The "Madden Curse"
#1
12-22-2005, 04:46 AM
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tallahassee, Florida but missing Fort Myers
Posts: 903
The "Madden Curse"
The "Madden Curse"
Prior to 2000, all of the Madden NFL game box covers prominently featured John Madden only. When EA started to have NFL players on the cover of the Madden NFL games, some people speculate there was a "Madden curse" after noticing a pattern when Atlanta Falcons' star player, Michael Vick was injured during the 2003 preseason after appearing on the cover of Madden 2004. Some of the people that believed in the curse stated that the player featured on the box would get injured or simply have a weak season.
The first NFL player to be on a Madden NFL cover was Barry Sanders in 1999, on the 2000 version of the game. He shared the cover with the customary picture of John Madden. However, a week before training camp began in 1999, he abruptly retired, ending his career and leaving the Detroit Lions without their star running back of the previous 10 years. Sanders' part in the curse is debated because he is not pictured alone on the box and because he left by his own choice.
Eddie George of the Tennessee Titans, who graced the 2001 box, was the second cursed player. He was cursed by bobbling a pass in the playoffs, which was then picked by Ray Lewis, who returned the ball for a touchdown. He was also injured the following year. George, who regularly averaged nearly 4 yards per carry in his first five seasons, averaged only 3 yards per carry in the 2001 season, and hasn't broken 3.5 yards since.
In 2002, it was Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings who had a lackluster year and feuded with his star receiver Randy Moss. In the two years that followed, the usually efficient Culpepper threw for 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams, who was on the 2003 box suffered an injury and had a bad season overall. He has yet to break 1,000 yards rushing since.
The aforementioned Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons suffered a broken fibula in a pre-season game against Baltimore. Coincidentally, this happened the day after Madden 2004 was released. The injury resulted in a painful 5-11 year for a suffering Atlanta Falcons team.
Madden 2005 featured Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. He had an injury that kept him out of the last game of the regular season against the Miami Dolphins. The Ravens won, but missed the playoffs altogether. It was also Lewis' first season without a single interception, even after posting a career-high (6) the previous year. The following year, he suffered an injury that ended his season.
The Philadelphia Eagles' star quarterback Donovan McNabb is on the cover of the current version, Madden NFL 06. Prior to the beginning of the 2005 season, McNabb began having a feud with fellow teammate, Terrell Owens. In the first game of the regular season, McNabb took a hit to the chest from the helmet of Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Chad Lavalais. After the game, it was revealed that McNabb had a sports hernia, that needed surgery and has had him in discomfort and pain throughout the season. Later in the tenth game of the season, McNabb re-injured his groin while attempting to tackle Dallas Cowboys defensive back Roy Williams, who was returning an interception for the eventual game-winning touchdown. On November 21, 2005, McNabb, on the advice of his doctors, opted to have season-ending surgery for his sports hernia.
Wikipedia
Prior to 2000, all of the Madden NFL game box covers prominently featured John Madden only. When EA started to have NFL players on the cover of the Madden NFL games, some people speculate there was a "Madden curse" after noticing a pattern when Atlanta Falcons' star player, Michael Vick was injured during the 2003 preseason after appearing on the cover of Madden 2004. Some of the people that believed in the curse stated that the player featured on the box would get injured or simply have a weak season.
The first NFL player to be on a Madden NFL cover was Barry Sanders in 1999, on the 2000 version of the game. He shared the cover with the customary picture of John Madden. However, a week before training camp began in 1999, he abruptly retired, ending his career and leaving the Detroit Lions without their star running back of the previous 10 years. Sanders' part in the curse is debated because he is not pictured alone on the box and because he left by his own choice.
Eddie George of the Tennessee Titans, who graced the 2001 box, was the second cursed player. He was cursed by bobbling a pass in the playoffs, which was then picked by Ray Lewis, who returned the ball for a touchdown. He was also injured the following year. George, who regularly averaged nearly 4 yards per carry in his first five seasons, averaged only 3 yards per carry in the 2001 season, and hasn't broken 3.5 yards since.
In 2002, it was Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings who had a lackluster year and feuded with his star receiver Randy Moss. In the two years that followed, the usually efficient Culpepper threw for 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams, who was on the 2003 box suffered an injury and had a bad season overall. He has yet to break 1,000 yards rushing since.
The aforementioned Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons suffered a broken fibula in a pre-season game against Baltimore. Coincidentally, this happened the day after Madden 2004 was released. The injury resulted in a painful 5-11 year for a suffering Atlanta Falcons team.
Madden 2005 featured Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. He had an injury that kept him out of the last game of the regular season against the Miami Dolphins. The Ravens won, but missed the playoffs altogether. It was also Lewis' first season without a single interception, even after posting a career-high (6) the previous year. The following year, he suffered an injury that ended his season.
The Philadelphia Eagles' star quarterback Donovan McNabb is on the cover of the current version, Madden NFL 06. Prior to the beginning of the 2005 season, McNabb began having a feud with fellow teammate, Terrell Owens. In the first game of the regular season, McNabb took a hit to the chest from the helmet of Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Chad Lavalais. After the game, it was revealed that McNabb had a sports hernia, that needed surgery and has had him in discomfort and pain throughout the season. Later in the tenth game of the season, McNabb re-injured his groin while attempting to tackle Dallas Cowboys defensive back Roy Williams, who was returning an interception for the eventual game-winning touchdown. On November 21, 2005, McNabb, on the advice of his doctors, opted to have season-ending surgery for his sports hernia.
Wikipedia
#3
12-25-2005, 01:18 AM
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tallahassee, Florida but missing Fort Myers
Posts: 903
RE: The "Madden Curse"
I've never heard of a magazine curse.
I know if I was in the NFL, I would never want to be pictured on Madden.
I know if I was in the NFL, I would never want to be pictured on Madden.