Thursday evening on SportsCenter, the new Madden ’17 cover was revealed with Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski appropriately spiking the ball.
Gronkowski always spikes the ball after a touchdown pass, and this seems to symbolize an achievement of making the cover. As the league’s premiere tight end, a 4-time Pro Bowler, 3-time All-Pro, and 66 touchdowns in 6 seasons, he has certainly earned it. The first thought many have when they hear an NFL Superstar has graced the cover, though, is whether or not said player is cursed for it.
John Madden is not only a Hall of Fame NFL head coach and beloved broadcaster, but his brand has been a staple for the gamer community since 1988 when “John Madden Football” was released on PC. Only Madden had appeared on the cover from ’88 until 1994, when the Cowboys tackle Erik Williams and 49ers defensive lineman Karl Wilson appeared in the cover’s background. Williams was a Pro Bowler, but missed half of the ’94 season after being injured in a serious car accident. Wilson was never a player of much significance, but he wasn’t a 49er the season he graced the cover of Madden. Madden would go back to being the lone figure on his video game covers until 1999.
Over the years, players who graced the cover have either taken a step back in their production, were injured, or something else went wrong that season. Let’s take a look at every Madden cover player to see if Gronkowski should be worried.
1998 Garrison Hearst – RB, 49ers
1997 – 1,019 rush yards, 194 receiving, 6 total touchdowns
1998 – 1,570 rush yards, 535 receiving, 9 total touchdowns
1998 Dorsey Levens – RB, Packers
Barry Sanders was in the background of the John Madden version.
1998 – 4 starts, 540 total yards, 1 TD
1999 – 14 games, 1,607 total yards, 10 TD
2000 Eddie George – RB, Titans
1999 – 1,762 total yards, 13 touchdowns
2000 – 1,962 total yards, 16 touchdowns
2001 Daunte Culpepper – QB, Vikings
2000 – 3,937 pass yards, 33 TDs, 16 INTs
*2001 – 2,612 pass yards, 14 TDs, 13 INTs
*Missed the last 5 games of the season because of a knee injury.
2002 Marshall Faulk – RB, Rams
2001 – 2,147 total yards, 21 touchdowns
*2002 – 1,490 total yards, 10 touchdowns
Started just 10 games battling injuries.
2003 Michael Vick – QB, Falcons
2002 – 2,936 pass yards, 777 rush yards, 24 total TDs
2003 – Missed 11 games due to a preseason fibula injury.
2004 Ray Lewis – MLB, Ravens
2003 – 120 tackles, 6 INTs
2004 – 100 tackles, 0 INTs
2005 Donovan McNabb – QB, Eagles
2004 – 3,875 pass yards, 31 TDs, 8 INTs
2005 – Went on IR after 9 games and feuded with Terrell Owens
2006 Shaun Alexander – RB, Seahawks
2005 – 1,880 rush yards, 27 touchdowns
2006 – Broke his foot in Week 3
2007 Vince Young – QB, Titans
2006 – 2,199 pass yards, 19 total touchdowns, 12 INTs
2007 – 2,546 pass yards, 9 touchdown passes, 17 INTs
2008 Brett Favre – QB, Packers/Jets
2007 – 4,155 pass yards, 28 TDs, 15 INTs
2008 – 3,472 pass yards, 22 TDs, 22 INTs
2009 Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald
Polamalu played just 5 games because of injuries in 2009
Fitzgerald scored a career high 13 touchdowns in 2009
2010 Drew Brees – QB, Saints
2009 – 4,388 pass yards, 34 TDs, 11 INTs
2010 – 4,620 pass yards, 33 TDs, 22 INTs
2011 Peyton Hillis – RB, Browns
2010 – 1,177 rush yards, 11 TDs
2011 – Missed 6 games with injuries and strep throat.
2012 Calvin Johnson – WR, Lions
2011 – 96 catches, 1,681 yards, 16 TDs
2012 – 122 catches, 1,964 yards 6 TDs
2013 Barry Sanders (25th Anniversary)
Was voted by fans to be on the cover.
2014 Richard Sherman – CB, Seahawks
2013 – Pro Bowl, Won Super Bowl
2014 – Pro Bowl, Lost Super Bowl
2015 Odell Beckham Jr. – WR, Giants
2014 – 91 catches, 1,305 yards, 12 TDs
2015 – 96 catches, 1,450 yards, 13 TDs
Of the 20 players on the Madden cover, 7 were injured but 6 had significantly better seasons. The remaining 7 either played worse, had a normal season…or were Barry Sanders. The “Madden Curse” hasn’t applied to anyone over the past 4 years. Hopefully Gronkowski can breathe easier for it. I’m sure he will.
michaelpiff 