Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
With New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady appearing on this year's cover of Madden 18, it's time to rank the previous covers from the last 10 years.
This time of year is always exciting for fans of the Madden video game franchise when it comes to the player reveal for the upcoming cover, and for the upcoming version of Madden 18, it looks like Tom Brady of the New England Patriots will take home the honors. When looking at all of the obstacles Brady and the Patriots had to overcome last year before winning their fifth Super Bowl together, the future Hall of Fame quarterback seems like the perfect fit for the cover.
Brady was forced to sit out the first four games of the 2016 season due to a suspension for his involvement with Deflategate, but New England still made out pretty well since they managed to finish 3-1, with their only loss coming in Week 4 to the Buffalo Bills. And when Brady finally made his regular season debut against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5, it was just the beginning of what turned into another historic season for the Patriots quarterback.
Not only did Brady manage to throw just two interceptions during the 12 games he played in during the regular season, but the quarterback played a key role in helping New England overcome one of the greatest deficits in Super Bowl history against the Atlanta Falcons last February. Most players would have given up with their team trailing by 25 points late in the second half, but Brady overcoming all obstacles to lead the Patriots to a victory in overtime is the perfect example of why he deserves to be on this year's cover of Madden.
As for where Brady's appearance ranks with some of the other greats on the cover, the quarterback doesn't seem to be worried about any "curse" associated with the video game, but that doesn't mean there won't be a little extra pressure to perform well in 2017. For now, let's see where Brady stacks up against some of the other players to appear on the cover from the previous 10 NFL seasons.
Oct 21, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants running back Peyton Hillis (44) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikingsduring the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
10. Peyton Hillis (2012 cover)
Of all the players to appear on the cover of Madden over the years, it's safe to say Peyton Hillis is the only player who doesn't have the slightest shot at earning a spot in the Hall of Fame down the road. Hillis was one of those feel-good stories about a running back who emerged out of nowhere to have one monster season for the Cleveland Browns in 2010 before everything seemed to go downhill for his football career.
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With that being said, nothing can takeaway what Hillis managed to accomplish that breakout season with the Browns after recording 1,654 yards from the line of scrimmage to go along with 13 touchdowns. Cleveland was hoping to finally have found their pound-for-pound running back with Hillis, but unfortunately he was limited to appearing in just 10 games the following season while only recording 587 rushing yards to go along with three touchdowns.
Looking back, Hillis earning a spot on the cover of Madden was a decision that never should have happened since he was more of a one-hit wonder. But no matter what, at least Hillis can always say will forever be part of the Madden franchise since fans voted to have him appear on the cover for their 2012 edition.
Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
9. Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu (2010 cover)
Give the folks at EA Sports credit for making the decision to feature two athletes on the cover for the first time ever this year with Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu since both players were well deserving of the honor. In 2009, the Arizona Cardinals nearly pulled off what would have been an amazing upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it was Santonio Holmes game-winning touchdown catch in the final minute that ended up being the difference maker.
The fact that Arizona found themselves trailing 20-7 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and managed to score 16 straight points before the game-winning score by Holmes shows how exciting of a finish this Super Bowl ended up being. While Fitzgerald played a big part in keeping the Cardinals in the ball game, it was Polamalu who helped do the same for the Steelers' defense.
Even though Polamalu is no longer in the league, it's only a matter of time before Fitzgerald decides to call it a career, and join the former Steelers safety in retirement. And when the time comes down the road on these two superstars potentially earning a spot in Canton, it almost seems like a no brainer for Polamalu and Fitzgerald.
Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during warmups before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
8. Rob Gronkowski (2017 cover)
When healthy, Rob Gronkowski has proven throughout his career that he's almost impossible to defend at times thanks to his massive size and strength causes all sorts of problems for opponents. But staying healthy has been a major issue for Gronkowski at times, especially during the 2016 season.
