What is the Madden Curse? And should Madden Curse victim Troy Polamalu tell Larry Fitzgerald to watch out?

The belief of the Madden Curse is – you appear on Madden NFL’s cover art, you will get injured, or have a bad season, or end up in multiple team trades, or get a dog fighting conviction. Yes, “curse” is used broadly in some cases.. This year Troy and Larry are on the cover on Madden 10. Troy is now out for three to six weeks just after the season opener Thursday against the Titans.

Is Larry next?

One press report does the following analysis.

In 1999, Garrison Hearst became the first athlete to appear on the cover of the game, instead of Madden himself. In 1999, Hearst injured his ankle and was out. 2000 had Barry Sanders on the cover; he retired that season. 2004 was Michael Vick’s cover before his later career took an 18 month prison break. 2006 was Donovan McNabb; in 2007, he suffered a hernia. 2007 was Shaun Alexander; his season reportedly never went well. And in 2008, Vince Young took the cover; it certainly didn’t help his season. Last year it was Favre – he would switch two teams after that cover.

Recent Madden NFL Covers:
1999 – Garrison Hearst (San Francisco 49ers)
2000 – Barry Sanders (Detroit Lions)/Dorsey Levens (Green Bay Packers)
2001 – Eddie George (Tennessee Titans)
2002 – Daunte Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings)
2003 – Marshall Faulk (St Louis Rams)
2004 – Michael Vick (Atlanta Falcons)
2005 – Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens)
2006 – Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles)
2007 – Shaun Alexander (Seattle Seahawks)
2008 – Vince Young (Tennessee Titans)
2009 – Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers)
2010 – Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals) and Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers)