Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has been named one of the four finalists to be on the cover of the popular EA Sports Madden 16 video game.
In 2014, Brown was named a first-team all pro and AFC co-offensive player of the year. His 129 receptions and 1698 receiving yards led all NFL receivers.
Brown was nominated along with New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr., New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson.
Two rounds of fan voting will narrow the finalists, with the highest two vote getters in the first round advancing to the finals. The first round of voting has already begun. Fans can vote by logging into the Madden NFL Mobile app.
The last time a Steelers player was on the cover of the game was the 2010 game, when safety Troy Polamalu and Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald shared the cover.
Brown, who had reportedly been considering holding out for a new contract just three years into a six-year deal, has reported to the team’s offseason workouts.
Some believe that the Madden cover is “cursed” due to many players suffering injuries or performing poorly after being featured on the cover. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman was on the cover of the 2015 game.
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