BLOWN COVER

ON JUNE 1, VIDEO GAME company 2K Sports revealed the cover for its upcoming NBA 2K18. The subject? Kyrie Irving. One problem: He's in a Cavaliers jersey, and his trade to the Celtics will likely be finalized by the time the game is released on Sept. 19. Cover subjects of video games have looked ill-timed before. Here are five other cringeworthy examples, and how they rate on the Irving Scale of Awkwardness (from 1 to 5).

RORY MCILROY PGA TOUR • ATHLETE: RORY MCILROY

The world's No. 1 player and the reigning British Open champ graced the cover of a game released two days before the start of the 2015 British. But McIlroy withdrew from the tournament with an ankle injury, lost his top ranking by September and hasn't won a major since. [2]

MLB 12: THE SHOW • ATHLETE: ADRIÁN GONZÁLEZ, RED SOX

Sony named González, coming off an All-Star and Gold Glove season in Boston, to be the cover boy. But when the Red Sox tanked in 2012, González was a goner, traded to the Dodgers in August. [3]

MADDEN 09 • ATHLETE: BRETT FAVRE, PACKERS

The Packers' legend was given something of a lifetime achievement honor by being selected for the cover in a Green Bay jersey before the 2008 season. But Favre elected to come out of retirement in August and play for the Jets, and by '09 he was a Viking. [4]

NBA LIVE 08 • ATHLETE: GILBERT ARENAS, WIZARDS

Washington's guard was already suffering from a meniscus injury when he was picked to be the featured star. He played just 13 games in 2007--08 and only two in the season after that. [5]

NHL 2005 • ATHLETE: MARKUS NASLUND, CANUCKS

After a fine 2003--04, Naslund was primed to justify his cover selection for '04--05 ... if only there had been an '04--05 season. A lockout canceled the entire season, making the video game the best way fans could experience the NHL that year. [1]

THEY SAID IT

Obituary for Jeffrey Riegel

Loyal Eagles fan from Port Republic, N.J., who died Aug. 18 at age 56, relaying his final wishes.

"[JEFFREY] REQUESTED TO HAVE EIGHT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AS PALLBEARERS, SO THE EAGLES CAN LET HIM DOWN ONE LAST TIME."

SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE

The Jets on Monday signed a safety with a hell of a name:

Armagedon Draughn.