Madden Curse Seriously? By Lauren Beasley
The NFL season is right around the corner and the Madden Curse couldn’t be even more relevant especially considering who is on the cover of Madden this year.
Arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson will be on this year’s cover of Madden 13 which comes out on August 28th of 2012.
Now for those who don’t know, the “Madden Curse" exists for whatever player is chosen to appear on the Madden NFL cover. I admit I am huge believer in fate and I believe everything happens for a reason not because of some type of curse.
However since this is such a touchy subject this year, I decided to state the facts of the Madden curse and give you my opinion.
Let’s starts with the facts,
The last 10 players to appear on the cover, spanning from 2003-2012, have not been so lucky with their health.
I will start with 2003. Marshall Faulk appeared on the 2003 cover, and his career and the success of the St. Louis Rams severely declined afterwards. He was hampered by injuries all year long, and after appearing on the cover, he never rushed for 1,000 yards in a season again.
2004 Madden cover was Michael Vick. Vick was coming off a very solid season in 2002; he threw for nearly 3,000 yards, added almost 800 more on the ground and 24 touchdowns. However, one day after Madden 2004 was released Vick broke his leg in a preseason game and only played in five games. Now the good thing is Vick has battled back and done well for himself so far.
2005 Madden cover was Ray Lewis. Now technically he made history because he was the first defensive player selected to be on the Madden cover at least in the new millennium. Now he didn’t get hurt but after coming off of a career year in 2003 his production seem to fall off somewhat. It was not a big drop but enough to make people blame it on the Madden Curse at times.
2006 Madden cover was the Chunky Soup man himself, Donovan McNabb. McNabb was selected based off his 2004 season in which he recorded 31 touchdowns, only had eight interceptions and threw for nearly 4,000 yards. Sadly after appearing on the cover, McNabb missed seven games due to an injury. His production fell off heavily and he didn’t even make the Pro Bowl. Now for all we know it might have been to all that Chunky Soup he was eating or could have been the curse.
2007 Madden cover was Shaun Alexander. Now unfortunately for him he is probably the one people forget was even on the cover. He was put on the cover based off of his 2005 season in which he was considered the best running back in the league and was named NFL MVP. But unfortunately in 2006 he fell off, he missed six games because of a broken foot, did not rush for 1,000 yards, and sadly had a career high in fumbles.
2008 Madden cover was Vince Young. Now it was surprising that he made the cover of Madden to most people. Mainly due to the fact he came of a nice rookie season but it wasn’t spectacular. However once he made the cover of Madden, Young went on to throw for only nine touchdowns and had 17 interceptions.
2009 Madden cover was the man who couldn’t seem to figure out how leave the NFL and stay retired, that man was Brett Favre. Favre was selected off his 2007 season. He threw for nearly 4,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. Of course once he was put on the cover, he became a New York Jet. Now Favre got off to a good start, but an unreported bicep injury hampered his productions on the Jets probably causing them not to make the playoffs.
2010 Madden Cover had arguably the best receiver and safety at the time on the cover; those two players were Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu. Now this is a funny one because, Fitzgerald had a great season. He recorded his career high in touchdowns and was injury free. However, Polamalu only played in five games, due to knee injuries, and Steelers missed the playoffs only a year after they won the Super Bowl.
2011 Madden Cover was Drew Brees. Now most consider this one to be a hard one because technically he had a successful season. However while he was on the cover, Saints made the playoffs but lost in and shocking upset to the Seattle Seahawks. Nonetheless it was a hard call because Brees being on the Madden cover didn’t affect him injury wise.
Lastly we have the 2012 Madden Cover which is Peyton Hillis was on. Hillis made the cover due to his breakout season in 2010 in which he rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns. However after being on the cover, Hillis was hampered by injuries all year long. Sad thing is he was the subject of trade talk and now is on the Chiefs, where he'll be the backup to Jamaal Charles.
Now that we have some of the history down, I am sure there are some people who believe the curse is real and others who still don’t believe it.
I must say I still don’t believe in the Madden Curse. I just believe that a player being on the cover doesn’t determine whether they will be hurt. This is a violent game (well not anymore thanks to Roger Godell turning it into a flag football league!!) but my point is players getting hurt happens every day not because a player is on the cover. I honestly believe that sometimes it comes down to it just simple explanation of fate and that player was meant to get hurt. Now that doesn’t mean that I wish for any player to get hurt but some players unfortunately get hurt and they have no control over it.
I know people say well if they had taken better care of their bodies or did this or that a little more, it wouldn’t have happen but I can honestly say most of the time it’s not the case. I took great care of my body as an athlete but I still tore my ACL, along with other ligaments in my left knee while playing basketball. It’s just part of the game and the risk; you have no real control over it.
So I am here to say I have no idea if Calvin Johnson will get hurt this season. I hope he doesn’t because I don’t wish that on anybody but there is possibility. He has had some small injuries that could possibly turn into real injuries but once again hopefully they don’t. I am confident that he will have a good season, stay healthy and help the Lions become even better.
