Madden NFL

Madden NFL is an American football video game developed by Electronic Arts Tiburon (EA) for EA Sports. The Madden NFL series consistently is one of the top selling video games in North America every year. The first version of the game was released in 1989 for the PC, as John Madden Football. The first console version (and the version that made it a top-selling franchise) for the Sega Genesis followed in 1990 with a Super Nintendo version available a year later. EA Sports has released annual updates for all versions since 1991's John Madden Football '92. The series gained full NFL licensing and became known as Madden NFL with 1993's Madden NFL '94; NFL players licenses came two years later.

The "Madden curse"

Prior to 2000, all of the Madden NFL game box covers prominently featured John Madden only. When EA started to have NFL players on the cover of the Madden NFL games, some people speculate there was a "Madden curse" after noticing a pattern when Atlanta Falcons' star player, Michael Vick was injured during the 2003 preseason after appearing on the cover of Madden 2004. Some of the people that believed in the curse stated that the player featured on the box would get injured or simply have a weak season.

Related Topics:
2000 - Curse - Atlanta Falcons - Michael Vick - 2003

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The first NFL player to be on a Madden NFL cover was Barry Sanders in 1999, on the 2000 version of the game. He shared the cover with the customary picture of John Madden. However, a week before training camp began in 1999, he abruptly retired, ending his career and leaving the Detroit Lions without their star running back of the previous 10 years. Sanders' part in the curse is debated because he is not solely pictured on the box.

Related Topics:
Barry Sanders - 1999 - 2000 - Detroit Lions - Running back

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Eddie George of the Tennessee Titans, who graced the 2001 box, was the second cursed player. He was cursed by bobbling a pass in the playoffs, which was then picked by Ray Lewis, who returned the ball for a touchdown. He was also injured the following year. George, who regularly averaged nearly 4 yards per carry in his first five seasons, averaged only 3 yards per carry in the 2001 season, and hasn't broken 3.5 yards since.

Related Topics:
Eddie George - Tennessee Titans - 2001

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In 2002, it was Daunte Culpepper, of the Minnesota Vikings, who had a lackluster year and feuded with his star receiver Randy Moss. In the two years that followed, the usually efficient Culpepper threw for 32 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

Related Topics:
2002 - Daunte Culpepper - Minnesota Vikings - Receiver - Randy Moss

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Marshall Faulk, of the St. Louis Rams, who was on the 2003 box suffered an injury and had a bad season overall. He has yet to break 1,000 yards rushing since.

Related Topics:
Marshall Faulk - St. Louis Rams - 2003

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The aforementioned Michael Vick, of the Atlanta Falcons, suffered a broken fibula in a pre-season game against Baltimore. Coincidentally, this happened the day after Madden 2004 was released. The result of that injury would be that the Falcons would suffer a painful 5-11 year.

Related Topics:
Fibula - Baltimore

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Madden 2005 featured Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. He had an injury that kept him out of the last game of the regular season against the Miami Dolphins. The Ravens won, but missed the playoffs altogether. It was also Lewis' first season without a single interception after posting a career-high (6) the previous year.

Related Topics:
Ray Lewis - Baltimore Ravens

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EA officials point out that Ray Lewis and former Tennessee Titan Eddie George appeared on the covers of the 2005 and 2001 versions, correspondingly, and had successful seasons without injury. {{ref|eaofficials}}

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The Philadelphia Eagles' star quarterback Donovan McNabb is on the cover of the current version, Madden NFL 06. The season began with him feuding with WR Terrell Owens who ironically was on the cover of Sega/Take Two's ESPN NFL 2K5 which was forced into early retirement by Madden when it acquired the exclusive rights from the NFL. He also played with a severe abdominal strain that needed surgery and will leave him in discomfort and pain all season.

Related Topics:
Philadelphia Eagles - Quarterback - Donovan McNabb - Madden NFL 06 - Terrell Owens - Sega - Take Two - ESPN NFL 2K5

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