Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu will be on the cover of this year's Madden video game. And while it might be inconceivable to think their careers are anywhere near finished, the Madden cover jinx never fails to rear its ugly head. The evidence is overwhelming:
Start with 49ers running back Garrison Hearst in 1999. He ran for more than 1,500 yards in 1998 and led the Niners deep into the playoffs. But he suffered a bad ankle injury the following season and his career went down the tubes from there.
In 2000, it was Green Bay running back Dorsey Levens. Actually, how did this even happen? Dorsey Levens? Really? I don’t think this was so much of the Madden jinx as it was inevitable.
Eddie George in 2001. A year after he led the Titans to the Super Bowl, losing to the Rams, the running back had one of his best seasons. He led the league in attempts and rushed for 1,509 yards, but it proved to be the beginning of the end. He was out of the league by the end of 2004.
Daunte Culpepper in 2002. Enough said.
Marshall Faulk in 2003. Soon after he appeared on the cover, Faulk, coming off a big year in 2001, rushed for just 953 yards in 14 games. Like George, it signaled the beginning of the end.
Michael Vick in 2004. Like Culpepper, enough said.
Ray Lewis in 2005 and Donovan McNabb in 2006. The Madden jinx didn’t ruin the career of either player, but it certainly ruined their respective seasons. Lewis played in 15 games, suffering a broken arm late in the season as the Ravens missed the playoffs. McNabb played in nine games the year after bringing the Eagles to the Super Bowl and went just 4-5 as a starter.
Shaun Alexander in 2007 and Vince Young in 2008. Spot on!
So while it may seem that Fitzgerald and Polamalu are at the top of their games, never question the Madden jinx.
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1 comment:
If only it was TO on the cover this year!
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