Big Cheese: Favre On Cover Of EA Sports' Latest "Madden" Edition
By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
EA Sports Thursday named retired Packers QB Brett Favre as the cover athlete for "Madden NFL 09," the 20th installment of the videogame franchise, which is set for an August 12 release. EA Sports President Peter Moore said discussions with Favre began shortly before Christmas. “After some weeks of agony and debate internally about what happens if Favre retires, we decided to go forward with him either way because it’s the right thing to do,” Moore said last night at a party in N.Y. to trumpet the forthcoming release of "NCAA Football 09." “We owe it to the league and his legacy. The 20th anniversary version needs to be special. It’s a moment for us to look back a bit, and Brett Favre, his passion for the sport and his unique individuality really encapsulate what this game has been all about and stood for.” Moore, who wore a cheesehead to Favre’s appearance last night on CBS’ "Late Show" to announce the cover placement, acknowledged that some fans may question the selection and that some of the game's core audience were not yet born when Favre’s NFL career began. But Moore said, "It’s up to us to educate those fans as to the special player and person he’s been.” EA’s deal with Favre for the Madden cover was worth a low six-figure sum to the quarterback, similar to EA’s payments to prior cover athletes, and Favre will be an unlockable player in the forthcoming release. Moore: “The only place you’ll see Brett Favre playing this season will be in Madden.”
CHEAP LAUGHS: During Favre's appearance on "Late Show," CBS' David Letterman held up a copy of "Madden NFL 09" and asked, “You get a pretty good piece of this?” Favre took the case, opened it and shook it, but nothing came out, implying he got nothing from the deal. For more of the back and forth between Favre and Letterman, please see today's Morning Buzz at SportsBusinessDaily.com.
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
EA Sports Does Not Renew AFL Deal
November 18, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Obama Buys Ad Space In Nine EA Video Games
October 15, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
"Madden" August Sales Up 2% From '07
September 12, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
August "Madden" Sales Up 6% From '07
September 10, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
ESPN, EA Partner On New Technology
September 5, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
NFLShop.com Targeting Women For Holidays
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Chiefs' Struggles Lead To Empty Seats
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Judge To Rebuke FCC Over NFL Net Carriage
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MWC Defends Keeping Game On The Mtn.
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Roger Goodell Discusses State Of NFL
November 20, 2008 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
