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Things happen and there is nothing you can do about it, right?

Many people tend to believe that. But some believe in superstitions such as avoiding a crack, not breaking a mirror or walking under a ladder. Those that do that tend to be cursed.

One of the most famous curses that seem to put many football fans and some players on edge is being on the cover of the popular Madden NFL video game series. Since 2001, athletes have graced the cover of the video game only to have something “coincidentally” happen to them.

The tradition was supposed to start in 1999 at the launch of Madden NFL 2000. The cover person was going to be Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders. Sanders shocked the NFL world be abruptly retiring and you have to wonder if he knew something others didn’t.

Former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George was officially the first player to grace the cover. George’s career completely stunted and never went past 3.3 yards a carry ever again. Several beatings and many Maddens later, the tradition continues with the latest edition.

For the first time ever, the people got a chance to pick from 32 players who had an outstanding 2010 season in a knockout bracket. Included on the list were Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. All of which didn’t even make it to the Final Four.

The finalists were Hillis and Michael Vick, who had a chance to be the first athlete to be on two covers. Hillis was the surprising winner, or loser however you may see it. His season, so far, has been disappointing with Hillis rushing for just 211 yards and two touchdowns. To top it off, he is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Is it all a coincidence? Or is there really something to this curse?

Thirteen NFL players have graced the cover and have all had setbacks in their season, minor or major. But which five may have suffered the worst from Electronic Arts’ sports gaming cash cow?

5. Vince Young: Madden NFL 08
He may not have had the best season in 2006, but being named Offensive Rookie of the Year was good enough for Vince Young to grace the cover in 2007. Young’s sophomore NFL season was painful. Despite the Tennessee Titans making the playoffs, Young passed for just nine touchdowns and 17 interceptions. That sad excuse for a season gave Young a new role that he has been holding since 2008 – backup quarterback.

4. Brett Favre: Madden NFL 09
Let’s put a retired player on the cover. Maybe that will break the curse? Brett Favre, tears and all, retired from the NFL in 2008… and then he changed his mind. Already on the cover, sporting his former team’s jersey for the Green Bay Packers, Favre returned but the Packers gave him the boot. Now playing with the New York Jets, Favre was looking like he really would break the curse. Leading the Jets to an 8-3 record, the team looked unstoppable. But his final five games were a disaster, throwing just two touchdown passes and nine interceptions. The Jets went 1-4 and missed the playoffs.

3. Daunte Culpepper: Madden NFL 2002
He was the next big thing in 2000. But after that it was just a mess when Daunte Culpepper was named the cover boy for Madden NFL 2002. During the 2001 season, he missed the first five games of the season with a knee injury. He finished the year with 14 touchdowns and 13
interceptions. The Vikings finished 5-11 and the next season, Culpepper threw a disasterous 23 interceptions.

2. Michael Vick: Madden NFL 2004
He was the most electrifying quarterback playing at that time. Today, he still is. But in 2003, Michael Vick was the cover man for Madden NFL 2004. Too bad he wasn’t on the field most of the season. Vick suffered a fractured right fibula in a preseason game. He would miss the first 11 games. Vick has since rebounded, especially after spending a year in prison for his involvement in a dog fighting ring in 2007. As a finalist for Madden NFL 12, Vick has thrown nine touchdown passes, eight interceptions and six fumbles so far this season. Imagine if he actually made the cover.

1. Donovan McNabb: Madden NFL 06
Topping of the list is current Minnesota Vikings backup Donovan McNabb.
This may have been a sign of the beginning of the end for the once elite and invincible quarterback. In 2005, the XBOX 360 was launched an included this awful excuse for a video game (I miss you NFL2K series!). While he was honored to be the first cover person for the next gen system, McNabb was having the worst luck that season. He played with a sports hernia and his team, which was in the Super Bowl the previous season, was awful. To top things off, McNabb’s season ended by week 10 with a groin injury. Injuries plagued him again the following year when he tore his ACL ending his season again after week 11.

Goal-Line Stand Chris Berry Interactive Chris Berry Interactive