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Before 1999 there was peace in the NFL. This is due in part because John Madden graced the cover of the Madden games. But with the new millennium there was a new cover boy, and with that, a curse was born. Each year one of the league's top players was prominently featured on the cover. While it was and is a great honor to be on the cover, misfortune quickly followed. Each person to be on the cover has had a, to the say the least, disappointing season. Why, you ask? Because of the curse, the Madden Curse. When confronted about the rumors of a curse, Chris Erb of Ea Sports was quoted saying, "I don't know that we believe in the curse. The players don't believe in the curse". Oh, it's real, dead real.

7. Marshal Faulk

Marshall Faulk was on the 2003 Madden cover. Marshall wasn't hit too hard with the curse compared to some people, he played the same amount of games. However, he did rush over 400 yards less and had 4 less touchdowns compared to his 2001 season. In fact it was his worst season in over 6 years. In 2006 he had to sit out due to a knee injury. Proving the Madden curse doesn't fade away after your reign on the cover.

6. Vince Young

Vince Young was on the 2008 cover of Madden. Vince ended his season with just under 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The Titans ended up losing to the Chargers in the first round of the playoffs. While I will say the Chargers are going to be my team this year, I will admit that loosing to them pretty much means you suck. It's clearly the curses fault.

5. Shaun Alexander

Shaun Alexander was on the 2007 cover of Madden. He started the season by missing 6 games with a broken foot. He finished the season with 3.6 yards per carry, when his previous record was 4.4. His yardage and touchdown record was the lowest it had been since his rookie season. This year he became a free agent but apparently nobody wants him because he is overpriced, and prone to injury. Both are common side affects of the Madden Curse. He also wrote a book about his purity and saving himself for marriage, which isn't so much part of the curse, just really embarrassing and awkward as hell for his three kids.

4. Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Culpepper was on the 2002 Madden cover. He missed 4 games due to a serious injury. By the end of the season he ended up throwing 19 less touch downs than in 2000 and threw 1,300 less yards. It was Minnesota's worst season since the 80's. As of this year he remains unsigned, this is sure to spark memories of 6th grade gym class, being picked last, or not at all for dodge ball.

3. Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb graced the cover of Madden 2006. Just 2 months into the season McNabb suffered from a hernia. He sat out the entire season. His team, the Eagles, finished 6-10, last place. It was the first time they had missed the playoffs since 1999. In 2006 he was so cursed that he thought it would be cool to release a clothing line, which is not the case.

2. Michael Vick

Michael Vick was lucky enough to merit the cover of Madden 2004. He missed 11 games due to broken leg. Every one of his stats; quarterback rating, comp pct, and yards attempted were down. In 2004 he was linked to a marijuana smuggling scam. Later a woman sued him for allegedly giving her genital herpes. In 2006 he flipped off some fans and the NFL made him pay a 10,000 dollar fine. The curse continued when was sentenced to prison due to running an illegal dog fighting ring. He is also under indictment for 2 other related felony charges. These trials have been delayed until he get's out of prison. All of these problems are obviously because of Madden. Sucks to be him.

1. Bret Favre

Brett Favre will be on the cover of Madden 09. Oh, Farve, you silly man. So Favre went into retirement, destined to sip tea, play golf and show his prize winning Yorkshire terrier, Trinket. But not all went as planned. He decided to come out of retirement but Greenbay didn't want to give him to another team. Brett then passed up 20 million dollars to go home to Trinket. In true Madden curse form he promptly got traded to one of the worst teams in the NFL, the Jets.
It was announced on August 7th that there will be a free download for the game, the download will be a Jet's jersey for Favre.

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