Madden Curse: Is Drew Brees Bulletproof?

When Drew Brees was selected to be on the cover of Madden NFL 11, the "Who Dat nation" took a collective gulp.

If Brett Favre voodoo dolls are real, then certainly the Madden Curse must be real as well.

The Madden Curse has been affecting players on the game's cover since Eddie George graced the cover of Madden 2001.

George failed to rush for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career after appearing on the cover, running for 939 yards and just three yards per carry.

Daunte Culpepper was the next to experience the curse after appearing on Madden 2002. The former Vikings quarterback missed five games due to injury while throwing for 1,300 less yards and 19 fewer touchdowns than he did the prior season.

Michael Vick broke his leg and missed 11 games after appearing on the cover of Madden 2004, while Donovan McNabb's season ended with a hernia in week nine after appearing on the 2006 version of the game.

Former Seahawks star running back Shaun Alexander missed six games after appearing on the 2007 edition, and Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was the latest to fall victim after appearing in only five games last season due to a knee injury.

Marshall Faulk, Ray Lewis, and Vince Young all managed to stay healthy but they each saw a drop in production during the season they were on the cover.

Even Larry Fitzgerald had 400 fewer receiving yards than each of his two prior seasons after appearing on last year's cover with Polamalu.

Nearly every NFL athlete that has appeared on the game's cover has fallen victim, so will Drew Brees be any different this season?

Don't worry Saints fans, your star quarterback is going to be just fine.

Drew Brees has many factors working in his favor to avoid the curse, the most notable is his offensive line.

All-Pro right guard Jahri Evans is the star of the offensive line, but he is not the only member of the unit that has been solid in Brees' time with the Saints.

Right tackle Jon Stinchcomb one of the best right tackles in the league, and left guard Carl Nicks is also one of the best at his position. Starting center Jonathan Goodwin is another solid player and left tackle Jermon Bushrod did a good job protecting Brees' blindside for the first time last season.

The Saints offensive line has allowed Brees to be sacked just 72 times since the quarterback joined the team in 2006. The 72 sacks are the second fewest allowed by any team during that time; only the Colts have allowed fewer sacks with 65.

Last season Brees was put on his backside just 20 times, the fourth fewest times in the league.

Brees has never missed a game due to injury while playing with the Saints, so the injury part of the curse should not be a big concern for Saints fans.

The drop in production that is also associated with the curse should be avoided by Brees this season given the playmakers he has returning around him.

Saints wide receiver Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem both had career years for the team last season, and Marques Colston continued to be the No. 1 target that the team was counting on.

The former Boilermaker quarterback also has tight end Jeremy Shockey, and running backs Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush at his disposal.

Saints coach Sean Payton has proved to be one of the best offensive play-callers in the league and will give Brees another weapon in the fight against Madden. 

The Saints could be poised for a letdown after last season's Super Bowl victory, but they should have on of the league's best offenses on their side once again this season.

That is as long as Drew Brees avoids the Madden curse, and every indication is that he will.