Friday, May 4, 2012

A Case Study: "The Madden Curse"

By Carlo Nuño at 12:26 PM


Very few video game franchises have amassed the prestige, popularity, and stupidly ridiculous annual revenue stream that the Madden NFL franchise has created for itself over the 25-ish years. of existence. In fact, very few video game franchises (if any) have been able to even last as long. But with every story of perseverance and unrivaled success, there is always a dark side. Bill Gates one of the wealthiest men ever, created Microsoft and got to where he was, by all accounts, screwing Steve Jobs of Apple and stealing their operating system. Sure Las Vegas is euphoric, all the lights, casinos, alcohol, food, strippers, but do you ever find yourself wondering just how many bodies are buried in the desert just outside the city limits? Behind every tale of triumph, underneath all the glitz and glamor are skeletons that no one wants to admit exist and Madden NFL is no exception.


  
It is a well documented fact that 90% of athletes are in some way shape or form superstitious, I mean we all remember Pedro Cerrano (or the All-State guy if that helps). Knowing this, I am dumbfounded at the hordes of NFL players that agree each year to put themselves in the running to be featured on the cover of the newest Madden NFL game. It can't really all be about the money can it? Can it? Is money really more important than risking injury? Or at the very least risking a significant decline in production that might taint your legacy forever? Well to some players...apparently it is.

The first Madden game was released in 1988 for the Apple II PC, it featured John Madden on the cover. The next release was in 1990 and the cover also featured only Madden. In fact, John Madden appeared on the cover of his self titled game from 1988-1997. However, in 1995 two players appeared on the cover in the shadow of John Madden, it was small picture but this is where our story begins.

[Ed. Note: Keep in mind the Madden game title is always one year ahead of the actual year in which the NFL season is played. So when Madden '13 is released in August 2012, to see if the player on the cover is affected by 'the curse' his stats from this upcoming NFL season (starting September 2012) will be looked at...make sense? You'll get it.] 


Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '95
Who Was On The Cover? John Madden in the forefront with Erik Williams of the Dallas Cowboys and Karl Wilson of the San Francisco 49ers in the background.
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: By the end of the 1993 season Erik Williams had established himself as the one of the top 5 offensive lineman in the NFL, he even held the great Reggie White to no sacks when the Packers played the Cowboys in 1992. In 1993, defensive tackle Karl Wilson went between three different teams and ended that season with the 49ers amassing 12 total tackles and 3 sacks not super impressive but for a defensive lineman that wasn't bad in 1995.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: After being on the cover Karl Wilson played only 11 games for the Buffalo Bills totaling a whooping 1 sack and 6 total tackles. One month into that same season Erik Williams was involved in a serious car accident that caused him to miss the rest of the season, Williams suffered a damaged right knee (torn MCL), a broken rib, torn ligaments in his left thumb, and facial lacerations that required plastic surgery. He wasn't back to 100% until just before the 95 season began.
Was He Cursed? Umm...yeah I'd say so. And they were only in the background, THE BACKGROUND!