As much of an honor as it is to land on the cover of Madden, Gronkowski was the unfortunate victim of the popular (or unpopular) curse during the 2016 season after the tight end was limited to appearing in just eight games due to hamstring and back injuries. Even if Gronkowski did go on to earn another Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots pulling off that epic comeback over the Atlanta Falcons, it's still not the same since he wasn't on the field in the playoffs.
The fact that Gronkowski caught 23 touchdowns over the previous two seasons prior to 2016 seemed to be one of the main reasons why EA Sports was excited to have him on the cover for their 2017 edition. Hopefully, Gronkowski can fully recover from all of the injury issues suffered last season, and figure out a way to defeat this so-called Madden curse in the long run.
Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) poses for a photo against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
7. Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders (2014 cover)
For obvious reasons, EA Sports wanted to go all out for their 25th anniversary edition, and what better way to celebrate a major milestone by having two of the greatest running backs of all time featured on the cover? While the company decided to go old school with Barry Sanders, the present day athlete happened to be Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, who believe it or not will be taking part in his first season with the New Orleans Saints in 2017.
Parting ways with Peterson was no easy decision for the Vikings, but between his age and money due for the upcoming season, this was a move the team had to make when it comes to what's best for the organization in general. Still, that doesn't mean Minnesota fans won't be forever grateful for what Peterson accomplished throughout his career, and seeing him land on the cover of Madden for their 25th anniversary wasn't really that much of a surprise.
Not to mention, the timing to feature Peterson on the cover couldn't have been better after his historical season in 2012 by rushing for 2,097 yards to go along with 12 touchdowns. Injuries may have been an unfortunate factor over the last few seasons, but Peterson will always be remembered for being one of the most explosive running backs in NFL history, and nothing can ever take that away from him.
Dec 4, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) talks with teammates on the sideline during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Carolina, 40-7. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
6. Richard Sherman (2015 cover)
After the Seattle Seahawks made a huge statement for having one of the league's top defenses during the 2013 season that ended with a whopping 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl, Richard Sherman's stock seemed to be at an all-time high. From constantly speaking his mind to opposing quarterbacks purposely not throwing the football in his direction, Sherman has established a strong reputation over the years as one of the league's top defenders, and it wasn't a surprise to see him land on the cover for the 2014 season.
Even if Seattle's defense seemed to take a step back in 2016, there's a reason why Pete Carroll's squad has been fortunate enough to appear in the postseason in six of the last seven seasons. And assuming all of their key players, including Sherman, can remain healthy, all signs point to the Seahawks being one of the top contenders in the NFC once again in 2017.
As for Sherman, the cornerback may have been the subject of trade talks over the last few months, but everybody knows he's not going anywhere. He may not have looked as effective at times last year, but the fact that Sherman's appeared in every game for Seattle dating back to 2011 shows how valuable he's been to the defense.
Feb 6, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Brett Favre looks on during a press conference to announce the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016 at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
5. Brett Favre (2009 cover)
Remember all of those years with Brett Favre trying to figure out whether he was going to continue playing football or finally decide to call it quits? After Aaron Rodgers spent three years patiently waiting to take over the starting role at quarterback, the Green Bay Packers finally decided to pull the trigger on Favre, and ended up trading the veteran to the New York Jets prior to the start of the 2008 season.
To see Favre appear on the cover of Madden in Packers attire despite the fact he was playing for the Jets in 2008 seemed a little weird at first, but in a way it was quite the tribute to a quarterback that had done so much for the franchise throughout his career. What made this scenario even more bizarre for Favre during his only season in New York is he actually played well after throwing for 3,472 yards to go along with 22 touchdown passes, and nearly leading the team to a playoff berth.
Then again, the Jets would have preferred to see Favre avoid the 22 interceptions thrown when looking at all of the money he was making that season. But despite the minor drama towards the end of his career over all of the back and fourth nonsense surrounding whether he wanted to keep playing, Favre will always be considered one of the all-time greats.
