The Madden Curse - Fact or Fiction?

Ever since the start of the 2001 NFL season, a player has been on the cover of the latest Madden video game. Later this month, another player will be selected to be on the cover of Madden 13. However, rumour has it that once you go on the cover of Madden, you become cursed. In worst case scenarios, your playing days could soon be over. Could this be true though? Let's jump into the Delorean, travel back in time and have a look at some players deemed to have been under the Madden curse.


2001: Eddie George

Eddie George

Back in the days where the PS3 and the Xbox 360 were a thing of the imagination, Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, became the first player to be featured on the cover of a Madden video game. However, in the 2000/01 season, the Titans lost in the playoffs and Eddie George never averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry for the rest of his career.


2002: Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Culpepper

When Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper appeared on the cover for the 2001/02 season, the Vikings had a 5-11 season and he threw 23 interceptions and broke the most fumbles in a single season record. During the 2005 and 2006 seasons, he blew both of his knees which caused him to never return to his best form.


2006: Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb

Quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered from a sports hernia on the first game of the 2005/06 season for the Philadelphia Eagles. After recovery from this, McNabb tore his ACL and meniscus whilst jumping out of bounds in a game against the Tennessee Titans in week 11. This resulted in his season being ended early.


2009: Brett Favre

Brett Favre

Well, well, well. Most football fans should know the story about this guy. Quarter back Brett Favre was featured on the cover of Madden 09 because it was thought that he had retired from the game. However, it wasn't long till Favre was back in the game again, as he signed for the New York Jets in the summer of 2008 for the 2008/09 season. After poor performances on the field and an sexual harassment scandal off the field though, he decided to retire for the second time. This wasn't the last of Favre though, as he came out of retirement for the second time and signed for the Minnesota Vikings. He did lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship in the 2009/10 season, but during a game in week 13 against the Buffalo Bills in the 2010/11 season, he was hit whilst making a throw by Bills linebacker Arthur Moats, which caused him to sprain his AC in his shoulder. He came back against the Chicago Bears in week 15, but he sustained a concussion when he was sacked by Bears defensive end Corey Wooten. This ended up being his final appearance in the NFL (or so it seems to be). 


2012: Peyton Hills

Peyton Hills 

During the 2011/12 season, Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hills, missed five games due to a hamstring injury and one game because of a strep throat. This lead to a decline in the numbers he put up on the field. As well as this, Hills was also trying to negotiate a contract deal as his current one would expire at the end of the season. Hills ended up leaving the Browns to go to the Kansas City Chiefs during the free agency period in 2012.


Not all players that have been featured on the cover of Madden were bound for doom and gloom though.


2010: Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu

Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald

When Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was featured on the cover of Madden 10, alongside Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, he started all 16 regular season games for the Cardinals, as well as both playoff games. Although Fitzgerald didn't attend the Pro Bowl, he still posted 97 receptions, 1,092 yards and a career high 13 touchdowns during the season. On the other hand though, Polamalu didn't have the best of seasons has he suffered from a sprain of his MCL during the first half of the first game of the 2010/11 season, causing him to miss the next four games of the season.


In conclusion, the effects of being featured on the cover of Madden varies from player to player. Believing that there is such thing as a Madden curse though is down to you.


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