Madden 19 made the right cover choice with Antonio Brown

After putting together a historically impressive resume over his first eight years in the NFL, Antonio Brown has added another feat to the list.

It’s mid-July, so the NFL news wire is starting to heat up. Many teams open training camp this week. Monday was the deadline for teams to reach long-term deals with players they placed the franchise tag.

Also, EA Sports announces the cover athlete for the newest edition of Madden around this time — and they hit this one out of the park.

In what feels like an honor long overdue, EA Sports announced Wednesday that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown would grace the cover of Madden 19.

Brown appears on the cover in uniform, laughing and holding his helmet. As one of the NFL’s brightest stars and personalities, the cover idea feels like a perfect fit. The 30-year-old receiver is known for his light-hearted demeanor and determination to have fun on the gridiron.

Brown is one of the proverbial faces of the game — the kind of player that even the most casual fan recognizes. The style and flare that he brings to the game make him one of the most marketable figures in sports. He has endorsed products for Pepsi, Nike and Campbell’s Soup, among others.

The six-time Pro Bowler turned his initials, AB, into a hyper-distinguishable nickname. His signature catchphrase “Business is Boomin'” took the NFL by storm. A guy with this sort of established brand is exactly who EA Sports looks for to promote their product.

The discussion now turns to Brown’s ability to evade the dreaded “Madden Curse.” While the effects of the curse have seemed to dwindle in recent years, it claimed many casualties in the past. Peyton Hillis, Troy Polamalu, Brett Favre and Vince Young have notoriously succumbed to it before.

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But, with five straight 100-catch, 1,200-yard seasons to his name, Brown is a safe bet to be alright.