The Curse of Madden

Performance Reductions

Eddie George, Madden NFL 2001

Tennessee Titans, Running Back

The Curse:
It almost looked like Madden's curse was a flash in the pan, as Eddie George, the 1996 Rookie of the Year and a Tennessee workhorse, suffered only numbers that were slightly lower than usual, with only 939 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 2001.

The Comeback:
Eddie George's post-Madden fate was full of change: he signed with the Cowboys in 2004, which currently stands as his last year in pro football. The former Ohio State star has, however, enjoyed a steady career in television.

Daunte Culpepper, Madden NFL 2002

Minnesota Vikings, Quarterback

The Curse:
After starting for the Vikings in 2000 and leading the team to an 11-5 record and NFC Championship appearance as well as making the Pro Bowl, Culpepper's numbers plummeted following his Madden endorsement. 13 interceptions in '01 and 23 in '02 sandwich a knee injury that forced him to view the end of 2001 from the sidelines.

The Comeback:
2003 saw Culpepper regain his stride and 2004 was a banner year, with league-high 4717 passing yards. But personal conflicts saw him traded to Miami, where he struggled through nagging knee and shoulder injuries and team politics for a rocky 2006.

Ray Lewis, Madden NFL 2005

Baltimore Ravens, Linebacker

The Curse:
Perhaps because he was the first defensive player to make Madden's cover, Ray Lewis didn't feel the effects as deeply as other stars. (Some might argue that Lewis's involvement with the murder of two people on New Year's Eve 2001 was a pre-emptive curse.) A wrist break cost him the last regular season game, a comparatively mild penalty for this curse.

The Comeback:
While Lewis also ended his 2005 season early due to injury, his numbers remained impressive, and his stats for 2006 were superlative, with a career high 5 sacks.