As a rookie, New York Giant wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had a breakout year. He had such a great year, statistically, that he was awarded the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Beckham became such the fan favorite that he has now won the cover of the beloved Madden video game franchise. And with all that going on, he has also met soccer great and namesake David Beckham.
Fans of the video game were able to vote in who they wanted to grace the cover with the Giants wide receiver edging out Patriot Rob Gronkowski.
Being selected to be on the cover of Madden is an honor, however, the coveted cover is rumored to have a curse.
ESPN explains some of the reasoning behind the curse:
"Fans sometimes express concern about their favorite player landing on the Madden cover due to the fabled 'Madden curse.' Several players, including Adrian Peterson, Peyton Hillis and Brett Favre, have struggled in the seasons in which they were on the cover. And in the decade previous to this one, players such as Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Donovan McNabb and Shaun Alexander suffered serious injuries in their cover seasons."
Prior to the supposed curse, the rising superstar also met a childhood favorite in soccer legend David Beckham. The two ended up meeting and hitting it off in New York at a fashion event. Beckham Jr. tweeted about the meeting and explained to CBS Sports his love of the other game of football:
"My coach was pushing and trying to get me on the national team, but at that age, you're 13 or 14 years old, you know to make it big in soccer, you're probably going to have to go overseas. Obviously, that would be the goal, that would be the dream. At that age it was just hard for me to get up and leave my family and just go."
The New York Giants are sure glad that dream never came true.
What do you think of Beckham Jr. being on the cover of Madden? Do you believe in the curse? Tell us what you think.
