Yes - Watch out Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu!

2001: Eddie George, Tennessee Titans
Accomplishments before Madden Cover: 1995 Heisman, 1996 Rookie of the Year, Led Titans to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV.
2001 Stats: 315 attempts, 939 rushing yards, 5 TDs (All were career lows while with the Titan franchise)

2002: Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota Vikings
Accomplishments before Madden Cover: 1998 Sammy Baugh Trophy (Nation's Top QB), Led Vikings to 2000 NFC Championship Game
2002 Stats: 3,853 Passing Yards, 18 TD, 23 INT, 75.5 Passer Rating, 21 fumbles. Vikings were 6-10 under Culpepper.

2003: Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams
Accomplishments before Madden Cover: 1994 Rookie of the Year, three-time Offensive Player of the Year, 2000 MVP, Super Bowl XXXIV Champion
2003 Stats: 209 Attempts, 818 Rushing Yards, 3.9 YPC, 10 TD. He saw his production drop every year until his retirement in 2006.

2004 Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons
Accomplishments before Madden Cover: No. 1 Overall Pick in 2001 NFL Draft, 2 Pro Bowls.
2004 Stats: Vick broke his right fibula in pre-season, and didn't play until Week 11. In 5 games, Vick had a complete 50% of his passes, with 585 passing yards, 4 TDs, and 3 INTs.

2005 Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens
Accomplishments before Madden Cover: Two-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-Pro, Super Bowl XXXV MVP, Only Defensive Player to be on Madden Cover. Member of the 20 INT/20 Sack Club
2005 Stats: Lewis was confined to six games due to injury. He tallied 46 tackles, one sack, and one interception. 2005 is the only season Lewis didn't make the Pro Bowl in his career.

2006 Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles
Accomplishments before Madden Cover: No. 2 Pick in 1999 Draft, five-time Pro Bowler, 2000 MVP Runner-Up (behind Faulk), holds every quarterback record at Syracuse University, 2004 NFC Offensive Player of the Year, Lead Eagles to appearance Super Bowl XXXIX.
2006 Stats: McNabb tore his ACL in Week 11, and has been relatively injury prone since. In 2006, McNabb played in 10 games, completing 180 of 316 passes for 2,646 yards, 18 TDs, and 6 INTs. Has not appeared in a Pro Bowl since being on the cover.

2007 Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks
Accomplishments before Madden Cover: Three-time Pro Bowler, 2005 NFL MVP, scored a then-record 28 TDs in 2005, graced the cover of NCAA Football 2001. (The only player to be on NCAA and Madden Covers)
2007 Stats: After signing a eight-year contract with the 'Hawks, Alexander fractured his toe, and had an injury plagued year, with only 896 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games. Alexander is currently a free agent.

2008 Vince Young, Tennessee Titans
Accomplishments before Madden Cover: Led Texas Longhorns to 2006 BCS Championship, 2006 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
2008 Stats: Began season suspended for undisclosed reasons. Threw only 9 TDs and 17 interceptions.

2009 Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers/New York Jets
Accomplishments before Madden Cover: 3x MVP (95-97), led Packers to 7 consecutive division titles, and Super Bowl XXXI title. Holds records for most TD passes (442), passing yards (61,655), completions (5,377), attempts (8,758) consecutive starts (275), and most career victories for a QB (160).
2009 Stats: not as good as 2008. Favre clearly fell victim to the Madden Curse.
Source(s):
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/45342-the-madden-curse-a-history


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