| Historically, few people are more superstitious | | | | never again rushed for more than 1,000 yards in |
| than athletes. From eating the same thing before | | | | a season. The Rams would go 7-9 on the year, |
| every game to wearing the same old t-shirt | | | | one year removed from a 14-2 season that |
| under their pads during each game, athletes and | | | | resulted in a Super Bowl appearance. |
| fans alike look for any reason to explain victories, | | | | Madden NFL 2004 |
| losses, hot streaks, and cold runs. This expands | | | | Michael Vick, quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, |
| into the world of video games, let's take a look at | | | | appeared on the cover Madden NFL 2004. Five |
| The Madden Curse. | | | | days after the cover was released, Michael Vick |
| The Madden Curse is the belief that bad things | | | | fractured his right fibula. He was only able to play |
| can happen to the player or the player's team | | | | in the last five regular season games that season. |
| that is featured on the cover of the All-Madden | | | | Madden NFL 2005 |
| football game each year. | | | | Madden NFL 2005 saw the first defensive player |
| Madden NFL '99 | | | | appear on the cover, Ray Lewis of the Baltimore |
| This is the first year that All-Madden Football | | | | Ravens. That season Lewis would have no |
| carried a picture of a player on the cover, that | | | | interceptions after having made six the previous |
| player was Garrison Hearst. Hearst had a career | | | | season. He would also be injured during week 15 |
| year in 1999 and was one of the hotter names in | | | | of that season and be forced to miss the last |
| the NFL at the time. After appearing on the | | | | game of the year. The Ravens would also miss |
| cover, he led the 49ers in rushing and to a first | | | | the playoffs that year after having won their |
| round playoff win over the Green Bay Packers. In | | | | division the season before. |
| their next playoff game against the Atlanta | | | | Madden NFL 2006 |
| Falcons, Hearst would go down with a knee injury | | | | After having led the Eagles to the Super Bowl |
| and wouldn't play again until the 2001 season. | | | | only to lose to the Patriots, Donovan McNabb |
| Madden NFL 2000 | | | | appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 2006 the |
| Barry Sanders appeared on the cover with John | | | | next season. Though the Eagles as a team would |
| Madden for the 2000 edition of All-Madden | | | | make it back to the NFC championship Game, |
| Football. Sanders had a long and impressive career | | | | McNabb would battle a sports hernia the entire |
| and was still putting up some of the best | | | | season only to get knocked out of the game |
| numbers in the league, as well as some of the | | | | against the Dallas Cowboys and have season |
| most exciting plays. A week before training camp | | | | ending surgery. |
| opened for the season, Barry Sanders retired | | | | Madden NFL 2007 |
| leaving the Detroit Lions with no effective running | | | | Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander |
| game. | | | | appeared on the Madden NFL 2007 cover the |
| Madden NFL 2001 | | | | year after setting the record for most rushing |
| During the 2001 season following his appearance | | | | touchdowns scored in a season. After missing |
| on the Madden Football cover, Eddie George | | | | only one game in his previous 64 starts, |
| averaged 3 yards a carry (a career low) and only | | | | Alexander would miss six starts due to a |
| ran for just over 900 yards rushing while battling | | | | fractured foot. He would go on to fail rushing for |
| a nagging toe injury. | | | | 1,000 yards in season for the first time since |
| Madden NFL 2002 | | | | 2000. |
| The year before, Daunte Culpepper had thrown | | | | Madden NFL 2008 |
| for over 4,000 yards and completed 33 | | | | During Tennessee Titans' quarterback Vince |
| touchdown passes. After appearing on the cover | | | | Young's season on the cover of Madden NFL |
| of Madden NFL 2002, Culpepper went on to | | | | 2008, he would go on to throw for less than |
| throw just 13 touchdown passes and 14 | | | | 2,500 yards with 17 interceptions. Young would go |
| interceptions before having his season ended in | | | | on to be hurt and miss his first NFL game |
| week 11 because of injury. | | | | because of an injury. Up until that point, Young |
| Madden NFL 2003 | | | | had never missed a game due to injury during his |
| Running back Marshall Faulk appeared on the | | | | NFL, college, or high school seasons. |
| Madden NFL 2003 cover. Faulk had one of his | | | | Superstitions have been around for a long time in |
| best years in the league the previous season, but | | | | sports, but the Madden Curse is a pretty good |
| after appearing on the cover he missed five | | | | one with a long and lengthy history. |
| regular season games due to an ankle injury. He | | | | |