The Madden Curse

If you aren't aware of the "Madden Curse" by now, allow me to bring you up-to-date. The popular video game series, Madden NFL, has a jinx that has been going on since 1998.

Before that year, John Madden himself appeared on the cover on the game. Since, an NFL athlete has been nominated as the cover boy and it hasn't gone very well due to injuries or other reasons.

Starting in 1999, 49ers running back Garrison Hearst was the first athlete ever on Madden's cover. The year prior, Hearst had his best season of his career, rushing for over 1,500 yards. Then, suffered an ankle break in the first round of the playoffs and we wouldn't hear of Hearst again until 2001.

In 2000, Lions running back Barry Sanders posed as the cover athlete. Sanders, one of the greatest running backs of all-time, was closing in on Walter Payton's rushing record. Then, Sanders abruptly retired prior to the season's beginning...cutting his career way too short.

In 2001, Titans running back Eddie George posed for Madden. George had a good season, but fumbled seven times and it seemed to be the aftermath that brought the curse back. After that 2001 season, George rushed for career lows in every rushing category. A toe injury nagged George for the rest of his career, in which he never rushed for over 3.4 yards per carry again.

In 2002, Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper was coming off a career best and almost MVP year, throwing for 4,000 yards and scoring a total of 40 touchdowns. Culpepper threw 13 touchdowns in the first 10 games of the 2002 season, then sat out the rest of the season with a back injury. Culpepper never got back to his old self, and has been shipped from city to city in hopes to find that talent he once had.

In 2003, Rams running back Marshall Faulk was one of the best backs in the league. In 2001, Faulk rushed for 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. In 2002, Faulk rushed for 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns and lead the 14-2 Rams to a Super Bowl appearance. In 2003, the Rams went 7-9. Faulk would never rush for over 1,000 yards again, and was forced to retire due to injury.

In 2004, Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was the poster child for Madden. Vick, coming off a career season in 2003, fractured his fibula in a preseason game, and was out for most of the 2004 season. Then, Vick decided dog fighting was a good idea. He is no longer on the Atlanta roster.

In 2005, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis appeared on the cover. Lewis was the first defensive player to appear. After the Ravens winning their division the season before and Lewis finishing with six interceptions, Baltimore failed to make the playoffs and Lewis had only one interception in 2005.

In 2006, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was chosen for the cover. McNabb was coming off of a 13-3 year and Super Bowl appearance. McNabb suffered a sports hernia and had to have season ending surgery for it. The Eagles finished 6-10 and failed to make the playoffs.

In 2007, Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander was on the Madden cover. Alexander was coming off of an 1,880-yard, 28 touchdown season, and a Super Bowl appearance. Alexander has only missed one start in his first 61 games, however, fractured his foot, sat out most of the season and failed to reach 1,000-yards rushing for the first time since 2000.

And now, the present cover of Madden 2008 features Titans quarterback Vince Young. Young was coming off of his rookie season, in which he won AFC Rookie of the Year. Young strained his right quadricep against the Tampa Bay Bucs on October 14. It has yet to be seen how the injury will affect him.

So the question I bring is this: Why do these athletes agree to be on the cover? I would be terrified out of my mind to risk it. Call it coincidence, but it is eight years of injuries and struggling. If a Texans player is ever on the cover, I will lock myself in a closet until that season is over.