The Madden Curse: Do You Believe?

Madden NFL football has been many things over the years, Popular (by fans and players), realistic and a curse?

Ever since Madden started using players on covers there has been some sort of injury or hard time to follow. 

A game that prides it self on its realism has been said to take that to a whole other level, as many believe that whom ever graces the Madden cover is doomed to have some sort of misfortune.

And through the years, this has held true. I have gone back and documented the affects of said curse and leave you to be the judge. Is it real or fake? 

Madden 99

The first player to grace the cover of Madden was not Troy Aikman, Dan Marino or even John Elway, it was Garrison Hearst.

The running back for the 49ers was Maddens first and was on the Madden 99 cover. 

Hearst was coming off his best season as a pro when he ran for 1,500 yards.

Hearst then broke his ankle and was sidelined for two seasons after the broken fibula, which started the chain of events that has come to be known as the Madden curse.

Hearst was Maddens first and most unfortunate victim. 

Madden 2000

Many did not know of the European release of the 2000 cover that featured Dorsey Levens as the cover boy.

Levens came off a year in which he over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, and though he was not selected for the U.S. cover, (which was John Madden and a faded Barry Sanders in the background) Levens was set to have a great 2000 but was moved to the back up role and was released the next year.  

Dorsey Levens was the second victim of the Madden curse. 

Madden 2002

Daunte Culpepper, coming off his best year, was picked to be on the cover of the 2002 edition of Madden.

Culpepper hurt his knee late in his season and watched his offense suffer.

Which puts Culpepper as the third victim of the Madden curse. 

Madden 2003

Marshall Faulk, a Hall of Fame running back, was asked to be the 2003 Madden cover boy. 

Faulk did not have an awful 2002 season but his 953 yards were his lowest rushing output since 1996.

That year was the beginning of the end of Faulk's incredible career as he went on to have recored lows for the next four seasons.   

Even the great Marshall Marshall Marshall (in Boomer voice) was just another player wronged by the Madden curse.

Madden 2004

I wonder if the start of Michael Vick's string of bad luck can be traced back to this one moment?

OK, so I doubt this was the cause, but it didn't bring Vick any good luck. Vick had just come off an amazing season only to see his 2003 season dashed due to injury. 

Vick is the greatest mobile quarterback of all time but even he can't run from the Madden curse.

Madden 2006

Fresh off a Super Bowl appearance and a career high season in 2004, Donovan McNabb thought things were looking up when he signed up to be on the cover of Madden 06. 

In 2005, he had the famous feud with receiver Terrell Owens and later McNabb would get bitten by the injury bug and had to miss an entire season.

Though McNabb would like to, he can't blame T.O. for this one, but he can blame the Madden curse.

Madden 2007

There was a lot of bad luck involved in the Madden curse throughout the years, but none had it worse than Shaun Alexander. 

I'm sure Shaun Alexander was feeling great after the 2005 season, racking up 1880 yards and a record 28 touchdowns, as well as getting his team all the way to the Super Bowl.

After agreeing to be on the cover, Shaun could not have had a worse string of luck, rushing for only 896 yards a career high in fumbles, and he broke his foot.

He played three more seasons as a shell of himself.

Alexander the Great never lost in battle, but the same can't be said for Shaun Alexander; his loss was to the Madden curse. 

Madden 2008

Vince Young had his moment in the sun during his rookie season in 2006, making the pro bowl and becoming the face of the Titans franchise, though it was short lived as he dawned the Madden 08 cover.

VY would get his 2007 season started on the bench. (Which he would see a lot more of in his career.) Jeff Fisher put the QB there for violating a team rule but the next game Young would be the starter.

Young had a below average season, throwing for only 2,546, nine touchdowns and a career high 17 interceptions.

Later that season, in the final game, VY was hurt, which opened the door for journeyman Kerry Collins to get some reps. Young played in the Titans playoff game and lost. 

The next season, VY was hurt in the first game and was out for two to three weeks, but the real problem was his off the field scare.

The Titans called the police in search of the quarterback and were told by Young's therapist that Young was bringing up suicide. Young would later be reached and was said to be with a friend. 

Though Vince is doing better now, the Madden curse still claimed another. 

Madden 2009

Brett Favre: (I still think his name is not pronounced right) the man, the myth, the legend, put the number four jersey on and made John Madden's dream come true and posed for the cover of Madden 09. 

Favre made a huge ordeal of his move from Green Bay to up state NY.

Though it started out going pretty well for Brett and the J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS! as they got off to a 7-2 start, but the season would soon be on the down slide.

Thanks to a torn bicep in his throwing arm, Favre and the Jets limped through the rest of the season, not making the playoffs and sending Favre into retirement AGAIN.

The Old Gunslinger was top gun during his day, but was shot down by the Madden curse. 

Madden 2010

This being the first double cover of Madden, one would think it would be double the curse, but no, the Madden curse decided to take out its wrath on poor Troy Polamalu, Fitz you get a free-be. 

Troy Polamalu is one of the most dominating defensive players in the league, but once he joined the cover of Madden 2010 he was doomed. 

Troy came off a great year and looked to add another until spraining his MCL during the first game of the season. The injury would linger and hold Polamalu out for most of the season. 

Troy Polamalu, the man with the million dollar hair, just another cut down by the Madden curse. 

Madden 2011

As much as it pains me to say this, the Madden curse struck again in 2011, this time going after quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, and all around good guy Drew Brees. 

I, like many other New Orleanians who bought the cover and framed it, all said the same thing when waiting in line at Gamestop at 12:00, "That won't happen to Drew."

Alas it did, maybe not on the scale as some of the others, but he felt it. 

Drew Brees had an amazing 2010 season, and was ready to win another Super Bowl, when the Madden curse took over, hurting Drew's knee.

Though he didn't miss any games due to the injury, any fan of the Saints could tell it affected Brees throughout the season. 

Drew still had a great year for touchdowns and yards, but was throwing picks like he was throwing beads on a Mardi Gras float, racking up 22 (a career high). 

And to top it all off, the Saints lost to the worst playoff team ever (record wise) and made an early playoff exit. OK, I guess I can't blame the curse for that one, but I would like to. 

In the end, the all pro QB was sacked by the Madden curse. 

Omissions

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

HOUSTON - DECEMBER 21: Running back Eddie George #27 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball during the game against the Houston Texans on December 21, 2003 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Titans won 27-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Eddie George, 2001 cover - Had a good 2000 season getting 1,500 yards and 14 tds.

Ray Lewis 2005 cover - Got 146 tackles in the 2004 season, but would be injured the next season playing only six games.  

Closing

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 03: John Madden speaks during a press conference where he awarded the New England Patriots offensive linemen with the Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award for being this year's best offensive line, as determined by John Madden and

Hard to say if the curse is true, I just want to bring perspective to the thought and lay the facts on the table and let people decide whatever they want.  

It's up to you to decide if you believe whether there is a curse or a string of coincidences.

Regardless, Madden NFL Football will be around for a long time.