How Patriots' Tom Brady Broke 'Madden Curse'
Some of the NFL's mightiest talents have fallen victim to the so-called "Madden Curse," where gracing the cover of the famed NFL simulator video game franchise's packaging and marketing is often a precursor to a doomed season.
But Tom Brady, the former New England Patriots quarterback recently matched with Kelly Clarkson, always seemed to be "Stronger."
Brady's pigskin prowess extended to overcoming the infamous hex inadvertently invoked by EA Sports: a list compiled by BetMassachusetts.com determined that Brady embarked upon the best season after getting the nod for "Madden NFL 18," the version of the game produced for the prior season, while still quarterbacking the Patriots.
Those who overcame the Madden Curse earned the honor through the "Approximate Value" statistic created by Pro Football Reference to determine a truer sense of value regardless of position. The study took the season after the cover reveal into consideration with only the covers featuring John Madden and Barry Sanders exempted (each had retired by the time their covers came out).
Brady earned a league-best 20 in AV during a Super Bowl defense in 2017-18, leading the league with over 286 yards per game and throwing 32 touchdown passes compared to only eight interceptions. He also earned his third and final NFL MVP Award while also reaching his 13th Pro Bowl.
The longtime Foxborough flinger also avoided the injury issues that often befall Madden cover models like Michael Vick, Shaun Alexander, and Troy Polamalu.
A four-way tie for second place at an AV of 18 lingered behind Brady, who sat ahead of Ray Lewis (2005 edition), Richard Sherman (2015), Lamar Jackson (2021), and Patrick Mahomes (2022). Brady almost appeared on the list twice, posting an AV of 16 during the 2021-22 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he shared the cover of "Madden NFL 22" with Mahomes.
Alas for New England, the curse didn't ignore the Patriots on a team level: they returned to the Super Bowl but fell to a Philadelphia Eagles team led by backup quarterback Nick Foles in the game' 52nd edition.
Patriots fans likely won't mind if the curse resurfaces this time around: this year's cover, due for release in August, features Buffalo Bills quarterback and AFC East division rival Josh Allen.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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