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '99 
Who Was On The Cover? Garrison Hearst of the San Francisco 49ers
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: That year Hearst was 3rd in the NFL in rushing totaling 1,570 yards, averaged 5.1 yards per carry and had 7 rushing touchdowns. He also added 39 receptions, and 535 reception yards and helped lead the 49ers to a 12-4 record that season.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: Hurst actually never made it to the next season, he injured his ankle before the first game. Doesn't sound so bad right? Wrong. It was such a bad injury he missed the next two subsequent seasons and never ran the same after that.
Was He Cursed? Definitely. For my own personal amusement I choose to believe the injury occurred during some mundane activity. I envision him stepping off a trolley car in S.F. and as his foot touches the ground, he slips and tweaks his leg. He clutches it and screams in pain as distraught onlookers are frozen in place because they just witnessed something unexplainable, almost supernatural take place right before their eyes. Madden curse 3 NFL 0.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '00
Who Was On The Cover? One of the greatest running backs the NFL has ever seen, Barry Sanders. Well at least he was going to be before he inexplicably retired from the NFL just before training camp (some games in the U.S. were released with Sanders on the cover). You see Barry could see the writing on the wall, he knew what was coming and he chose life, well played Barry...well played. Luckily for the guys at EA Sports, Dorsey Levens decided it would be a good idea to grace the cover of Madden and appeared on the European version of the game.
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Levens had a team high 1,034 rushing yards coupled with 9 touchdowns. He also added 71 catches that year for another 573 yards.
What He Did Post-Madden-Cover: Levens got injured and only played in 5 games he was only able to muster 224 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. After that year he was released by the Green Bay Packers. lol
Was He Cursed? Yup.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '01
Who Was On The Cover? Eddie George of the Tennessee Titans
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Eddie George had a career high in attempts (403), rushing yards (1,509), touchdowns (14), and receptions (50). The Titans ended the season 13-3 and George was instrumental in getting the Titans to the super bowl. Well he and Frank Wycheck.
What He Did post-Madden Cover: Eddie George sustained smaller nagging injuries throughout the next season and failed to reach 1,000 yards rushing. The Titans finished the season below .500 at 7-9 and didn't make the playoffs.
Was He Cursed? George played 4 more seasons and only got more than 5 total touchdowns once. So yes he was but the phenomenon didn't stop there. At this point the curse evolved and went from the consequences of your face being on the game meant you were going to get injured, to not only could you get injured, but if you managed to stay healthy your production on the field would plummet.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '02
Who Was On The Cover? Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Culpepper led the Vikings to the playoffs in 2000 passing for 3,937 yards and throwing 33 touchdowns to 16 interceptions. In 2001 Culpepper was injured and only played in 11 games, that didn't stop EA from putting him on the cover since he was surely a young star on the rise.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: In 2002 Culpepper stayed healthy and played all 16 games that season. However, he managed on throw 23 interceptions and set the single season record for most fumbles in one season with 23 (not a typo...23 is correct). The Vikings only got to 5-11 that year. Culpepper managed to bounce back in 2004 posting a career high in yards (4,717), touchdowns (39), and interceptions (11) playing a full 16 game season. Subsequently, he blew out BOTH his knees in 2005 and after being picked up by Miami he played only four games before blowing out both knees again in 2006 (its amazing he can even stand). He was never the same player after the '06 season.
Was He Cursed? Meh, I'm kind of torn on this one. I feel like Daunte Culpepper was just over hyped, but the terrible injuries in 2005 and 2006 and the fact the Vikings went 5-11 the next season pushed it over the top... Cursed.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '03 
Who Was On The Cover? Marshall Faulk of the St. Louis Rams
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Marshall Faulk and the Rams went 14-2 and lost in the super bowl to some kid named Tom Brady and the New England Patriots (ironically the game was called by John Madden). That year Marshall Faulk totaled 2,147 total yards, 83 receptions, and 21 total touchdowns. In his previous seven seasons Faulk failed to rush for more than 1,000 yards only once and he and his Rams won the super bowl in '99.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: Since the cover Faulk never rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season again and during 2002-2003 he started only 21 of 32 games due to knee injuries. In 2005 Faulk underwent reconstructive knee surgery and retired that same year.
Was He Cursed? All running backs have a short shelf life, it's the nature of the position so the fact that Faulk was able to sustain his success the way he did was impressive. Having said that the curse ended him but it didn't stop at Faulk. Since his appearance on the game cover the St. Louis Rams as an organization have gone 41-87.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '04 
Who Was On The Cover? Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Michael Vick never put up amazing stats. He was just simply an electrifying player to watch. he was so fast, nimble, athletic, and as a viewer you always felt something amazing could happen at any time. He was on the Madden cover because of his shear popularity and his star power. He led the Falcons to a playoff appearance in 2003 in which they beat the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay where the Packers, in their entire 84 year history (to that point) had never lost a home playoff game. The future was bright for one Michael Vick.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: At the start of the 2003 in a pre season game Michael Vick broke his fibula and played only 5 games that season. The Falcons went 5-11. Three years later in 2007 Michael Vick was found to be the leader of a dog fighting ring and sentenced to 23 months in federal prison. After his release Vick returned to the NFL as a Philadelphia Eagle and had statistically his best passing year of his career. Last year he was in and out of games with various injuries and the Eagles failed to make the playoffs.
Was He Cursed? If after you appear on the Madden cover and subsequently break your leg, then get sentenced to almost 2 years in federal prison, I'd say something is amiss.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '05 
Who Was On The Cover? Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Ray Lewis won a super bowl in 2000 and was the leader of arguably the best defense in NFL history. (the '85 Bears might have something to say about that)
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: The year Ray-Ray appeared on the Madden cover he totaled 100 tackles. He got injured but it was in week 15 so he played most of the year. He had already been arrested on suspicion of murder in 2000. So his low lights that year in 2004 were he only recorded 1 sack and 0 interceptions, career lows in both categories and the Baltimore Ravens went 9-7. The Next year in 2005 (the same year of the game he was featured on) Ray-Ray only played in 6 games because of injury, he totaled 38 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 interception.
Was He Cursed? It took a year but it caught up to him. Like Death in the Final Destination movies.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '06 
Who Was On The Cover? Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles
What he Did Pre-Madden Cover: McNabb had a great 2004, he threw for 3,875 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions. The Eagles finished 13-3 and played in that year's super bowl but lost to the New England Patriots.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: in 2005 during the 6th game of the year McNabb was jumping out of bounds against the Tennessee Titans and tore his ACL ending his season. The Eagles went 6-10 and after sweeping the NFC east the year before, got swept by the NFC east that season. Four years later he was traded to division rival (this NEVER happens to a franchise player by the way) Washington Redskins where he was subsequently benched in favor of Rex 'Sexy Rexy' Grossman.
Was He Cursed? Ask him.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '07 
Who Was On The Cover? Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Alexander was the league's MVP in 2005 and carried the Seahawks to a 13-3 record. He rushed for 1,880 yards and an insane 27 touchdowns. The Seahawks went to the super bowl where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: In 2006 Alexander broke his foot and missed the last six games of the season, to that point he had 900 yards rushing and only 7 touchdowns. The Seahawks still managed a playoff spot at 9-7 but lost to the eventual NFC champion Chicago Bears in overtime. Since his breakout 2005 season Alexander never posted another 1,000 yard season and two years later he was released and picked up by the Washington Redskins where he played in just four games and ran for 24 yards. He never played another down in the NFL.
Was He Cursed? The 12th man says...YES!!!

