Beware the Curse of Madden

[Wolf]

Sports curses (aside from the one that looms over the Chicago Cubs) aren't real. But try telling that to the football players who have graced the cover of John Madden's videogame only to suffer injuries shortly thereafter.

Troy Polamalu is the latest star to experience the so-called "Madden curse." The all-pro safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers sprained his medial collateral ligament during Thursday night's game against the Tennessee Titans.

Sports Illustrated reports that Polamalu could be out anywhere from three to six weeks. Not as bad as initially feared, but still rough enough to inspire a lot of lookups on "madden curse."

Indeed, almost immediately after Polumalu left the field, folks at home began dialing up searches on past victims of the Madden curse. The list is long but distinguished. And while there are a few holes (Favre escaped '09 without injury), we imagine that Larry Fitzgerald, who shared the 2010 cover honors with Polamalu, might think twice about running over the middle this Sunday...

* 2010: Troy Polalmalu -- injured for three to six weeks.
* 2009: Brett Favre -- no injury, but as Yahoo! Sports points out, he did "become insufferable."
* 2008: Vince Young -- injured one game and played poorly.
* 2007: Shaun Alexander -- injured for six games due to broken foot.
* 2006: Donovan McNabb -- injured for seven games.
* 2005: Ray Lewis -- missed one game.
* 2004: Michael Vick -- injured for 11 games due to broken leg.
* 2003: Marshall Faulk -- out for six games.
* 2002: Daunte Culpepper -- missed five games.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/p...madden/1353249

snopes edition of the Madden Curse
http://www.snopes.com/sports/football/maddencurse.asp

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by Wolf

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/p...madden/1353249

snopes edition of the Madden Curse
http://www.snopes.com/sports/football/maddencurse.asp

I'd have to say that the curse found Favre. He tore his biceps and rotator with a resultant embarassing end of the Jets season. The Jets finished 1-4 down the stretch and Favre threw nine interceptions and just two touchdowns over the final five games. I'd say the curse hit tradition.


And Ray Lewis..........his turnovers dropped from 8 the previous year to 1 that season.

[Hervoyel]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

I'd have to say that the curse found Favre. He tore his biceps and rotator with a resultant embarassing end of the Jets season. The Jets finished 1-4 down the stretch and Favre threw nine interceptions and just two touchdowns over the final five games. I'd say the curse hit tradition.


And Ray Lewis..........his turnovers dropped from 8 the previous year to 1 that season.

Agreed. The curse just opted to play it subtle and avoid contributing to the Favre circus.

I for one appreciate the gesture and think that was damned considerate of the Madden Curse.

[kastofsna]

Favre almost single-handedly kept the Jets out of the playoffs, so yeah the curse hit him big time

[SteveSlaton20]

next larry fitz?

i like both of them, don't want either of them to get hurt. :/

[Double Barrel]

I've read before that quite a few players have turned down the chance for a Madden cover because of the curse. I'm not superstitious, but I wouldn't do it, either.

[MeLoveTexans]

Originally Posted by kastofsna

Favre almost single-handedly kept the Jets out of the playoffs, so yeah the curse hit him big time

Not to mention he did suffer an injury. The bicep tear that will now cost the Jets a hefty fine for ignoring it and not putting it on the weekly injury report. The jets are still affected by the curse in that way.

[jerek]

Not to mention that about half of that list's careers were *over* after they suffered the Madden curse.

I'm not superstitious either, but it does make ya wonder ...

[GuerillaBlack]

If Larry Fitz is on your fantasy team, trade him ASAP!!

The Madden Curse is real folks.

[m5kwatts]

It lives on!

[GuerillaBlack]

Originally Posted by m5kwatts

It lives on!

[Wolf]

thinking about this.. how long is troy out again?

[Wolf]

PITTSBURGH (AP)—With the Pittsburgh Steelers fast running out of games and his left knee still not healed, star safety Troy Polamalu(notes) isn’t certain if he will be back this season.

Polamalu is hopeful of playing again, but he said Tuesday there is no definitive date for his return.

Polamalu’s latest injury, to his posterior cruciate ligament, was initially expected to be less severe than the anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out of the Steelers’ second through fifth games. But he won’t play Thursday night in Cleveland, the fourth consecutive game he’s missed with his latest injury.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

[Imatexanfan]

Thats sad he is truly a great player and I don't give others credit, outta Polamalu and AJ thats the best

[Carr Bombed]

What about Larry Fitz, nothing has happened to him yet? He's having a great year.

[Carr Bombed]

Originally Posted by Carr Bombed

What about Larry Fitz, nothing has happened to him yet? He's having a great year.

......and Larry Fitzgerald just limped off the field grabbing his right knee.

[HoustonFrog]

Originally Posted by Carr Bombed

......and Larry Fitzgerald just limped off the field grabbing his right knee.

Don't need that. He is one of my WRs of my #1 ranked fantasy team that had a bye this week. Wish it was literal and he could have rested

[Khari]

this time it struck the entire cardinal team

[HoustonFrog]

Fitz is back and playing.

[Carr Bombed]

Good.