defensive player on the cover, this may be your year.

The last defensive player to grace the cover was Baltimore's Ray Lewis in 2005. Current Ravens teammate Ed Reed is on the list of finalists this year, and he has to be considered one of the favorites.

To get the nod, he'll have to beat out two guys from the Super Bowl champion Steelers. Safety Troy Polamalu would be my choice, but EA doesn't provide me a vote. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is also among the nine finalists.

Dallas pass-rush star DeMarcus Ware is the other defensive player on the list. Coming off a 20-sack season, he would be a fine choice.

Among the offensive guys, the favorite is likely Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. EA can't go wrong here, given how Fitzgerald blew up in the playoffs and made himself a bona fide star. He'll be challenged by a perpetual cover finalist in Peyton Manning, along with running backs Brandon Jacobs of the Giants and Adrian Peterson of Minnesota.

The biggest underdog on the list is also the only guy among the finalists to change teams this offseason. After an outstanding year with the Patriots, quarterback Matt Cassell, now of the Chiefs, has a shot at being on the cover.

I would be shocked if Polamalu and his wild hair weren't the choice. Not only is he one of the best players in the NFL, but he'll also make a great representative for the game. He's very recognizable among the younger demographic EA targets with these games.