The Madden Curse
I know this post is a little outdated, but it’s something I’ve been meaning to write about. I’m sure by now, all sports fans know what the John Madden Curse is. In case you aren’t familiar with the NFL or video games, I’ll fill you in. In the past years, anyone who has graced the cover of an EA Madden video game has been cursed with injuries. Madden 2006 cover boy, Donovan McNabb, suffered an injury several weeks ago to add to the long list of injury ridden cover boys.It all started with then stud Titan’s running back Eddie George. He was named to the cover of Madden in 2001. George came off an amazing 1999 season in which he led the Titans to the Superbowl. There were high hopes for George, but alas, the curse hit him. George was struck with nagging injuries, and never ending toe turf, that plagued him for the rest of his career.
Rising star Daunte Culpepper graced the cover of Madden 2002. He was a scrambling running and passing touchdown machine. No one could stop Daunte in his prime. We all know what happened to him this year, but that’s not from the curse. Culpepper started only 11 games in his 2001 season after suffering a season ending injury in a game against Da Bears.
Marshall Faulk was one of the most prolific running backs to ever play the game. He could run with great speed, catch with soft hands, and break away for a td from any part of the field. 2000+ total yards and 20+ tds was the norm for him, that is until he was on the Madden 2003 cover. Injuries struck again causing him to miss 6 games.
Michael Vick is arguable the most entertaining player in the NFL. Everyone tunes in to watch Vick run and throw. That’s why EA put him on the cover of Madden 2004. He had high hopes and Superbowl dreams coming into the 2003 season. Surely the Madden Curse wasn’t real. The injuries were just a coincidence, right? Wrong. Vick broke his leg in a preseason game early in the 2003 season.
Ray Lewis was named to the cover of Madden 2005. Now this is where it gets tricky. Lewis didn’t get hurt last year like he was supposed to. He did miss 1 game, but that can hardly keep the curse going. Ray Lewis did however get hurt this year. He has only played in 6 of 11 games, and is still on the bench.
So the curse lives up to its name for 5 years, injuring 6 NFL Superstars. Who will be next?
posted by David Lithman at 5:48 PM
3 Comments:
Oh how I forgot! Great post. Yes, I have heard about the curse and it does seem to be true. It is sad, because I truely love Madden football EA Sports games. I heard that next years cover was going to be Matt Millen as requested by lion fans. For real I don't know who it will be it is kind of scary. I hope it is not Cadillac Williams since he is a high market player right now.
Didn't the campbell's soup also have a curse attached to it? I remember sports radio in Tampa Bay trying to talk John Lynch out of doing the commercial.
I am surprised Tomlinson or Alexander have not been on the cover yet. I would hate to see one of them go down injured
There is a Campbell Soup curse also. Donovan McNabb and Kurt Warner are two that come to mind for Campbell.
Man if I was a player I wouldn't want to be on it. Especially if I was a LT or Peyton. They're already making a ton of money and 5 out of 6 years is a very high percentage. Too high for me.
But it's funny when Madden graced the cover for all those years before the players, he ended up just fine. Hmmmm...maybe Madden sold his soul. LOL
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