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '08 
Who Was On The Cover? Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans. Although, Ladainian Tomlinson was slotted to be on the cover but contract negotiations with the San Diego Chargers and a fan-made petition coupled with a website saveltfrommadden.com (doesn't exist anymore, I tried) eventually made LT decline the offer.
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Vince Young came into the league after a shocking National Championship win over the favored USC Trojans, Young was taken 3rd overall in the 2006 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans. He started 15 games that year for the Titans and managed to win the NFL's Rookie of the Year posting just 2,100 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a measly 51% completion percentage. (for context, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady average a combined 68% completion percentage) Despite all that Vince Young displayed some Tebowesque fourth quarter magic and the Titans ended the season 8-8.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: In 2007 Young actually threw for more yards (2,546), had a better completion percentage (62%), and the Titans made the playoffs with a 10-6 record. However, he only threw 9 touchdowns while also throwing 17 interceptions, a career worst. He stayed relatively healthy that year missing only one game although, in 2008 it was reported that he tried to commit suicide and in 2010 before being shipped out of Tennessee there were numerous reports of Young having a poor attitude, throwing temper tantrums in the locker room, and at one point tossed his shoulder pads into the stands in frustration.
Was He Cursed? Let's be honest Vince Young was never going to dazzle you by putting up stats so the fact his numbers aren't very good is not a surprise, but like Michael Vick the "Madden Curse" works in mysterious ways. Perhaps Young's suicide attempt was a precaution, he knew what afflicted him and tried to save himself from the agony that was sure to find him one way or another. Maybe his temper tantrums were cries for help, the frustrations of a scared young man that felt alone and no one believed. I believe you Vince Young...I believe you.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '09
Who Was On The Cover? Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers/New York Jets/Minnesota Traitors.
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Brett Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. He was fun-loving, charismatic, and magical (first play of overtime mind you). He would attempt throws no one in their right mind would ever think about attempting and when they worked, as a fan, there was no feeling like it. His ability to stay healthy each year and start 297 regular season games (add more to that with playoff starts) will probably never be broken. In 2007 Favre took an extremely young Green Bay Packer team to a 13-3 regular season record, during that year he broke Dan Marino's total touchdown record. If Tom Brady and the Patriots had not gone 18-0 and Brady had the record setting season he had Favre probably was in line for MVP honors. The Packers made it to the NFC title game where they lost at home to the NY Giants who went on to give the Patriots their only loss that year and win the super bowl.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: After retiring then un-retiring, Brett Favre was eventually traded to the New York Jets where he and the Jets started off the season rather slowly. However, in week 8 the Jets and Favre hit their stride and went on a five game winning streak but sometime during the last five games of the season Favre tore his biceps tendon in his throwing arm and his performance suffered. The Jets could only manage one more win and they ended the season with a record of 9-7 and missed the playoffs. After the season ended Favre left the Jets, retired (again), then un-retired (again), to sign with the Minnesota Vikings where he had arguably the best season of his career tossing for 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns, and only 7 (yes 7) interceptions. The Vikings went 12-4 and were one play away from the super bowl against the New Orleans Saints before ol' Brett went all "gunslinger" and threw the pick heard round the world. (did you hear the "I WILL MURDER YOU"? haha)
Was He Cursed? I don't believe so. Brett Favre was savvy enough to put himself on the cover at the end of his career so any injuries he sustained could be viewed as "wear and tear". Also, Favre always threw interceptions so that is no surprise either. Although, the case could be made after the cover he got injured and cost the Jets a shot at making the playoffs, his interception in New Orleans looked to be so inexplicable (for those that did not watch him for 16 years in Green Bay) that something "else" could have been amiss, and his iron man streak was broken in 2010 when he missed some games due to injury. I'll let you decide and while you do so listen to Favre's interception one more time (the call was made by Vikings radio guys, listen to the disappointment and anger in the announcers voices I laugh every time!)

