Vicks NyQuil (Graphic: Business Wire)

Procter & Gamble’s (NYSE: PG) Vicks brand, a proud sponsor of the National Football League and Super Bowl XLVI, announced today the results of a nationwide survey about the NFL’s leading players and Super Bowl XLVI. Super Bowl XLVI is one of the more recent Super Bowl games to be played in a cold weather city, so fans were asked to identify this year’s players who live up to the Vicks’ “no sick days” spirit.

Forty-five percent of fans hope that New York’s Eli Manning does not come down with the cold or flu on game day, compared to New England’s Tom Brady (35%) who beat out fellow team mates BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Wes Welker and Vince Wilfork. New York’s Victor Cruz, Justin Tuck and Lawrence Tynes were also considered.

New England’s Rob Gronkowski received the honor of being named Super Bowl XLVI’s toughest player, as fans believe he fully embodies the Vicks’ mantra, “In the NFL there are no sick days,” over Aaron Hernandez, Deion Branch and Stephen Gostkowski. New York’s Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw, Mario Manningham and Jason Pierre-Paul were also contenders for the title.

Even though the NFL season takes place during cold and flu season, true fans would never let a cold or flu hold them back. To help ease the burden of being sick with a cold or flu, the survey uncovered which NFL player fans would most want to take care of them when they have a cold or flu. More than one-quarter want Denver’s Tim Tebow to be the quarterback that brings them chicken soup over rivals New Orleans’ Drew Brees, New England’s Tom Brady, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and New York’s Eli Manning.

When asked who would be the best player to motivate fans to power through their day when suffering from a cold or flu, nearly one-third chose New Orleans’ Drew Brees. However, ten percent more men than women would prefer it be Baltimore’s Ray Lewis. Regardless if they watch one or more than seven hours of football a week, all fans agree that New Orleans’ Drew Brees is the player they would want to hang out with to feel better.

The cold weather coupled with flu season requires the best defense possible. The survey also asked fans which NFL player they believe could defend against their cold symptoms while also remaining unaffected by the cold weather. A tie emerged, with nearly one-quarter of both men and women believing offensive linemen Logan Mankins from New England and Michael Oher from Baltimore have the defense to protect against their worst cold symptoms. When it comes to game-day temperatures, almost one-third believe Green Bay’s Clay Matthews is least fazed by the cold weather. Fans also named Indianapolis’ Adam Vinatieri as the kicker that would never miss a moment, especially when the game is on the line.

“Vicks NyQuil and DayQuil are proud to support Super Bowl XLVI to recognize the fans and players who refuse to miss a moment of game day to a cold or flu,” says Michelle Robbins, Brand Manager, Vicks North America. “Vicks provides a family of products that offer powerful symptom relief so players and fans can power through the game.”