It is simply just a video game- or is it? Madden NFL is one of the most popular sports video games in the world and every year a new edition comes out featuring a different cover athlete. To be considered for the cover, one has to have had a very significant and successful season the past year. Usually, the league MVP or a player coming off of a career-year is chosen to be masqueraded on the cover. However, there is a lot more to an appearance on the Madden cover than money, honor, fame, and recognition. I think you know what I mean.
Since Madden started showing off NFL players on their game cover in 2000, things have changed for the athletes. A so-called “curse” was born. This curse is said to have hurt the cover athletes in the season in which they are featured on the cover. Unbelievably, this is sometimes taken literally. Since 2000, eight deserving athletes have been cursed by Madden, or so everyone thinks. These unfortunate gridiron stars include Daunte Culpepper, Marshall Faulk, Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Donovan McNabb, Shaun Alexander, Brett Favre, and Troy Polamalu, who all share the honor with 2010 Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The curse really took its toll on these NFL studs.
Six of them suffered tough injuries after being chosen for the cover appearance. In 2004, while representing the Atlanta Falcons on the cover, Michael Vick broke his leg in pre-season, missing the first twelve games of the regular season. Former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb dealt with a sports hernia injury through most of the 2006 season and later tore his ACL and meniscus in his right knee and missed the rest of the season. Aside from injuries, five of the cover athletes had extremely disappointing seasons after being placed on the cover. Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper threw 23 interceptions and led the league in fumbles while he took his turn on the cover of Madden ’02. After coming off of a 1,000 yard rushing season and twelve touchdowns, St. Louis Rams star running back Marshall Faulk failed to exceed his expectations and his career took a hard hit after appearing on the front of Madden ’03. He never rushed for 1,000 yards again and shortly after he retired in 2005.
Although there is minimal evidence that there might actually be a curse, it is most likely just a combination of coincidence and the hardships players face in the game. When a player shows up on the front of a popular sports video game, it means that he has exhibited a superior performance the prior season. With having already achieved a season of success, it is very difficult to follow up with another year of the same caliber. While that may just be the reason for the underachievement of some of the cover athletes, injuries are another aspect of the game to consider. For the most part, injuries are due to the competitive nature of the sport. Football is a physically tough and grueling sport to play, and over the course of a career a player takes regular beatings on the field. Injuries and disappointing seasons stem from that fact. While it makes sense that these are the cases, it might seem conclusive that there is a curse, but the public begs to differ. The public’s view varies depending on who you ask. Everyone has his or her own opinion. So tell me what you think. Is there really a curse?
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