Year after year players refuse to believe in the "Madden Curse." Even though every year since 2000, every player on the cover of Madden Football has had some type of bad luck happen to them.
Let's go through the list.
2000 - Barry Sanders was originally on the cover of Madden, but abruptly retired from the Detroit Lions. Since Sanders retired early enough, EA Sports was able to replace Sanders with Green Bay Packers running back Dorsey Levens. Levens was bothered by a knee injury all that year and was used only as a backup for the rest of his time with Green Bay.
2001 - Eddie George was coming off a career year where his Tennessee Titan team went to the Super Bowl. But in 2001, George's yards per carry average dropped to a career low, as did his total yards.
2002 - Daunte Culpepper, coming off an astounding year where his team made the NFC Championship game, was put on the cover of Madden. He then started off the season 4-7 while missing the last five games with a knee injury.
2003 - Marshall Faulk was a part of the "Greatest Show on Turf" with the St. Louis Rams, before accepting to be put on the cover of Madden. The following season, Faulk and the Rams missed the playoffs. Faulk failed to rush for 1,000 yards after averaging over 1,300 yards in the previous four seasons.
2004 - Michael Vick was the up and coming superstar before fracturing his fibula one day after Madden NFL 2004 was released. He missed all but five games that season and the Falcons finished with a 5-11 record.
2005 - Ray Lewis graced the cover of Madden and failed to make an interception for the first time in his career that season as his Ravens failed to make the playoffs. The following season, Lewis suffered a torn hamstring and missed all but six games.
2006 - Donovan McNabb injured himself by way of a sports hernia. He missed the final seven games of the season as his Eagles finished in last place of the NFC East after going to the Super Bowl the year before.
2007 - Shaun Alexander was coming off an MVP season and his Seahawks had went to the Super Bowl. He broke his foot three weeks into 2006 and missed the next six games, Alexander hasn't been back to form since.
2008 - Vince Young injured himself in the fifth week of the 2007 season and missed the next game. Young had never missed a game due to injury dating all the way back to Middle School.
So, EA Sports decided to put the "retiring" Brett Favre on the cover of this year's game. How could the curse affect a retired player, right? Well, Favre has since then decided he's not ready to retire and wants to come back to play. That doesn't sound so bad except the Packers don't want him back and as of yet have failed to trade him.
Let me suggest something to you Brett, stay home, stay healthy, and just wait for Canton to call you up.
6 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Thomas 11 months ago
They should just out madden on the cover
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Jimbo 11 months ago
This article is so true, it's ridiculous.
Nice piece, Greg.
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John Shull 11 months ago
Good piece Greg. It is a shame that the Madden Curse is so alive and vivid. Quick question though, was the Detroit Lions team put on there back in the mid 90's?
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bob mantz 11 months ago
Ah, very nice. And somehow I missed 05...
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/39150-brett-favre-the-madden-nfl-curse-returns
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Kyle rienfeld 10 months ago
in year 2000 john madden was on the cover not Dorsey Levens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Greg Farrand 10 months ago
That was the last year Madden was featured on the cover, but Dorsey got put in the background and in the European version Dorsey Levens was alone on the cover.
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