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '10 
Who Was On The Cover? Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Larry Fitzgerald had a career year in 2008, he nabbed 96 receptions and set career highs in receiving yards (1,431), yards per catch (14.9), and touchdowns (12). He and the Arizona Cardinals took their high powered offense and young tenacious defense all the way to the super bowl that year. Troy Polamalu set a career high in interceptions (7) and his mere presence on the field alters game plans for opposing offenses. The Pittsburgh Steelers ended the year at 12-4 and beat the Arizona Cardinals in the super bowl to win their sixth Lombardi trophy in franchise history.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: In 2009 Larry Fitzgerald had a very productive year. He set a new career high in touchdowns (13) and managed to stay healthy all year frankly, he has been healthy every year since. During the first half of the 2009 season opener Troy Polamalu sprained his MCL and missed the next 4 games. Troy played 3 games before injuring his posterior cruciate ligament and missed more games, Troy only was able to play in 5 games that season.
Was He Cursed? The jury is still out on Larry Fitzgerald but to this point he has managed to escape the curse. As for Troy...well let's just say the Madden Curse has had enough of seeing his hair and decided something had to be done. Along with removing Troy from the 2009 season, the curse hit him once again. In 2010 Troy was plagued by a nagging achilles injury that kept him out of two games and severely hampered his production on the field in the games he did play in. Also, in 2010 the Pittsburgh Steelers lost in the super bowl to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '11 
Who Was On The Cover? Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Drew Brees in undoubtedly one of the three best quarterbacks in the league. Since his arrival in the big easy the Saints have been consistently one of the best offenses in the NFL. In 2008 Brees came 15 yards shy of breaking Dan Marino's record for passing yardage in a single season, a record he would shatter in 2011. The 2009 season was a special one for Brees and his Saints, they reeled off 13 straight wins before losing at home to the Dallas Cowboys, the Saints actually lost their last three regular season games going into the playoffs, something a super bowl winning team had never done (uh-oh). By seasons end Brees had set career bests in completion percentage (70%), average yards per pass (8.54), and quarterback rating (109.6). The Saints come into the playoffs and didn't miss a beat, they smashed the defending Arizona Cardinals and after "the pick" (never gets old haha), Garrett Hartley booted the game winning field goal to survive a dogfight with the Minnesota Vikings in overtime. The next game was Super Bowl 44 down in Miami against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. The Saints went blow for blow with the Colts until finally landing the knockout punch.(I love watching fan reactions to great moments so here are a few fan videos of the Porter's interception, enjoy sis; herehere, and here.) Drew Brees was named the game's MVP and it was the Saints first super bowl win in franchise history.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: In 2010 the Saints posted an 11-5 record, but lost in the first round to 'Skittle Man', an earthquake, and the only team to ever make it to the playoffs with a losing record (7-9) the Seattle Seahawks. Brees threw twice as many interceptions as he did in 2009 (22) and he played six games of the season with a torn MCL. In 2011 Brees broke Dan Marino's single season passing yardage total (by 392 yards) and his Saints were 13-3, they beat the upstart Detroit Lions in the first round then got into a shootout with the defensive minded San Francisco 49ers, where they lost in the waning seconds because of a once in a lifetime throw by 1st round bust Alex Smith.
Was He Cursed? Well if not him perhaps the city of New Orleans because adding insult to injury, 2010 was also the year the BP oil spill occurred on the Gulf coast affecting the very lifeblood of the New Orleans local economy, fishing. Maybe its the lore of voodoo practices in the Louisiana bayou or the Devil himself come calling for those who sold him their souls in exchange for a super bowl victory, but something has certainly mired the poor city of New Orleans. This off season (2012) the Saints have been shrouded in controversy, first came allegations of a monetary bounty system implemented by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams where cash payouts were given to players for injuring key players of the opposing team. Subsequently, head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season, general manager Micky Loomis will be suspended for eight games and fined $500,000. The Saints organization will also be fined $500,000 and lose second round draft picks in 2012 and 2013. Also, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been suspended from the NFL indefinitely (another word for "for-e-ver") and it doesn't end there, as I am putting this case study together this little nugget falls out of the sky. It really isn't fair all that's happened to Louisiana over the past decade but if any franchise/city/people can overcome being dealt a shitty hand its New Orleans, the people by all accounts have good attitudes and a fighting spirit so in celebration of all the people in the New Orleans area I say Laissez les bons temps rouler!  