Can’t wait for football season to start!
Arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson will be on this year’s cover of Madden 13 which comes out on August 28th of 2012.
Now for those who don’t know, the “Madden Curse" exists for whatever player is chosen to appear on the Madden NFL cover. I admit I am huge believer in fate and I believe everything happens for a reason not because of some type of curse.
However since this is such a touchy subject this year, I decided to state the facts of the Madden curse and give you my opinion.
Let’s starts with the facts,
The last 10 players to appear on the cover, spanning from 2003-2012, have not been so lucky with their health.
I will start with 2003. Marshall Faulk appeared on the 2003 cover, and his career and the success of the St. Louis Rams severely declined afterwards. He was hampered by injuries all year long, and after appearing on the cover, he never rushed for 1,000 yards in a season again.
2004 Madden cover was Michael Vick. Vick was coming off a very solid season in 2002; he threw for nearly 3,000 yards, added almost 800 more on the ground and 24 touchdowns. However, one day after Madden 2004 was released Vick broke his leg in a preseason game and only played in five games. Now the good thing is Vick has battled back and done well for himself so far.
2005 Madden cover was Ray Lewis. Now technically he made history because he was the first defensive player selected to be on the Madden cover at least in the new millennium. Now he didn’t get hurt but after coming off of a career year in 2003 his production seem to fall off somewhat. It was not a big drop but enough to make people blame it on the Madden Curse at times.
2006 Madden cover was the Chunky Soup man himself, Donovan McNabb. McNabb was selected based off his 2004 season in which he recorded 31 touchdowns, only had eight interceptions and threw for nearly 4,000 yards. Sadly after appearing on the cover, McNabb missed seven games due to an injury. His production fell off heavily and he didn’t even make the Pro Bowl. Now for all we know it might have been to all that Chunky Soup he was eating or could have been the curse.
2007 Madden cover was Shaun Alexander. Now unfortunately for him he is probably the one people forget was even on the cover. He was put on the cover based off of his 2005 season in which he was considered the best running back in the league and was named NFL MVP. But unfortunately in 2006 he fell off, he missed six games because of a broken foot, did not rush for 1,000 yards, and sadly had a career high in fumbles.
2008 Madden cover was Vince Young. Now it was surprising that he made the cover of Madden to most people. Mainly due to the fact he came of a nice rookie season but it wasn’t spectacular. However once he made the cover of Madden, Young went on to throw for only nine touchdowns and had 17 interceptions.
2009 Madden cover was the man who couldn’t seem to figure out how leave the NFL and stay retired, that man was Brett Favre. Favre was selected off his 2007 season. He threw for nearly 4,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. Of course once he was put on the cover, he became a New York Jet. Now Favre got off to a good start, but an unreported bicep injury hampered his productions on the Jets probably causing them not to make the playoffs.
2010 Madden Cover had arguably the best receiver and safety at the time on the cover; those two players were Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu. Now this is a funny one because, Fitzgerald had a great season. He recorded his career high in touchdowns and was injury free. However, Polamalu only played in five games, due to knee injuries, and Steelers missed the playoffs only a year after they won the Super Bowl.
2011 Madden Cover was Drew Brees. Now most consider this one to be a hard one because technically he had a successful season. However while he was on the cover, Saints made the playoffs but lost in and shocking upset to the Seattle Seahawks. Nonetheless it was a hard call because Brees being on the Madden cover didn’t affect him injury wise.
Lastly we have the 2012 Madden Cover which is Peyton Hillis was on. Hillis made the cover due to his breakout season in 2010 in which he rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns. However after being on the cover, Hillis was hampered by injuries all year long. Sad thing is he was the subject of trade talk and now is on the Chiefs, where he'll be the backup to Jamaal Charles.
Now that we have some of the history down, I am sure there are some people who believe the curse is real and others who still don’t believe it.
I must say I still don’t believe in the Madden Curse. I just believe that a player being on the cover doesn’t determine whether they will be hurt. This is a violent game (well not anymore thanks to Roger Godell turning it into a flag football league!!) but my point is players getting hurt happens every day not because a player is on the cover. I honestly believe that sometimes it comes down to it just simple explanation of fate and that player was meant to get hurt. Now that doesn’t mean that I wish for any player to get hurt but some players unfortunately get hurt and they have no control over it.
I know people say well if they had taken better care of their bodies or did this or that a little more, it wouldn’t have happen but I can honestly say most of the time it’s not the case. I took great care of my body as an athlete but I still tore my ACL, along with other ligaments in my left knee while playing basketball. It’s just part of the game and the risk; you have no real control over it.
So I am here to say I have no idea if Calvin Johnson will get hurt this season. I hope he doesn’t because I don’t wish that on anybody but there is possibility. He has had some small injuries that could possibly turn into real injuries but once again hopefully they don’t. I am confident that he will have a good season, stay healthy and help the Lions become even better.
Can’t wait for football season to start!