Well, after reading about TO trying to kill himself today, I wondered why he hasn’t been on the cover of any of the Madden video games. Surely he is a cursed player, but an attention whore at the same time. Acutally, here’s a funny article outlining the T.O. timetable in Dallas.
Anyway, back to the real point of this post. It’s to discuss the Madden Curse. It’s pretty much common knowledge now, that if you’re an athlete and make the cover of the Madden video game, you’re screwed. It appears the only exception so far has been Ray Lewis in 2005. Here’s a brief outline of what’s gone on so far.
2000 - Barry Sanders
The 2000 cover was the last cover to feature John Madden on the front, but if you look closely in the background, you’ll see Detroit Lion’s super-star Barry Sanders. As it turned out, Barry didn’t play a single down during this season, or ever again. He announced his retirement at the end of the season.
2001 - Eddie George, 403 Rush, 1509 Yds, 14 TD, 13-3 1st Place
Eddie George fumbles in crucial game and the turnover leads to the Titan’s elimination from the playoffs
2002 - Daunte Culpepper, 2612 Yds, 14 TD, 13 Int | 5-11 4th Place
Leads his team to a 4-7 record before he injures his knee, ending his season. Minnesota’s worst record since 1984.
2003 - Marshall Faulk, 212 Rush, 953 Yds, 8 TD | 7-9 3rd Place
Faulk’s worst season since 1996…. Suffers an ankle injury which causes his football career to never be the same. .
2004 -Michael Vick, 585 Yds, 4TD, 3INT | 5-11 4th Place
Vick breaks leg in preseason game. Misses first 11 games of the season.
2005 -Ray Lewis, 147 Tak, 1 Sack| 9-7 2nd Place
Might be the exception to the curse aside from the fact that he fails to post any interceptions and an injury forces him to miss the final game of the season.
2006 -Donovan Mcnabb, 2507 Yards, 16TD, 9INT | 6-10 4th Place
Gets a sports hernia in week 1 and by week 9 Mcnabb needs season-ending surgery. Eagles finish 6-10 while a T.O. fued escalates.
2007 - Shaun Alexander, 187 2TD, … still in progress
Shaun Alexander breaks foot in week 3. Expected to be out at least a couple weeks…. we’ll see I suppose.