It's very well known that the Madden Curse is the most reliable force in professional sports. You always want to bet the under on individual performance for any given player in the year that they make the cover of EA Sports' Madden NFL. This year, in a battle between offense and defense, the cover will be shared for the first time by the Arizona Cardinals' stellar young wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and standout Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu. As these are two of the NFL's most recognizable and exciting players, it's a real pity that they're both going to end up injured in the coming season.

Here's a quick timeline of the Madden Curse:

Run, Larry! Try to outrun the curse! Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

  • 1999 - Garrison Hearst: First player ever on the cover. After posting his best career year, he snaps his ankle. Made inflammatory, homophobic statement to the press in 2002, showing it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

  • 2000 - Barry Sanders: One of the greatest RBs ever, but a week before training begins he suddenly retires, even though he was closing in on Walter Payton's all-time rushing record. Dorsey Levens ends up on the cover, only to be released by the Pack shortly thereafter. Ends career with a whimper. Currently picks NFL games against the spread when he isn't cursing EA Sports under his breath.

  • 2001 - Eddie George: Fumbled in the playoffs, costing the Titans the game. Never had another 1,000 yard season. Nagging toe injury commonly blamed for performance issues. The offending toe is currently kept in a jar in George's basement alongside several severed human heads.

  • 2002 - Daunte Culpepper: Posted worst career year after being on the cover. Lost Randy Moss, and ends season in 11 games with a back injury. Goes on to suffer a knee injury, gets traded to the Dolphins, makes that team worse than it was before he arrived, and is now a Detroit Lion, which is arguably worse than playing in the Arena football league.

  • 2003 - Marshall Faulk: After winning two Super Bowls and making the cover, he injures his ankle and misses five games, ending the season with under 1,000 yards. Becomes the backup and opts for retirement. Now annoys the public for the NFL Network, meaning we all lose.

  • 2004 - Michael Vick: Fractures his fibula in the preseason and misses 11 games. Currently in federal prison on dog fighting charges. Now doing well as highest rated player and most-loved cheerleader in All-Penitentiary Football League.

  • 2005 - Ray Lewis: Almost breaks the curse! However, he breaks his wrist in week 15 and the Ravens miss the playoffs.

  • 2006 - Donovan McNabb: Loses his most dangerous receiver, Terrell Owens, to a suspension and eventually to the rival Dallas Cowboys. Suffers a sports hernia in first game of the season. Later suffers a torn ACL. Team spends a high draft pick on Kevin Kolb, their quarterback of the future. Will likely depend on mother's income from Chunky Soup commercials to pay bills in 2011.

  • 2007 - Shaun Alexander: After breaking Priest Holmes' single season TD record, the durable RB breaks his foot and misses six games. Cut from the Seahawks and is out of work after a short stint as a backup for the Washington Redskins. Recent Shaun Alexander sightings have him selling newspapers under overpass.

  • 2008 - Vince Young: Goes crazy. Loses job to 70-year old Kerry Collins. Did I mention he went crazy? I'm talking police trying to talk him down from suicide crazy. Heavily medicated and unlikely to lead his team again crazy. Hey, at least he's rich!

  • 2009 - Brett Favre: Sneaky EA executives try to break the curse by picking the popular retired Packers QB. Comes out of retirement to play for the NY Jets, rendering game completely out of date before the season begins. Goes on to injure his shoulder, keeping the Jets out of the playoff hunt, including a famous defeat by the Miami Dolphins and Chad Pennington, the QB he replaced for the NY Jets.



Gerald says: Is it silly and superstitious to believe in curses? Yes. Is the curse real? I'd say the evidence weighs heavily in its favor. The chances of two extremely talented players at the peak of their careers suffering injuries or other misfortune are pretty slim, so this year should be the one that proves whether or not the curse is the real deal.

If you're a fantasy football player, I would drop Larry Fitz to the fourth round or later on your pre-draft rankings, and put the Steelers defense in your second tier. Please join me in praying for their good health.