Alexander sidelined, Madden curse to blame?
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Sep 26th 2006 at 5:45PM }
With word that Madden 07 cover athlete Shaun Alexander has sustained a left foot fracture, sidelining the Seahawk star for at least two weeks, comes renewed speculation about the existence of a 'Madden curse.' Indeed, since 2000, when EA began featuring athletes on the Madden cover, a series of unfortunate events, in varying degrees, has befallen the stars who allegedly risk their careers for EA's "dirty" money.Here's a brief history of the curse:
- 2000 - Barry Sanders abruptly retires before training camp (was he warned of the impending curse?)
- 2000 - Dorsey Levens is cut by Green Bay the following season
- 2001 - Eddie George enjoys career year, until costly turnover leads to Titan's playoff exit
- 2002 - Daunte Culpepper leads team to dismal 4–7 record before season-ending knee injury
- 2003 - Marshall Faulk suffers ankle injury; career diminishes thereafter
- 2004 - Michael Vick fractures right fibula in preseason game, just one day after Madden is released; sidelined for season
- 2005 - Ray Lewis fails to post a single interception (after grabbing 6 the previous year), and injury forces him to miss the final game of the season; the Ravens also fail to make the playoffs after winning the division in the 2003–2004 season
- 2006 - Donovan McNabb suffers sports hernia in first game and undergoes season-ending surgery in November; T.O. feud escalates; Eagles finish 6–10 after reaching the Super Bowl the previous year
- 2007 - Shaun Alexander fractures left foot in Week 3 ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The ZeroCorpse @ Sep 26th 2006 5:49PM
News Flash: Numb-skulled guys who play a violent game get hurt sometimes.
_habit_ @ Sep 26th 2006 5:50PM
Well, that sure is something.
confucious the obnoxious little sh** as told by KilgoreTrout XXLMS @ Sep 26th 2006 5:56PM
they were talking about this same thing during the game lastnight.. . about the 'madden curse'
RoroCo @ Sep 26th 2006 5:57PM
Madden needs to put their game developers on the cover. The games are getting worse and worse each year. It is time for a change.
FSK405K @ Sep 26th 2006 6:01PM
LOL! It's called "return to baseline" and it happens to every outstanding player, every rookie of the year, in every sport, every year. Wiki it, I dare you.
FSK405K @ Sep 26th 2006 6:06PM
RoroCo, awesome! roflmao!
Robert @ Sep 26th 2006 7:27PM
A few of those are a little bit of a stretch and could be defined as "stuff that happens playing football." What's left out here is that Shaun Alexander has been durable his entire career.
mmx @ Sep 26th 2006 6:09PM
As a 'Hawks fan, I'll take the "Madden curse" over the "Super Bowl loser curse".
...I didn't jjust jinx anything, did I?
phipps @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:06PM
2006-2006 season? Do you mean 2005-2006?
Just wondered
supersloth @ Sep 26th 2006 6:15PM
uh, Lewis' wikipedia entry says "Lewis' 2005 season was cut short again by injury in week 6, and he was placed on injured reserve in week 8. The injury left him on the sideline for the 10 remaining games of the season. Although injured, Lewis still amassed over 40 tackles a sack, and an interception."
which seems to fit the curse a lot more than missing the last game of the season.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Lewis_(NFL)#Season_by_season_NFL_achievements
4th Dimension God @ Sep 26th 2006 6:16PM
anyone have a list of the 2k Football caover athletes? i remember T.O was on the cover of 2k5 and he did pretty good in 2004
Dirtyboy @ Sep 26th 2006 6:20PM
They should just put the whole Oakland Raiders team on the cover since they couldn't be much worse...
32_footsteps @ Sep 26th 2006 6:26PM
Let's see... should we blame the fact that Alexander was the Madden coverboy? Or should we blame the fact that Alexander carried the ball over 420 times last season (when history shows that any running back that carries over 370 times/season is pretty much guaranteed to get injured the following season)?
Yeah, let's pick the rerasoning that has nothing to do with stress on the feet and legs.
Madden runs you @ Sep 26th 2006 6:32PM
Numbskulled people who play a violent game? Wow, someones a computer nerd.
Cage @ Sep 26th 2006 6:32PM
"They should just put the whole Oakland Raiders team on the cover since they couldn't be much worse..."
