The Madden Curse

MADDEN THE by:STATOGRAPHICS 1 Debut Season Fan Voted 2001 T) 1 Career High Decreased Stats * Playoff Team O Injured *Released: August 2000 O League High X Missed Playoffs Super Bowl Appearance C Curse Summary EDDIE GEORGE 2002 1999 * 2000 1 Released: September 2001 In the 2000 Divisional Game vs Baltimore, L George bobbled a pass that was intercepted and returned for a game sealing touchdown. DAUNTE CULPEPPER 2003 2000 1 NFL *Released: August 2002 2001 х Culpepper missed 5 games due to injuries L and only passed for 14 touchdowns after a then career high 33 the previous season. MARSHALL FAULK 2004 2001 2002 Released: August 2003 After being the cover athlete for Madden, L Faulk would never reach 1,000 yards rushing again in his career. MICHAEL VICK 2005 2002 *Released: August 2004 2003 One day after the game's release, Vick L would suffer an injury in preseason and miss most of the 2003 season. RAY LEWIS 2006 2003 2004 "Released: August 2005 While Ray Lewis didn't miss much time in 2004, he would go on to miss 10 games in the 2005 season. DONOVAN MCNABB 2007 2004 *Released: August 2006 2005 An injury in week 1 of the 2005 season would cost McNabb 7 games, the most in any one season of his career. SHAUN ALEXANDER 2008 2005 NFL 2006 х Released: August 2007 After an MVP season in 2005, Alexander L would suffer an injury in 2006 that kept him out of 6 games. . VINCE YOUNG 2009SG 2006 *Released: August 2008 2007 C After Young's first football injury in 2007, L he would only play double digit games in one of the next four seasons. BRETT FAVRE 2010 2007 2008 Released: August 2009 After starting the 2008 season hot, a L nagging injury plagued Favre in the second part of the season and missed the playoffs. *TROY POLAMALU LARRY FITZGERALD 2011 2008 A (1 *Released: July 2010 2009 *Troy Polamlu would take the curse as Larry Fitzgerald's career has remained consistent. Polamalu missed 11 games in 2009. DREW BREES 2012 40 66 2009 2010 eleased: August 2011 The Saints were bounced from the playoffs by the first sub .500 team (Seattle) to win a playoff game in NFL history. PEYTON HILLIS 2013 2010 *Released: August 2012 2011 The first player to be fan voted to the cover L of Maden. In the following season, Hillis missed 6 games due to injuries. CALVIN JOHNSON 2014 2011 1 NFL 2012 1 NFL "Released: August 2000 Calvin Johnson was tackled or pushed out L inside the 5 yard line an NFL record 10 times, costing him a monster season. BARRY SANDERS ADRIAN PETERSON Adrian Peterson was voted as the "New School" athlete and will be featured on the cover of Madden 25 for PS4 and Xbox One to be released at the end of 2013. Will the "Madden Curse" follow to the new consoles? Barry Sanders returns to the cover for this year's version of the game, Madden 25. On Madden 2000, John Madden's photo was featured for the last time. However, in the background, was an image of Barry Sanders, who would retire before the 1999 season. Could this mark the end of the "Madden Curse"? SOURCES http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL#Madden_NFL_2001 http://www.nfl.com/player/calvinjohnson/2495647/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/vinceyoung/2506875/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/brettfavre/2500606/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/larryfitzgerald/2506106/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/troypolamalu/2505621/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/donovanmcnabb/2502044/profile http://www.nf.com/player/shaunalexander/2504258/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/daunteculpepper/2500249/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/raylewis/2501750/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/marshallfaulk/2500601/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/eddiegeorge/2500787/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/peytonhillis/1980/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/michaelvick/2504531/profile http://www.nfl.com/player/drewbrees/2504775/profile http://www.snopes.com/sports/football/maddencurse.asp http://www.rotoinfo.com/playerupdate/195375/Calvin-Johnson-WR/