Even though I don't "believe" in curses, it's very tough to deny what has happened to Madden game cover athletes after they appear on the cover of EA's flagship football game.
Eddie George (2001) - His "curse" came in 2001 where he failed to break 1000 yards and Tennessee missed the playoffs going 7-9.
Daunte Culpepper (2002) - He missed 4 games with injury, threw for 1300 less yards and 19 less TD's than in 2000. It was Minnesota's worst record since 1984.
Marshall Faulk (2003) - Despite playing the same amount of games, Faulk rushed for 430 less yards and had 4 less TDs compared to 2001. It was Faulk's worst season since 1996. The Rams scored only 16 more points than their 1996 team, who had Tony Banks at QB and Lawrence Phillips at RB.
Michael Vick (2004) - He missed the first 11 games with a broken leg. Vick's QB rating, completion percentage, and yards per attempt were all down from 2002.
Ray Lewis (2005) - For the most part, he avoided the curse. His numbers were slightly down from the year before, but he missed one game. He did not record an interception in 2004, the first time in his career.
Donovan McNabb (2006) - After 9 games, he was out for the year with a sports hernia and an injured groin. McNabb threw for more interceptions and his yards per attempt and completion percentage were down from 2004. Eagles finished 6-9 and were out of the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
(Suddenly I feel sorry for Shaun Alexander.)
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