First to Curse

In case you didn't know, here's how the previous cover boys have faired in the season of their stardom (the years listed are the ones that appeared in the Madden title, but the seasons described are that minus 1):

2006 - Donovan McNabb misses 5 games due to injuries (sports hernia and groin) and endures a team-cruippling fued for the ages with T.O. Eagles miss playoffs (lost in Super Bowl the year before).

2005 - Ray Lewis has the worst season of his career, but escapes without serious injury. Ravens miss playoffs (lost in Wild Card the year before).

2004 - Michael Vick breaks his leg in a pre-season game and misses 11 games. Falcons miss playoffs (lost in Divisional Round the year before).

2003 - Marshall Faulk has his worst season as a Ram and has not rushed for 1,000 yards since, but escapes serious injury. Rams miss playoffs (lost in Super Bowl the year before).

2002 - Dante Culpepper sits out final 5 games of the season with serious knee injury. Vikings miss playoffs (lost in NFC Championship the year before).

2001 - Eddie George escapes the season without a serious injury, but has a key fumble against the Ravens to lose in the Divisional Playoff. Titans lost in the Super Bowl the year before.

Recently, the curse has been targeting the birds of prey - Falcons, Ravens, Eagles. Shaun Alexander has been heralded as the most durable player in the game, but we all lost our lunch in the first quarter against Washington in the Divisional Playoff, didn't we? Something's gotta give.

You're all thinking it: "Thank God they didn't put Hasselbeck on the cover."