Madden 10 Cover Released: Exploring the Curse

With the cover shot released for the upcoming Madden 10, fantasy football players all over the nation are cringing at the thought of what may follow.

While the cover is historical and exciting, this news brings the possibility that not just one, but two star athletes could face the repercussions of such glory, as have many before them.

It's fine if you don't believe in curses or jinxes (like the Sports Illustrated cover jinx), but facts are facts.

The following athletes have been on the cover to promote the game in the past eight years, and they have all faced some sort of injury, down season, or hardship during their "Madden" season.

To avoid confusion, since the game's title display the official year after the season actually begins, the player's stats and information is affected in the year listed prior.

In other words, Eddie George is on the 2001 cover, but his 2000 season was cursed, not his 2001. Actually, in his case, his whole career was cursed after being on the cover...

2001 Madden Cover: Eddie George

While he was a gifted power back for much of his career, Eddie George hit a wall after appearing on the Madden cover.

While his 2000 season was absolutely fantastic, his next season was awful, as he ran for fewer than 1,000 yards, only five scores, and averaged an embarrassing 3.0 yards per carry.

It took a season to take effect, but being on the cover ended up being a terrible mistake.

George never averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry again in his career, was never fully healthy, and was out of the league four years after being on the cover.

Yeah, and he was just the first victim.

2002 Madden Cover: Daunte Culpepper

After a fantastic season in which Culpepper tossed 33 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards, the Madden curse was in full effect.

Culpepper sustained injuries that year, while never being able to stay fully healthy. He went from putting up Pro Bowl numbers to throwing for fewer than 3,000 yards and only 14 touchdowns.

He continues his regression the next season, as he threw only 18 scores, while tossing 23 interceptions.

Culpepper regained form, though, and went on to have back-to-back good seasons of 25 and 39 touchdowns.

He tore up his knees in 2005 at only 28 years old, though, and has never been the same.

Thank you, Madden curse.

2003 Madden Cover: Marshall Faulk

Faulk was a fantastic, versatile back for his entire career, but after appearing on the cover of Madden, his career was as good as over.

In 2002, he was riddled with injuries and failed to reached 1,000 yards rushing for the first time since 1996.

He was still serviceable, but he never could stay healthy again. He retired in 2005 at the age of 32.

2004 Madden Cover: Michael Vick

Vick was a highlight reel waiting to happen. Truly one of the most exciting players to watch, it was no surprise Vick was selected to be the face for the famous football video game franchise.

However, a broken leg in the preseason marred both the gaming campaign and Atlanta's season.

Vick threw only four touchdowns, while managing to start only four games.

He was able to get healthy and light up the league for a few years after that, but off-field legal issues put him in prison, stalling (and possibly ending) a bright NFL career.

2005 Madden Cover: Ray Lewis

Lewis was an elite linebacker until he was on the cover of Madden. While he didn't feel the effects in the season of the cover release, he missed time the next season due to injury.

Lewis failed to reach even 50 tackles, succumbing to the curse eventually.

He has since regained his form and consistency, but has still battled skeptics who say he's lost a step.

2006 Madden Cover: Donovan McNabb

While many think of McNabb as an injury-prone quarterback, he actually was fairly durable up until being on the cover of Madden.

In 2005, he was on his way to having a terrific, and possibly historic, season, while passing for over 2,500 yards and 16 touchdowns in only nine starts before going down with an injury.

2007 Madden Cover: Shaun Alexander

Alexander was a shoo-in for the cover after a record-breaking season in which he ran for more than 1,800 yards, as well as 27 touchdowns.

A leg injury slowed him down in 2006, however, as he failed to rush for more than 900 yards and only managed seven touchdowns.

The next season was no better, and Alexander's career was as good as finished early in 2008.

2008 Madden Cover: Vince Young

After an impressive rookie season, Young regressed under the pressure and fame, while also gracing the cover of Madden.

Young threw for fewer than 2,600 yards, only nine touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.

His bad luck ran into the next season, as well, when talk about his confidence and drive forced him out of the starting lineup.

He begins the 2009 season on the bench, firmly planted behind veteran Kerry Collins.

2009 Madden Cover: Brett Favre

Favre retired after his illustrious career, so he seemed like a safe pick for the Madden cover. He was a famous player, and was also a good pick because he wouldn't be playing anymore—therefore, the curse would be broken.

Oh, if only it were that easy.

Favre un-retired, was traded to the Jets, and whether he likes it or not, somehow ruined his own season, as well as Green Bay's and New York's.

Favre started the season hot, throwing 20 touchdowns and leading the Jets to an 8-3 start.

However, an arm injury took some zip off of Favre's arm, and he threw only two scores and nine interceptions over the final five games, in which New York won just once.

The Jets missed the playoffs and, ironically enough, so did his former team. The Packers suffered a slew of defensive injuries after a solid 2-0 start and fell to 6-10 on the season.

2010 and Beyond?

You'd think the people at EA Sports would put it all together and learn. But, no, instead they continue to put marquee players on their cover, knowing full well that past years have shown it has ill effects.

It has gotten to the point where calling it a coincidence or "bad luck" is a joke. These are all stats, facts, and simply the unfortunate truths.

If the Madden franchise was smart, they'd simply put retired players (ones that stay retired) on the cover, and no repercussions would ever be felt.

Still, with Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polomalu (above) slated to be the first duo on the cover, it's obvious the franchise is getting even more greedy.

That, or they just haven't paid any attention to their cover guys' seasons in the past eight years.