2020 cover boy
MVP quarterback is second Raven to get the honor
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson earns cover for Madden 2020.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson let something of a secret slip during a video conference call with reporters in April. He started to say it and then stuttered. Then he thought. Finally, he blurted it out: Yes, the reigning league MVP told the media members in the virtual chat room, he was going to grace the cover of EA Sports’ Madden 21.
Madden, a popular NFL video game franchise, had placed a Raven on its cover only once before: Linebacker Ray Lewis in 2005.
Jackson’s shifty moves as a runner and precision as a passer helped vault him to stardom last season, and with that kind of fame comes these kinds of honors. Tuesday, EA Sports revealed just what the covers will look like.
As Ravens fans might notice, the cover for the special MVP edition of Madden ‘21 includes the words Jackson made famous after throwing for five touchdowns in last year’s season-opening win over the Dolphins: “Not bad for a running back.”
Las Vegas gets Pro Bowl
The Pro Bowl is headed to Las Vegas. The NFL announced Tuesday that the 2021 all-star game will be played at the new Allegiant Stadium on Jan. 31 — one week before the Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla. Plans include what the league calls a weeklong celebration of football, and will include NFL FLAG Championship games and a Pro Bowl skills showdown. There will be community and charity initiatives as well. The game was played in Orlando the past four years.
All NFL activities during Pro Bowl week will adhere to the latest public safety guidelines set by medical and public health officials, as well as operate in full compliance with all local and federal government regulations, the league said.
Virus affects HOF
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday it’s “highly unlikely” that crowds of 20,000 or so would be allowed for the Pro Football
Hall of Fame game and induction ceremony in August. “If the question was could that event occur today, the answer would be no. It would be extremely dangerous,” DeWine said.
Hall officials are still evaluating their options and said no decisions have been made about the Aug. 6 game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium between the Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys, nor for the enshrinements two nights later. Rich Desrosiers, vice president of communications and public relations, said “It has always been the hall’s position that its summer slate of events would be held only in a manner safe for all participants …” The hall was closed in mid-March and reopened to a limited number of fans last week.