It didn’t come with the fanfare they promised and he didn’t look too happy about getting picked, but New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. won the fan vote to become the cover model for EA Sports’ Madden 16.
Beckham Jr. and New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski were the two finalists, with Beckham getting 52 percent of the vote.
“I’m definitely excited, I’m definitely honored,” Beckham Jr. said. “To me it’s honestly kind of mind-blowing still thinking about playing one year of football and now I have the opportunity to be on the cover with all these other people. I’m kind of at a loss for words.”
Gronkowski, who made it through the entire segment without flexing his bicep or talking about his genitals didn’t seem too broken up about not winning the honor.
“Odell is an amazing player,” Gronkowski said. “It’s a humbling experience to even be in the finals of a Madden cover.”
“Odell Beckham Jr. is a true playmaker and a perfect fit for this year’s game,” EA Sports Senior Marketing Director Randy Chase said on their website after the announcement. “He’s an unstoppable force out on the field, and the Madden NFL 16 cover is further vindication that the fans believe he’s a player to watch in the coming years.”
In addition to the cover-vote winner, EA also released the first trailer for Madden 16 showing some of the new gameplay graphics.
Madden 16 will be in stores on Aug. 25, 2015.
Ravens add cornerback Kyle Arrington
Just a few days after getting cut by the New England Patriots, Kyle Arrington will likely get the chance at another postseason run, this time with the Baltimore Ravens. Wednesday the Ravens signed Arrington to a three-year, $7 million deal according to ESPN.
28 years old.
Entering 7th NFL season…He just landed in the AFC North: http://t.co/5JFhdnPXyj pic.twitter.com/yoUU4jHvri
— NFL (@NFL) May 14, 2015
Arrington finished last season with 39 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. The seventh-year corner immediately fills a need for the Ravens and will likely play as their nickle corner.
Bucs sign D.J. Swearinger
Third-year safety D.J. Swearinger wasn’t unemployed long. After getting released by the Houston Texans Monday, Swearinger was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Swearinger is still under his rookie contract and is due $722,390 this season.
2nd round pick in '13.
2 years with the Texans.Now… He's on to the NFC South: http://t.co/vuXG7FoDa8 pic.twitter.com/0kIbmxnze7
— NFL (@NFL) May 13, 2015
Swearinger started 22 games over the last two seasons and is a former second-round pick so it’s a mystery as to why the Texans were so anxious to move on. They spent the last month shopping him in a trade. Last year Swearinger had 52 tackles, one sack, 10 passes defended and three interceptions.
Three extra point changes proposed to NFL owners
The NFL Owners are looking at three proposals to change the NFL’s extra point rules during next week’s league meetings. The New England Patriots, the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL Competition committee have all submitted proposals. Any rule change needs 24 votes or a three-fourths majority to pass.
For a one-point extra point, all three have proposed kicking the ball from the 15-yard-line, resulting in a 32-to-33-yard try. The competition committee and the Eagles both suggest a 2-point conversion occur at the two-yard line and the Patriots want it to go from the one. The Eagles and the competition committee also proposed that the defense should be able to score two points if they force a turnover on the conversion try and return it to the end zone.
Other news
The Buffalo Bills have signed Rex Ryan’s favorite fullback and Hard Knocks breakout star John “The Terminator” Connor.
Austin Wentworth has retired from the NFL after one season due to a medical condition that caused blood clots in his legs.
Former Alabama quarterback will try to make the Washington Redskins roster as a running back. Sims began his career with the Crimson Tide as a running back, carried 52 times for 294 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers won his episode of Celebrity Jeopardy, beating Kevin Oleary from TV’s Shark Tank and astronaut Mark Kelly. Rodgers won $50,000 for the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer with the appearance and even talked host Alex Trebec into doing his “Double-Check” touchdown celebration.
