We’re about a week away from the opening night of the NFL season and today the newest edition of Madden NFL has hit stores. As tradition goes, people lineup at midnight, play in tournaments and hope that a player from their favorite team doesn’t make the cover. Usually this sort of thing would be an honor, but gracing the Madden cover could mean that your favorite player will be in for a long season. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and see how some of the NFL’s biggest names have been affected by the “curse.”

Madden NFL 99, Cover Athlete: 49ers running back Garrison Hearst

Hearst goes down as the very first player to grace the cover of a Madden video game. In the season he was named the cover athlete, Hearst broke his ankle (if you like that sort of thing, click here to see it. **Not for the squeamish**) in the playoffs. To make matter worse he actually had a bone in his foot die after surgery complications. I didn’t even know that was possible. Hearst went on to miss the next 2 seasons due to rehab.

Madden NFL 2000, Cover Athlete: Packers running back Dorsey Levens.

Before Dorsey Levens was named the Madden cover athlete for the year 2000, Barry Sanders was actually selected. After Barry’s abrupt retirement the honor was bestowed onto Levens. After “winning” the honor the Packers posted their worst record since Brett Favre became starting quarterback in ’92. Levens would be released by Green Bay in ’01

Madden NFL 2001, Cover Athlete: Titans running back Eddie George

Everything seemed to be going just fine for Eddie George the season he was named Madden cover boy, until he bobbled a pass that was promptly picked off and returned for a touchdown ending the Titans season. George would go on to play 4 more seasons before retiring, never topping the 1,200 yard mark in a single season.

Madden NFL 2002, Cover Athlete: Dante Culpepper, Minnesota Vikings QB

Culpepper struggled in the 2001-2002 season and would miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers in December.

Madden NFL 2003, Cover Athlete: Rams RB Marshall Faulk

Arguably the leader of “The Greatest Show on Turf” Faulk had one of his least productive years, amassing just under 1000 yards rushing, after being named to the Madden cover. Even worse, Faulk followed up that performance with and 800 yard rushing season and continued down that path until his eventual retirement in 2005.

Madden NFL 2004, Cover Athlete: Falcons QB Michael Vick

Shortly after being revealed as the Madden cover boy, Vick fractured his fibula during a preseason game resulting in him missing the first 11 games of the 2003 season. Fortunately for Madden fans live updates were still a few years out letting all of us experience the “Greatest Video Game Character of All Time.”

Madden NFL 2005, Cover Athlete: Ravens LB Ray Lewis

Okay, Ray Lewis’ 2004-2005 season wasn’t “cursed” really. If you’re into nit-picking it was the first season in his career that he didn’t grab an interception.

Madden NFL 06, Cover Athlete: Eagles QB Donovan McNabb

After being named cover boy for the ’06 season, nagging injuries led McNabb to an eventual spot on the injured reserve list following a Monday Night Football game against the Cowboys in November.

Madden NFL 07, Cover Athlete: Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander

Following his Madden cover release, Alexander would eventually break his foot in week 3 of the ’06-’07 season making it his first season under 1,000 yards rushing since becoming the starting back in Seattle.

Madden NFL 08, Cover Athlete: Titans QB Vince Young

Before Vince Young was named the cover athlete, it was offered to LaDainian Tomlinson, LT declined. Young started the ’07 season off slowly before injuring his quadriceps during week 6. He ended up missing week 7’s game as well making it the first time he had missed a game due to injury.

Madden NFL 09, Cover Athlete: Packers/Jets QB Brett Favre

So the Madden 09 cover was supposed to be a tribute to Brett Favre as he announced his retirement….that was until he was all “Nah, I’m gonna keep playing.” Favre would later sign with the Jets and put together a decent season. Not really a “cursed” season I suppose.

Madden NFL 10, Cover Athletes: Steelers S Troy Polamalu & Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald, who shared the cover in the 2009-20010 season, would go on to set personal records that year (Probably because Polamalu took all the bad energy). Polamalu on the other hand sprained his MCL in week 1 of the ’09 season and ended up injuring his PCL later that season. The Steelers would miss the playoffs for one of the very few times under Mike Tomlin.

Madden NFL 11, Cover Athlete: Saints QB Drew Brees

Not an absolutely horrible season, but Brees threw twice as many as interceptions as he had in previous years and the Saints would take a 1st round playoff exit thanks to the best worst team in the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks (The first team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record).

Madden NFL 12, Cover Athlete: Browns RB Peyton Hillis

Hillis had a breakout 2010-2011 season and was named Madden cover boy the following year. The “curse” led Hillis into a nasty contract dispute with the Browns and leading him to miss six games that season. After fighting through injuries throughout the year, Hillis rushed for a total of only 587 yards.

Madden NFL 13, Cover Athlete: Lions WR Calvin Johnson

So much for a “curse” Calvin Johnson would set the NFL record for receiving yards in a single season.

Madden 25, Cover Athlete: Lions RB Barry Sanders

Well, Barry Sanders is retired. I don’t remember hearing about anything bad happening to him after gracing the cover of last year’s edition of Madden, but perhaps he sprained an ankle playing shuffleboard or something.

Madden NFL 15, Seahawks CB Richard Sherman

So, what will the future hold for Richard Sherman? Clutch your rosary beads, Seahawks fans!