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '12 
Who Was On The Cover? Peyton Hillis of the Cleveland Browns
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Hillis had a breakout year in 2010. He was a third year player who previous to 2010 had carried the ball only as high as 68 times in a season. In his first year with the Browns Hillis played in all 16 games and set career highs in every category. He ran for 1,177 yards on 270 attempts, scored 13 total touchdowns and hauled in 61 receptions. Although, the Browns only went 5-11 in 2010, Peyton Hillis gave hope to a fan base that is still squeezing out every last ounce of the good times with Jim Brown and Bernie Kosar.
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: The Gods certainly did not smile upon Hillis in 2011. After an arduous self-promotional campaign to get himself voted by fans to be on the cover of Madden '12, Hillis failed to live up to the hype that had followed him throughout 2010. He only played in ten games and was in and out of the Browns line-up because of injuries, strep throat, and heated contentious contract negotiations between he and Browns brain trust. The Browns went 4-12 in 2011. After the 2011 season Hillis left the Browns and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent.
Was He Cursed? I'll let Hillis answer that himself. This excerpt was taken from a recent interview where Hillis was asked about the significant decline in his numbers during the 2011 season: "Things didn't work in my favor this year. There's a few things that happened this year that made me believe in curses. Ain't no doubt about it." - Peyton Hillis

Name Of The Game: Madden NFL '13 
Who Is On The Cover? Calvin Johnson (Megatron) of the Detroit Lions
What He Did Pre-Madden Cover: Calvin Johnson had a MONSTROUS 2011 season. He set career highs in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,681), touchdowns (16), and average yards per catch (17.5). The man is simply a beast. Megatron was the reason the Lions had one of the best offenses in the NFL in 2011, he led them to their first playoff game in 12 years against the New Orleans Saints which, they lost. However, the future looks bright for these Lions and Calvin Johnson, maybe he can be the one to break the curse?
What He Did Post-Madden Cover: Yet to be determined
Was He Cursed? Yet to be determined


Body Count: Madden Curse = 16.5 / NFL = 1 (Larry Fitzgerald...for now)
[Ed. Note: The .5 value was given due to the fact that the city of New Orleans suffered more from the curse than Brees himself.]
 

Well what have we learned? We learned that the Madden Curse is real and that in some extreme cases it does not only affect your health or performance on the field, it can also affect your personal life, the city in which you live, or the NFL franchise for which you play. In fact, if you look back on all the players that have been on the Madden video game cover not one of them has won a super bowl ring, for either the team they played for when they were featured on the cover OR the teams they have played for since being on the cover. None of them! Sit back and breath that in for a second, the Madden Curse will prevent you from ever winning a super bowl ring.

Oh don't believe me? Count the number of Madden games featuring a player...none of them has won a super bowl since appearing on the cover...the curse is undefeated in that category. Yeah...shit just got real.

So what can you do to protect the star players that play for your favorite team? In the face of such evil you must be strong. Electronic Arts, the company that develops the Madden games, the past two years has absolved themselves of any fan backlash/responsibility for injuries or poor performance of current players that appear on the cover of Madden by creating an entire marketing campaign based on fan voting. The results of those votes will then determine which NFL superstar will appear on the cover of the game.

Save these NFL players from themselves, being that the Madden NFL video game is such a lucrative franchise NFL players are naturally drawn to the financial rewards that come with being the Madden cover boy. If you want your favorite player to avoid the curse then the solution is simple, don't vote for him. He and the team he plays for will be better off and you can take solace in knowing that your superstar will still have the chance to bring you a super bowl victory. Trust me, I either didn't vote or voted against Aaron Rodgers every year so he wouldn't get on the cover and I got this! Just sayin'...

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