Tom Brady: I’ve played as the Seahawks on Madden because ‘I love being that defense’

Tom Brady is on the cover of Madden NFL 18, having staged the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history to win his record-setting fifth championship. The 39-year-old is the oldest active player to ever grace the Madden cover, and the first quarterback chosen since Drew Brees for Madden 11.

If you’re a believer in the Madden Curse, then Brady might actually look mortal next season and the Patriots will go an unthinkable 11-5 instead of 14-2 or 13-3. Rob Gronkowski was on last year’s cover and wound up on injured reserve due to back problems. Brady doesn’t seem to be on board with the existence of the Madden Curse, based on what he said in the EA Sports press release.

“The Madden NFL 18 cover is a great honor for me,” said Brady. “Especially since I have been playing the game since growing up next to EA headquarters in the Bay Area. I'm not one to believe in curses, so I'm ready to take the challenge head on like always! It doesn't stand a chance!!!”

When Tom does play Madden, it’s usually with his nine-year-old son, Jack, who ends up choosing the New England Patriots. Tom cited two teams he loves to use when going up against his own team, and one of them is the Seattle Seahawks. (Via ESPN)

"I don't like doing it," Brady said. "It does feel weird. I feel like I'm going up against my own guys that I love. Julian [Edelman] catches a pass, and I've got to tackle him. I've been Green Bay, because I like that offense. And I've been Seattle, because I love being that defense.”

I suppose first-hand experience has made Brady respect and admire the Seahawks defense. In two regular season games against the Legion of Boom, Brady has thrown more interceptions (3) than touchdown passes (2), and the 2016 Seahawks handed him his only defeat as a starter in his Deflategate-shortened season. The Seahawks defense also forced a couple of interceptions on Brady in Super Bowl XLIX prior to the game’s abrupt cancellation at the end of the third quarter.

Oh yeah, I suppose while I’m here I should add that Madden NFL 18 is in stores on August 25th, although EA Access members can play the game for ten hours in the early access trial on August 17th. This will be the game’s first year under the new Frostbite Engine, and more details will be revealed on June 10th.