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More proof of the Madden Curse
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Don't look behind you...
For the past ten seasons, we've heard often about the "Madden Curse", where the player featured on the cover of Ea Sports' Madden NFL game is subject to quirky, bizarre, injury-filled and/or controversy-filled seasons.
I think the Curse is about to claim another victim. First, though, a recap of past victims and the few who got away - temporarily.
1999: Garrison Hearst. Broken ankle in the playoffs that season meant he would never be the same.
2000: Dorsey Levens: Slight decline in stats, but nothing too horrid - until he was cut following the season.
2001: Eddie George: Hurt all year with foot problems, and was never the same.
2002: Daunte Culpepper: This was the first of several consecutive season in which Culpepper destroyed both real-life and fantasy football teams - including mine.
2003: Marshall Faulk: Ankle problems limited him and he posted a very subpar season. At this point, the curse was becoming more and more acknowledged.
2004: Michael Vick: This caused the curse to be spoken of almost reverently, as Vick broke his ankle, crushing the Falcons' season before it even began.
2005: Ray Lewis: Broke his arm near the end of the season as the Ravens missed the playoffs.
2006: Donovan McNabb: Sports hernia + T.O. drama.
2007: Shaun Alexander: A broken foot caused him to miss almost half the season.
2008: Vince Young: Had an OK season, but was very erratic; it didn't really hit until the first game of this season when he was booed off the field, went MIA, and lost his starting job to Kerry Collins.
Apparently, you can run, but you can't hide.
So now in Madden 2009, Brett Favre graced the cover. Would he break the curse after being traded from the Packers to the Jets? Well, if the season had ended at Thanksgiving, you'd probably say yes. Through 11 games, the Jets were 8-3, and Favre was at least holding his own without throwing a ton of interceptions.
Since then, they have lost to San Francisco, Denver, and Seattle, and barely won against Buffalo, as Favre has reverted to making bad plays and untimely interceptions, failing to post a QB rating above 62. It is now possible that the Jets fall from a sure playoff berth and possible division title to not even making the playoffs if they lose to the Dolphins.
As Jets fans would say...Same...Old...Jets. Those who are avid Madden followers, though, probably aren't surprised. Those who are into picking sides for purely recreational purposes are probably loading up against Favre in expectation of history to rear its ugly head.
Perhaps Madden was finally sick of sponsoring the Brett Favre lovefest every week while broadcasting, but didn't have the heart to tell anyone - and decided this was the only way to put his career into inevitable decline so he would finally retire - for good, for once.
Meantime, we'll all remember not to draft the cover player on Madden '10 in our fantasy leagues.
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