Gronk vs Welker - Madden Curse
Please. Please. Please. Do not vote for Wes Welker or Rob Gronkowski for the madden cover. I know that I am being superstitious, but c'mon the madden curse is REAL!
In 1999, Madden started putting an individual player on the cover. The first victim was SF RB Garrison Hearst. Hearst had been one of the leagues most dominant rushers, and he was on pace to be a shoo-in for the hall of fame. Instead, Hearst broke his ankle so badly that he missed two full seasons, and never regained his old form.
In 2000, Barry Sanders and Dorsey Levens were on the cover. Sanders retired shockingly before training camp. After retiring, EA re-released the cover with GB RB Dorsey Levens. After two straight superbowl appearances, GB failed to make the playoffs after Levens injured his knee.
In 2001, Eddie George graced the cover. In the playoffs, he bobbled a pass that was intercepted, leading to the end of the Titan's season. Luckily, he avoided injury, but he was certainly the goat that cost the superbowl favorites another chance to win a title.
In 2002, Daunte Culpepper, who had become a rising star, led his team to a 4-7 start before suffering a season-ending injury to his knee.
In 2003, Marshall Faulk suffered an ankle injury, and for the first time failed to rush for 1,000 yards. He would never rush for 1,000 yards again.
In 2004, Michael Vick was the cover boy. A day after the game's release, Vick broke his fibula and missed 11 games.
In 2005, Ray Lewis graced the cover of the game. He broke his wrist, and failed to catch any interceptions for the first time in his career. He is a beast, and only missed one game, but he still had a down year due to injury.
In 2006, we saw Donovan McNabb on the cover. In the first game of the season, we saw McNabb hobble off the field with a sports hernia. He missed seven games, and had a public blowout with Terrell Owens.
In 2007, Shaun Alexander had been hailed as the next great running back. However, after being on the cover, Alexander fractured his foot, and missed six games. He never fully recovered, and was soon out of the league.
In 2008, Originally Ladanian Tomlinson was selected for the cover, but fans protested it fearing the curse. Instead, Vince Young was chosen. He was one of the leagues rising stars, but after injuring his quad and having an unsuccessful season where he quit on his team and lost the respect of his team and the fans, Young was placed on suicide watch. He is now a backup QB for the Eagles.
In 2009, EA tried to break the curse by putting a retiring Brett Favre on the cover. However, Favre came out of retirement to play for the Jets. Favre injured his biceps down the stretch, and the Jets lost four of their last five games.
In 2010, EA tried to break the curse by putting two players together on the cover, Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald. Coming off of the superbowl, these seemed like good choices. However, the curse continued for both players. Polamalu suffered numerous injuries, and appeared in only five games, and the Steelers missed the playoffs. Fitzgerald seemed to avoid the curse in the regular season, but suffered a rib injury that kept him out of the team's only playoff game.
In 2011, Drew Brees was the cover boy. He avoided injury, and led his team to wildcard berth. Unfortunately, the 7-9 Seahawks defeated Brees' Saints to become the first team with a losing record to make the playoffs (and the first to win in the playoffs).
In 2012, we had a fan vote decide that Peyton Hillis would be the cover boy. His season was mired in contract talks and hold outs, and Hillis failed to even come close to his beastly 2011 season.
So, yeah this curse is REAL. Vote for a Jets' player or better yet, lets see some Eli Manning/Mario Manningham. I would love to see the Giants have to deal with the curse.
In 1999, Madden started putting an individual player on the cover. The first victim was SF RB Garrison Hearst. Hearst had been one of the leagues most dominant rushers, and he was on pace to be a shoo-in for the hall of fame. Instead, Hearst broke his ankle so badly that he missed two full seasons, and never regained his old form.
In 2000, Barry Sanders and Dorsey Levens were on the cover. Sanders retired shockingly before training camp. After retiring, EA re-released the cover with GB RB Dorsey Levens. After two straight superbowl appearances, GB failed to make the playoffs after Levens injured his knee.
In 2001, Eddie George graced the cover. In the playoffs, he bobbled a pass that was intercepted, leading to the end of the Titan's season. Luckily, he avoided injury, but he was certainly the goat that cost the superbowl favorites another chance to win a title.
In 2002, Daunte Culpepper, who had become a rising star, led his team to a 4-7 start before suffering a season-ending injury to his knee.
In 2003, Marshall Faulk suffered an ankle injury, and for the first time failed to rush for 1,000 yards. He would never rush for 1,000 yards again.
In 2004, Michael Vick was the cover boy. A day after the game's release, Vick broke his fibula and missed 11 games.
In 2005, Ray Lewis graced the cover of the game. He broke his wrist, and failed to catch any interceptions for the first time in his career. He is a beast, and only missed one game, but he still had a down year due to injury.
In 2006, we saw Donovan McNabb on the cover. In the first game of the season, we saw McNabb hobble off the field with a sports hernia. He missed seven games, and had a public blowout with Terrell Owens.
In 2007, Shaun Alexander had been hailed as the next great running back. However, after being on the cover, Alexander fractured his foot, and missed six games. He never fully recovered, and was soon out of the league.
In 2008, Originally Ladanian Tomlinson was selected for the cover, but fans protested it fearing the curse. Instead, Vince Young was chosen. He was one of the leagues rising stars, but after injuring his quad and having an unsuccessful season where he quit on his team and lost the respect of his team and the fans, Young was placed on suicide watch. He is now a backup QB for the Eagles.
In 2009, EA tried to break the curse by putting a retiring Brett Favre on the cover. However, Favre came out of retirement to play for the Jets. Favre injured his biceps down the stretch, and the Jets lost four of their last five games.
In 2010, EA tried to break the curse by putting two players together on the cover, Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald. Coming off of the superbowl, these seemed like good choices. However, the curse continued for both players. Polamalu suffered numerous injuries, and appeared in only five games, and the Steelers missed the playoffs. Fitzgerald seemed to avoid the curse in the regular season, but suffered a rib injury that kept him out of the team's only playoff game.
In 2011, Drew Brees was the cover boy. He avoided injury, and led his team to wildcard berth. Unfortunately, the 7-9 Seahawks defeated Brees' Saints to become the first team with a losing record to make the playoffs (and the first to win in the playoffs).
In 2012, we had a fan vote decide that Peyton Hillis would be the cover boy. His season was mired in contract talks and hold outs, and Hillis failed to even come close to his beastly 2011 season.
So, yeah this curse is REAL. Vote for a Jets' player or better yet, lets see some Eli Manning/Mario Manningham. I would love to see the Giants have to deal with the curse.
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