EA Sports last night named Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. as the winner of the cover vote for the forthcoming “Madden NFL 16” video game. Beckham prevailed in a four-man bracket that was much smaller than several prior cover votes, and included Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski, Steelers WR Antonio Brown and Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson. Beckham garnered 52.5% of the final vote against Gronkowski, which was announced live on the 6:00pm ET "SportsCenter." The video game will be released Aug. 25 (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer). On Long Island, Tom Rock notes Beckham "is the first Giants player and the youngest player ever" to appear on the cover of Madden. The picture on the cover "is of Beckham skying for a one-handed catch" -- but not the much-talked-about one from Week 12 last year in primetime. This "is a posed photograph that has him extending his left hand for the football." It was the one-handed catch against the Cowboys -- righthanded, falling backward -- that "propelled Beckham into the national spotlight" (NEWSDAY, 5/14). Beckham yesterday touched on the “Madden” curse, but said, “I don’t really believe in curses much.” He added, "It’s mind-blowing thinking about playing one year of football and then having the opportunity to be on the cover” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 5/13). Beckham's endorsement portfolio includes Nike and Hydra-Guard. (Resource Guide LIVE, 5/14)
