By David Jackson/reporter
Once again, gamer students, Madden is coming. And who better to be on the cover than rookie standout quarterback and Tennessee Titan Vince Young, who happens to be a Texas native.
This August, Electronic Arts sports division—better known as EA Sports—will release Madden NFL 2008.
But will the alleged Madden jinx or curse hurt Young as it has others? Every year Madden has put a player on the cover, something has gone wrong that season with that player.
Last season, Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander broke his foot and had to sit out six weeks, resulting in decreased numbers from the previous season.
In the 2005-2006 season, Alexander had more than 1,800 rushing yards while this past season he had a little over 800.
The most famous Madden curse victim was Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who ended up injuring his leg in a preseason game only one day after the game was released.
Vick wound up missing 11 games, which caused the Falcons to have a 5-11 record that season.
So why is it that every player featured on the cover of Madden is cursed? Who knows? But curses in the world of sports can be broken. Just ask the 2004 Boston Red Sox or the 2005 Chicago White Sox. Well, we’re still waiting on the Chicago Cubs to break theirs, so stop blaming Steve Bartman. It wasn’t his fault.
Is it just coincidental or is it a jinx with the Madden cover?
After Tennessee Titan Eddie George graced the 2001 cover, his season didn’t go bad until he fumbled the ball in the playoffs. But George wasn’t injured nor did he miss a game.
2005’s cover player Ray Lewis missed only one game, but for the first time in his career, he didn’t get one interception.
Is it a mental issue or is it just a stroke of bad luck? Ask the Philadelphia Eagles, whose Donavan McNabb appeared on the 2005-06 Madden cover.
That season they also had problems beginning in training camp when hold-out wide-receiver Terrell Owens wanted more money after he helped them get to the Super Bowl.
The team’s off-field problems plus McNabb’s playing with a sports hernia didn’t help because he had surgery mid season, killing the Eagles season.
Perhaps the Madden curse just happens to be a stroke of bad timing. In the 2002-2003 season Marshall Faulk didn’t suffer too bad. His yards fell some but not enough to say he was jinxed.
Will Vince Young be the exception and break the curse? Let’s hope so; his career does not deserve to be killed so early.
