The Madden Curse

[johnrambo]

Why would you let a "curse" keep you from drafting Alexander????

Sounds crazy to me....

For those of you that don't play Madden, they always name it a year ahead. For ex. The new one that comes out in a few weeks will be called Madden 07. This game will feature S.Alexander on the cover. In 2000 Eddie George was the first player on the cover of a Madden game, its was Madden 2001. Up untill this point Madden was on the cover. The cover of madden goes as follows


02 Cpepp 2000 stats 297/474 3937yrds 33tds/16ints 470 rushing yrds 7tds. 2001 stats (the Madden Curse year) 235/367 2612yrds 14tds/13ints 416 rushing yrds 5tds

03 M.Faulk 2001 stats 260 carries 1382yrds 12tds 80 receptions 765yrds 9tds 2002 stats (curse year) 212 carries 953yrds 8tds 80 recptions 537yrds 2tds

04 M.Vick 2002 stats 231/421 2936yrds 16tds/8nts 777 rushing yrds 8tds 2003 stats (curse year) broken leg in the preason

05 R.Lewis 2003 stats 125 tackles 38 assist 6ints 1td 2004 stats 106 tackles 41 assist 0ints ( not bad but he did get hurt late that season which really effected his 05 campaign)

06 McNabb 2004 stats 300/469 3875yrds 31tds/8ints 41 carries 220 yrds 3tds 2005 stats (personal favorite since I had McNabb and Owens) 211/357 2507yrds 16tds/9ints 25 carries 55yrds 2tds

07 Alexander 2005 stats you already know, 2006 stats ?????????

So as you can see the NFL stars on the Madden cover have been plagued with injurys and/or put up bad #s. I could find Eddie George stats, but I know that 1999 was his last good year and that was the year before he was on the cover of Madden.

[RocketsDWM]

We know...its been well-documented in these forums.

[J_rob_the_ Baller]

I am avoiding SA in my leagues this year. Part of it is because He is on the cover or madden. part of it is also that after last season, there is really no way he could repeat what he did. Noone could just come out and have 2 seasons like that in a row. I think losing hutch will affect his numbers a bit also.

Now, if I have the 3rd pick and LJ and LT go first, then I will take him, because it would be insane not to. I might try to trade him though, if I can get a good deal.

I dont think he is oging to break his leg or anything this year, but I also dont see him being the leading rusher in the NFL either. In fantasy points, I would say he will probably finish in the top 5 amoung RBs, probably not the top 3 though

[Alkaholik]

so your asking if you should avoid last years rushing title holder and TD leader whos in the prime of his career because hes on the cover of a video game?

no your not crazy at all.

Yep....just another day, another walk through the park...

I wish they put a trio of LJ/LT/Alexander on the cover this year, so guys like you would draft Portis or Tiki #1 overall

[UTLonghorns]

The Madden curse has been getting consistent, but I wouldn't avoid Shaun Alexander just because of it. It is crazy.

[bklik]

They should really go back to putting Madden on the covers. Maybe he'd get some freak larynx (sp) disease and Al Micheals would take over play-by-play and color man.

Or maybe put Theisman on the cover...

[knapplc]

There is no curse. If you can take SA and you don't because he was on the Madden box cover, you're only hurting yourself. It's a fun little oddity to talk about, but let's be rational here - it's not real.

[Juke]

On the one hand, yes, stupid curse... let's buy into psychic friends network too... on the other hand, results undeniable. In the spirit of the old X-files show, I am sure Fox Mulder thinks there is some rationale answer as to why this trend holds... perhaps classic case of buying high each year, but the injury trend is pretty unreal. Here's hoping SA bucks the trend.

BTW, nice background article here:

http://www.footballdocs.com/madden_curse.html

[Kensat30]

I'd drop him to #3 below LJ, but that's about it.

[Popcynical]

I think it's funny how everyone says SA "can't do it again, it can't be done..." and yet everyone projects Steve Smith as the #1 receiver.

Not that I think Alexander will post stats as good as last year, but come on, a bit hypocritical, right?