Smart Money: How Long Before Larry Fitzgerald Gets Hurt?

The cover art for Madden 2009 is Troy Polamalu hitting Larry Fitzgerald.

The two squared off in the Super Bowl in January, and shared the cover of the popular video game for this year's edition, the cover that allegedly carries a curse.

The Madden Curse has historically been an urban legend, where whomever is on the cover has a down season statistically, or gets hurt after being the face of EA Sports' biggest franchise.

Last night, the curse didn't wait too long to hit the Steelers' Polamalu.

Late in the second quarter, on a blocked field goal, Polamalu apparently sprained ligaments in his left knee and will miss three to six weeks of action. Less than 30 game minutes into the Steelers' defense of their Super Bowl title, they lost the hairy heart of their defense.

And the Curse lives on.

Now, the smart money asks: what's an appropriate over/under on when the Curse hits Larry Fitzgerald?

In Week One, the Cardinals play the 49ers in Arizona. If Fitzgerald catches a ball within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage, he could have a few talented, hard-hitting linebackers hunting for him.

In Week Two, the Cardinals travel to Jacksonville. That could be a game with a lot of hitting, as well.

It's in Week Three, however, that the curse probably has it's best chance of coming for it's other 2009 victim.

It is then that the Cardinals host the Indianapolis Colts, who could see the return of safety Bob Sanders in time for the matchup with the league's best group of receivers. Reports are that Sanders could miss the first five weeks of the season, but getting their best defensive back on the field against the Cardinals is obviously of interest to the Colts.

If Sanders, who is cut from the same mold as Polamalu and Baltimore's Ed Reed, plays in Week Three, Smart Money says Fitzgerald better keep his eyes open.

Over/Under: Halftime, Week Three