Ok, I just thought thsi was fun, as this year 1 superstar will either get injured or have a terrible season. Here is some history for you:
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 later (half-jokingly) speculated that there was a "Madden curse": a coincidental series of misfortunes that befell the product's cover-boys. People started noticing a pattern when the Atlanta Falcons' star player, quarterback Michael Vick, was injured during the 2003 preseason after posing for the cover of Madden 2004. Vick suffered a broken fibula in a pre-season game against Baltimore, the day after Madden 2004 was released to retailers. The injury resulted in a painful 5-11 year for Vick's team. 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, for Madden 2000. He shared the cover with the then-customary picture of John Madden. However, a week before training camp began in 1999, Sanders 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 he had willingly retired.
Eddie George, then 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 intercepted by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who returned the ball for a touchdown. George, (up until then) known for his durability, would also get injured the following season. After regularly averaging nearly 4 yards per carry in his first five seasons, he averaged only 3 yards per carry in the 2001 season. For the rest of his career, he never averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry.
Former Minnesota Vikings star quarterback Daunte Culpepper appeared on the 2002 cover, and the Vikings struggled to a 4-7 record until Culpepper was shelved with a season-ending knee injury.
Running back 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.
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. The Ravens won it, but still missed the playoffs altogether. It was also Lewis' first season without a single interception, after posting a career-high 6 the previous year.
EA officials point out that Ray Lewis and Eddie George appeared on the covers of the 2005 and 2001 versions, respectively, and had successful seasons without injury. [1]
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, wide receiver 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' (i.e., a serious rupture of the lower abdominal muscles key to quick running and torso movements) that needed surgery. Refusing to have the required season-ending surgery while the Eagles (who had made the Super Bowl the previous season) still had a chance to make the playoffs, he played 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; the Eagles had been eliminated from playoff contention.
2000-2001 Eddie George------Key fumble vs. Ravens in playoffs; team lost in Divisional Playoff after losing Super Bowl in 1999
2001-2002 Daunte Culpepper--Missed 5 games in 2001; team missed playoffs after losing NFC Championship in 2000
2002-2003 Marshall Faulk------Least productive season as a Ram up to that point; team missed playoffs after losing Super Bowl in 2001
2003-2004 Michael Vick-------Missed 11 games in 2003; team missed playoffs after losing Divisional Playoff in 2002
2004-2005 Ray Lewis---------Critically seen as an off year; team missed playoffs after losing Wild Card Playoff in 2003
2005-2006 Donovan McNabb--Missed 7 games in 2005; team missed playoffs after losing Super Bowl in 2004
(from wikipedia.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL_series)
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 later (half-jokingly) speculated that there was a "Madden curse": a coincidental series of misfortunes that befell the product's cover-boys. People started noticing a pattern when the Atlanta Falcons' star player, quarterback Michael Vick, was injured during the 2003 preseason after posing for the cover of Madden 2004. Vick suffered a broken fibula in a pre-season game against Baltimore, the day after Madden 2004 was released to retailers. The injury resulted in a painful 5-11 year for Vick's team. 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, for Madden 2000. He shared the cover with the then-customary picture of John Madden. However, a week before training camp began in 1999, Sanders 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 he had willingly retired.
Eddie George, then 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 intercepted by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who returned the ball for a touchdown. George, (up until then) known for his durability, would also get injured the following season. After regularly averaging nearly 4 yards per carry in his first five seasons, he averaged only 3 yards per carry in the 2001 season. For the rest of his career, he never averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry.
Former Minnesota Vikings star quarterback Daunte Culpepper appeared on the 2002 cover, and the Vikings struggled to a 4-7 record until Culpepper was shelved with a season-ending knee injury.
Running back 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.
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. The Ravens won it, but still missed the playoffs altogether. It was also Lewis' first season without a single interception, after posting a career-high 6 the previous year.
EA officials point out that Ray Lewis and Eddie George appeared on the covers of the 2005 and 2001 versions, respectively, and had successful seasons without injury. [1]
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, wide receiver 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' (i.e., a serious rupture of the lower abdominal muscles key to quick running and torso movements) that needed surgery. Refusing to have the required season-ending surgery while the Eagles (who had made the Super Bowl the previous season) still had a chance to make the playoffs, he played 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; the Eagles had been eliminated from playoff contention.
2000-2001 Eddie George------Key fumble vs. Ravens in playoffs; team lost in Divisional Playoff after losing Super Bowl in 1999
2001-2002 Daunte Culpepper--Missed 5 games in 2001; team missed playoffs after losing NFC Championship in 2000
2002-2003 Marshall Faulk------Least productive season as a Ram up to that point; team missed playoffs after losing Super Bowl in 2001
2003-2004 Michael Vick-------Missed 11 games in 2003; team missed playoffs after losing Divisional Playoff in 2002
2004-2005 Ray Lewis---------Critically seen as an off year; team missed playoffs after losing Wild Card Playoff in 2003
2005-2006 Donovan McNabb--Missed 7 games in 2005; team missed playoffs after losing Super Bowl in 2004
(from wikipedia.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL_series)
