New England Patriots: Brady to be featured on cover of ‘Madden NFL 18’
By Brian Hines
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady will be the cover boy of ‘Madden NFL 18’ as the oldest active player to ever earn that distinction. Now the Patriots are hoping the ‘Madden Curse’ does not strike them for the second time in as many seasons.
For the second straight year, a member of the New England Patriots will grace the cover of Madden NFL. EA Sports announced Friday that five-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will be featured on the cover of Madden NFL 18, “G.O.A.T. Edition.”
https://twitter.com/EAMaddenNFL/status/863028117258022912
Brady had this to say about appearing on the cover in an interview with the Associated Press…
"I think it is very cool. I grew up not far from the headquarters of EA Sports and some of my neighbors and best friends worked there. And we hung out at the gym they built in the facility where a lot of the 49ers would go. To be a fan of the game and play it over the years, it is really a cool honor, so when the opportunity was presented to me, it was something I would not turn down."
EA Sports also released a trailer of the game that features the New England quarterback (watch below). Madden NFL 18 will be in stores on August 25. You will also be able to purchase it online.
Madden like you've never seen it...#Madden18 pic.twitter.com/1H5gNSVISD
— Madden NFL 23 (@EAMaddenNFL) May 12, 2017
Brady does not believe in ‘Madden Curse’
With Brady pictured on the cover, the famous “Madden Curse” is now in play. The Patriots are hoping they will not be bitten by the curse again. Just last season, Gronkowski suffered a back injury and had to undergo surgery midway through the season after appearing on the cover.
“I suppose there’s been some reality to that curse over the years,” Brady told ESPN.com. “Hopefully I can break it. That would be pretty cool.”
Here is a list of recent players on the cover of Madden NFL along with their fates that season:
2017 – Tom Brady – ???
2016 – Rob Gronkowski – back injury and season-ending surgery (Patriots still won Super Bowl)
2015 – Odell Beckham Jr. – career-high 1,450 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns
2014 – Richard Sherman – four interceptions and Seahawks lost Super Bowl to Patriots
2013 – Barry Sanders/Adrian Peterson – Peterson rushed for 1,266 yards and 10 touchdowns
2012 – Calvin Johnson – NFL record 1,964 receiving yards and five touchdowns
2011 – Peyton Hillis – rushed for 587 yards and three touchdowns
In addition, Brady released a comedic video on his Facebook page explaining how he does not believe in curses. Enjoy it below…
They wouldn't let me break the full-length mirror… All good!
Posted by Tom Brady on Friday, May 12, 2017