Posted at 6:20PM on Sep 26th 2006 by Dirtyboy
Another lemming to the media. There are 6 other teams that have yet to win a NFL game. Yet the Raiders are the worst team in the NFL. Fair reporting? Bias because of Al Davis suing the NFL? You figure it out...
Frank @ Sep 26th 2006 6:53PM
people lighten up a little bit, It's just interesting to talk about a supposed "curse". What is it with people always trying to act like they are better than everyone else, and always so up tight, lighten up and enjoy life a little.
GL @ Sep 26th 2006 6:47PM
It is football. People get hurt. Frequently. It happens. There is no curse.
As a Cubs fan I consider myself something of an expert on curses, and the lack of their existence.
The Madden curse is nothing more than people failing to acknowledge the obvious... football = a violent game that causes bodily harm. (But a great game nonetheless). The Cubs "Billy Goat" curse is nothing more than a combination of poor management and loyal fans that empowers the owners to not change the management.
Hmmm, somewhat similar to how Madden's loyal buyers empowers EA to not fix the mistakes in the game.
Cubs fans = Madden players! Damn... I do both.
Coincidence?
Imadogg @ Sep 26th 2006 6:51PM
"Another lemming to the media. There are 6 other teams that have yet to win a NFL game. Yet the Raiders are the worst team in the NFL. Fair reporting? Bias because of Al Davis suing the NFL? You figure it out..."
The Raiders are my team and all... but they seriously suck major ass...
At least we might lead the league in penalties again!
And oh yea, the Madden curse is real. Duh.
potato @ Sep 26th 2006 7:16PM
football players always get hurt
KBeat @ Sep 26th 2006 6:58PM
I won't believe it until John Madden loses his voice, or his bus crashes or something along those lines. He's on the cover of the special edition after all. :)
GL @ Sep 26th 2006 7:00PM
Frank,
Geez, I am trying to enjoy life a little. In discussing the curse it is beneficial, at least for entertainment purposes, if some agree with it, and others do not.
Otherwise...
"So, it looks like that there 'Madden curse' struck again, eh?"
"Uhh... yup"
"..."
I would hope you would realize from my post that I am not taking this thing seriously and that I do enjoy the topic and discussion.
rthie330 @ Sep 26th 2006 7:02PM
I'm a believer and my future fantasy football drafts will reflect it. Good thing I didn't have a top 3 pick this year
Cage @ Sep 26th 2006 7:12PM
"I'm a believer and my future fantasy football drafts will reflect it. Good thing I didn't have a top 3 pick this year"
Uh...Dont know about you but I'm glad I picked up Tomlinson in my draft.
"The Raiders are my team and all... but they seriously suck major ass...
At least we might lead the league in penalties again!"
You realize we played the top 2 D's in the NFL. Add that the fact that both the teams we have played are undefeated. I would wait till this week when we face the Browns to consider us the worst team in the league...
Kyle @ Sep 26th 2006 7:47PM
Any one who truly follows football knows that no one has a perfect season and no matter who is on the cover they will have at least one performance bad enough to invoke cries of the "Madden Curse".
razer @ Sep 26th 2006 7:50PM
I would hardly call being out for 2 games a Curse or anything near it. If it was a career ending injury then I would have to think about it a little harder.
It's just a shame that this has to come when they are about to face Chicago in a tough road game. I still don't think it's going to be a problem for them however.
Snap @ Sep 26th 2006 7:53PM
Muahaha! Madden curse strikes again. He is having a horrible season anyway, which is really the MVP curse, then throw in the fact he broke part of his foot... that pretty locks in the Madden curse for yet another success year!
WTG Madden! LAWL!
Zorak @ Sep 26th 2006 8:06PM
Cage - The Bears' defense is better than the Chargers', and it's not just that the Raiders lost - it's how they lost. They looked terrible. Let me put it this way: Al Davis, Art Shell, and Aaron Brooks are the three biggest decision makers for your team. Uh oh.
Frank @ Sep 26th 2006 8:04PM
GL,
i wasn't talking about you, and yes i realize you were having fun with it as were a few others, I guess I'm just really aggrevated that for the MOST part people freak out and act like 12 year old spoiled brats or that joystiq just anal raped their mothers. You can't even have an actual discussion or debate in the comment sections, just too much bitching going on.
vid33nyc1 @ Sep 26th 2006 8:05PM
And the madden cover curse lives on.
Ryan @ Sep 26th 2006 8:07PM
Hey how about we put Osama bin Laden on the cover next year. Put the curse to some good use for once.
