Brady’s got this curse covered
Pats’ G.O.A.T. enthusiastically embraces the Madden myth
Tom Brady graces the cover of “Madden NFL 18,” stylishly tagged the “G.O.A.T. Edition.”
And while it’s considered cool by some to be the cover boy of the video game, it’s also an unwanted distinction by many because of a so-called “Madden curse” that’s followed many of the recipients.
Brady, however, scoffs at the notion of any curse.
“I’ve heard there are some of you out there that are worried about the Madden curse,” Brady says in a video released to commemorate the Madden honor. “There’s no such thing as curses. It’s a total myth.”
To illustrate the point, Brady, the oldest player to ever appear on the cover of the long-running EA Sports series, proceeds to smash a mirror and walk under a ladder. “See, all good, we got this,” Brady says, trying to reassure fans after purposely going through a couple of badluck routines. Brady, however, follows last year’s Madden cover star, teammate Rob Gronkowski, who wasn’t as fortunate. He missed the postseason thanks to back surgery. “I don’t think Gronk’s ever been cursed by anything,” Brady said, via ESPN. “He’s in pretty good shape.” Since “Madden NFL 99” cover star Garrison Hearst of the 49ers broke his ankle in a playoff loss to Atlanta, most of the players who shined on the game’s cover have suffered an injury the following season.
Of the 20 players who have been selected for the cover prior to this season, 17 have had troublesome campaigns the next season — including several who suffered season-ending injuries.
Odell Beckham Jr. and Calvin Johnson are two players who haven’t been met with injury or disaster. Still, players are wary just the same. They’d rather avoid the cover if possible. “I believe the curse,” former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison told the Herald via text yesterday. “I hate that (Tom’s) on it.” Brady, however, plans on staying healthy and bucking the odds, as usual. If he can come back from a 28-3 deficit in the third quarter of the Super Bowl, what’s a curse? “I suppose there’s been some reality to that curse over the years,” Brady told ESPN. “Hopefully I can break it. That would be pretty cool.”