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) looks on prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
4. Drew Brees (2011 cover)
Speaking of some of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football, Drew Brees realizes he's going to be right up there with Brett Favre when it comes to earning a spot in Canton not long after he decides to call it a career. But that's the amazing thing about Brees is despite his age of 38, the New Orleans Saints quarterback doesn't appear to be ready to call it quits anytime soon.
The numbers alone show how dangerous of a quarterback Brees is when considering he's coming off a 2016 campaign in which he threw for 5,208 yards to go along with 37 touchdowns. Even if Brandin Cooks is no longer part of the picture, all signs point to Brees having the Saints' offense rank near the top of the league once again this upcoming season, while hopefully leading the team to a winning record for the first time since 2013.
Of course, the decision to put Brees on the cover of this year's Madden seemed relevant since he recently led New Orleans to their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history. Whether or not Brees will have another opportunity to bring the city one last championship before he decides to call it a career, only time will tell, but even he knows it's not going to be an easy task.
Nov 27, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) during the second quarter between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Giants won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
3. Odell Beckham Jr. (2016 cover)
Not many players are special enough to land on the cover of Madden after just one year in the league, but clearly EA Sports saw something special in New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. following his rookie season, and they were right. Watching Beckham record double-digit touchdowns in each of his first three seasons in the league shows how explosive of a wide receiver he truly is, and the Giants' offense should be in good shape for years to come with having the former LSU standout as their top wideout.
Along with his impressive numbers, what makes Beckham exciting to watch is his ability to make miraculous catches when all hope seems lost. The fact that Eli Manning feels confident enough to sometimes just toss the football in Beckham's direction knowing he's going to come down with the catch has worked out quite well for New York over the last three years.
His temper issues from time to time may need some work, but at least Beckham makes up for it in the excitement department. And when looking at how stacked the Giants are at wide receiver heading into 2017, expect Beckham to increase that streak of double-digit touchdowns to four by the end of the year.
Dec 27, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) holds the ball before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
2. Calvin Johnson (2013 cover)
Seeing Calvin Johnson walk away from football last year out of nowhere was heartbreaking for fans to see since he was always one of the most fun players to watch thanks to his size and explosiveness, but it was easy to understand his reasons why he wanted to retire. At least for the Detroit Lions, Matthew Stafford was still able to lead the team to a playoff berth, and are expected to contend for the NFC North title once again in 2017.
In nine seasons with the Lions, Johnson managed to break the 1,000-yard mark seven times, and even had a historic year in 2012 after catching 122 passes for 1,964 yards with five touchdowns. Even the year before, Johnson showed once again how dominant of a receiver he was by hauling in 96 passes for 1,681 yards to go along with 16 trips into the end zone.
Johnson made a strong case when it comes to the Madden curse not always being in play when looking at his level of production from the 2012 season, and he will always be considered one of the most respected players to suit up at wide receiver. As mentioned before, it was crushing to see Johnson call it a career earlier than originally expected, but at least the reasoning behind his decision was legitimate.
Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) yells while running onto the field prior to the Patriots' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
1. Tom Brady (2018 cover)
The verdict is still out there when it comes to whether Tom Brady will be a victim of the Madden curse after being the latest player to appear on the cover, but even if that is the case, this is an honor that seems long overdue for the New England Patriots. Watching Brady continue to dominate opponents at his age along with the fact he seems capable of still playing at a high level for the next four or five years is simply ridiculous to think about.
Brady has always been considered one of the most competitive players in the NFL throughout his career, and it's scary to think he could be in for one of his best seasons yet when looking at all of the key additions made by the Patriots in the offseason. New England's offense was already stacked with talented players such as Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, but the addition of a speedy threat like Brandin Cooks takes their potential to a whole new level.
Many believe Brady will go down as the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, and when looking at the numbers he's put up over the years to go along with his five Super Bowl rings, it's hard to make the argument against that statement. In honor of finally landing a spot on the cover of Madden 18, it only seemed fitting to have Brady in the No. 1 spot with New England being heavy favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions next season.