Bryce @ Sep 26th 2006 8:10PM
They need to start putting John Madden on the cover. I know I'd buy a game featuring Mr. Madden himself in a cut little football outfit.
Joe @ Sep 26th 2006 8:23PM
OK, now I'm mad. I woke up early and made sure I had 5 extra minutes to spare JUST to send this in.
No credit. Wtf.
ejflex @ Sep 26th 2006 8:37PM
To #1
Numb Skull guys??? Whp play a violent game? What do you ride the Q train or something?
Brandt @ Sep 26th 2006 10:17PM
The Madden Curse is stupid. And he just fractured an unsuporting bone in his left foot which will be healed in no time.
LaughingTarget @ Sep 27th 2006 9:34AM
Just to play Devil's Advocate here, think of all the players that go year to year WITHOUT getting injured. Plus, I can think of numerous players that are also very, very good that pull the stunt. Take Peyton Manning for instance. He missed a whole of one snap in his entire NFL career, and he has been putting up banner numbers.
How about Jerry Rice? 189 consecutive games without injury and a whole of one major injury in his entire career.
There are plenty more that fit the bill.
The biggest question, however, is to run a ratio to find out the average time between game and injury rate. Then compare it to these guys to see if they fall outside of the normal curve.
B1gC72 @ Sep 26th 2006 10:43PM
@ bryce
John Madden is on the cover of the hall of fame edition. its 07 if memory serves me right.
but neway, eddie george also only averaged 3.4 yards a carry in 2001. thats not 2 good imho. and i dont think the seahawks should really worry about this curse or the superbowl loser curse neway wit that receivin core they have now. and their defense is pretty balanced 2. they should b aight even though shaun alexander is gonna burst into flames in a lil bit.
Vimal @ Sep 26th 2006 10:45PM
um so how does one explain the umpteen number of players that get hurt or get cut, etc., that never made it onto the Madden cover??
Only one word for it.. "Whatever!"
Oniel @ Sep 26th 2006 10:53PM
You should blame Holmgren for running him in a blowout when he knew his running backing had a sore foot
Droford @ Sep 26th 2006 11:55PM
Ray Lewis was on the cover of Madden 2005 which was for the 2004 Season. He did get hurt last year though and missed most of the season, but that was 2005.
I sorta believe in the curse (so much so that I drafted Maurice Morris in my 2 FF leagues).
Its akin to the SI cover jinx.
JB @ Sep 27th 2006 12:53AM
I find this to be indisputable proof that God hates EA Sports.
Dark Jaguar @ Oct 4th 2006 4:09PM
Question: How many of these guys does this happen to who have not been on the cover of it? Is there a specific time that it happens after hitting the cover of a game, or do you just wait until it happens and say "see, there it is, AFTER"?
Only counting the hits and none of the misses is the first error. The second is the error of no real time frame, attributing any future event to this.
Cry Havoc @ Sep 27th 2006 4:48AM
The sad thing is that NFL 2k5 for Xbox/Ps2 is still the greatest football game ever created and it's 2+ years old now.
Not to mention the fact that Madden players still look like they've been all taken from the exact same body model.
No desire to play Madden ever again, unless they change the franchise in MAJOR ways. It's a horrible patchwork attempt year after year since about 2003.
Steve Roger @ Sep 27th 2006 10:00AM
NN0000000000000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
TVLover @ Sep 27th 2006 10:42AM
And now T.O. has attempted to commit suicide...can we be thankful for a curse? (Yes, I know, I am going to hell)
madden playa @ Sep 28th 2006 4:09PM
I KNOW THAT THE MADDEN CURSE IS REAL....
this is how....
well i had just slipped in the new madden 2007 footbal game into my x-box. I had started playing in a season and i randomed my team, and i got seattle(i know creepy)...
Then in my first couple of pre-season games all was well. In my 3RD game i did a draw play with Shaun Alexander( i was playing the giants... even more spooky) and i ran the play, but when it was over Shaun alexander was on the floor. Ends up that he was hurt. I swear no more than 3 seconds later my brother starts cursing and throwing stuff in his room. When i went in to ask him what had happened, he told me that Shaun Alexander had gotten hurt(he was mad cuz he has in in fantasy football). I would like to tell everybody that it is madden's fault, and then partially mine too.
sincerely, the guy who hurt shaun alexander