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Shutdown Corner

Fri Sep 11, 2009 1:35 am EDT

Polamalu out three to six weeks with a knee/Madden Curse

By MJD

I'm not a believer in the Madden Curse. I think it's silly. If Larry Fitzgerald(notes) goes down on Sunday, though, I might have to reconsider my position.

Troy Polamalu(notes), who shared the cover with Fitzgerald, left tonight's Titans/Steelers game with a knee injury. He didn't return. Early reports have him out for three to six weeks. Given that Polamalu is superhuman (he was doing things in the first half, pre-injury, that human beings just aren't supposed to do), though, I'd bet on the quicker side of that recovery time.

Anyway, back to the Curse: I'll admit, it's weird. Through the first 96 regular season games of his career, Polamalu has missed only eight of them. They put him on the cover of Madden, and just like that, he's out for three to six?

Take just a little bit more caution when going over the middle against San Francisco, Larry Fitzgerald.

To review, athletes in their cover years:

2001: Eddie George. No injury.
2002: Daunte Culpepper(notes). Missed five games, played poorly.
2003: Marshall Faulk(notes). Missed six games. Never ran for 1,000 yards again.
2004: Michael Vick(notes). Broke his leg, missed 11 games.
2005: Ray Lewis(notes). Missed only one game.
2006: Donovan McNabb(notes). Missed last seven games of the season.
2007: Shaun Alexander(notes). Broke his foot, missed six games.
2008: Vince Young(notes). Missed one game. But things didn't go well.
2009: Brett Favre(notes). Missed no games. But did become insufferable.
2010: Troy Polamalu. Out 3-6 weeks with a knee injury.
2010: Larry Fitzgerald: TBD.

If, heaven forbid, something happens to Larry this weekend, that could be the tipping point for me. As for now, though, I remain unsold. Injuries happen. Players get on the cover after they have great years, and inevitably, the next year isn't as great. Things happen.

If I believe in the Madden Curse, I'm compelled to believe there's something special about Ray Lewis and Brett Favre that makes them exempt to it. This is something I refuse to do.

Related: Madden/Video Games

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167 Comments

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  1. mekelani
    1. Posted by mekelani Fri Sep 11, 2009 1:39 am EDT

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    ...............
  2. david d
    2. Posted by david d Fri Sep 11, 2009 1:49 am EDT

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    an update, ray lewis had a career low in int( i know its small but it did affect him) and brett favre is struck with, cantretire-itis. its quite sad actually.. you actually think in your old age your better than 1/2 the league...
    but i digress the curse is real, barry sanders was going to be on the cover but he retired (possible because he knew). In fact if your rumored to be on it, it crushes your career(check LT: http://saveltfrommadden.com/) he wasn't on it and it still hurt him. Too bad for Fitz, now he will prove me right when I say there are many WR's i'd take over him...
    btw great game for steelers.....GO BEER!
  3. FrankieK
    3. Posted by FrankieK Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:17 am EDT

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    Ray Lewis was on trial for Murder and Brett Favre landed on te Jets. If that doesn't qualify under "curse" what is?
  4. THM
    4. Posted by THM Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:26 am EDT

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    You forget the first Madden cover boy, Garrison Hearst, who pretty much shattered his ankle beyond repair after appearing, Eddie George did in fact have an injury after being on the cover, and, as we now know from the Jets investigation, Brett Favre was in fact playing injured, but was left off the injury report. You could also say Vince Young was a bit late, but did suffer the curse, considering his injury/suicide attempt/mental breakdown that he has never recovered from.
    Boldin better be ready to take over the number 1 spot in arizona is all i can say.
  5. Malatesta
    5. Posted by Malatesta Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:45 am EDT

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    Favre was put on initially wearing a Packers uniform as a homage. When he unretired and started the cover was photoshopped weeks later to show him in Jets garb, his numbers went down.
  6. Ya Boy
    6. Posted by Ya Boy Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:50 am EDT

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    Favre claims to have had a bicep tendon injury last year. From experience those hurt almost as much as watching him play during said injury time.
  7. vu*
    7. Posted by vu* Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:52 am EDT

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    it happens.... hope he gets back on the field so though.
    and this blog... is BORING, you're BORING!
  8. inderbir_datta
    8. Posted by inderbir_datta Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:11 am EDT

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    ya fitz better watch out for patrick in the middle
  9. The Night Owl
    9. Posted by The Night Owl Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:22 am EDT

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    Ray Lewis' numbers were below average for him the season he was on the cover, plus it was the only season he didn't have an INT. Favre also had a messed up shoulder & a torn bicep. You don't have to miss games to be a victim of the curse.
  10. BLACKGOD
    10. Posted by BLACKGOD Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:31 am EDT

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    Lol Frankiek couldn't have said it better for Favre. Just being associated with them began his Madden curse........Favre and Vikings= EPIC FAIL.
  11. William
    11. Posted by William Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:35 am EDT

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    lol f... 12th? madden curse is mumbo jumbo
  12. Dustin
    12. Posted by Dustin Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:32 am EDT

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    Ya, my friend and I started talking about the curse right after Culpepper. Eddie George definitely hit his worst year after being on the cover, which is why once Daunte followed it became talked about
  13. Anuj P
    13. Posted by Anuj P Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:56 am EDT

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    Brett Favre wasn't affected by The Curse. He put up great numbers, led his team to the playoffs, played the entire season without injury, and didn't tarnish his legacy at all. Right?
    (And I assume he played for the Packers, the uniform he was wearing on his original cover)
  14. MichaelL
    14. Posted by MichaelL Fri Sep 11, 2009 5:02 am EDT

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    favre got injured and fell apart. just because he didn't miss time, doesn't mean he wasn't cursed
  15. wisefool
    15. Posted by wisefool Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:09 am EDT

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    Perhaps Hall of Famers can avoid the curse, as both Brett and Ray Ray are locks for induction. But Faulk should get in easily too, so maybe not.
  16. Justin
    16. Posted by Justin Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:46 am EDT

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    Well good idea to split the curse up so he is only out for 3-6 weeks instead of the whole season. And I think mike was saying 3-6 weeks as worst case type of thing. Thats ok because Steelers schedule gets harder later.
  17. Fitzy
    17. Posted by Fitzy Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:26 am EDT

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    Wow, what does it say that the only player whose performance didn't seem to suffer when on the cover (you totally understated things in regards to Young and Favre, they both had complete meltdowns!) is Lewis?
    A deal with the devil, I tell ya. Of course he's a fan of Ray Lewis...
    I'll just chalk Eddie George up to the fact that he was new at the whole "cursing players on covers" thing.
    Actually scratch that theory. I don't doubt that Lucifer has a soft spot for the OSU Buckeyes, either...
  18. jon
    18. Posted by jon Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:26 am EDT

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    Ray lewis had a nagging shoulder injury that year but played through it same with farve with bicep thing
  19. jon
    19. Posted by jon Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:26 am EDT

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    Ray lewis had a nagging shoulder injury that year but played through it same with farve with bicep thing
  20. Rembrandt
    20. Posted by Rembrandt Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:26 am EDT

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    Eddie George also had a terrible year after Ray lewis put him down in the playoffs and he was never any good after that. and why wouldn't you believe there is something special about Ray and Favre?
  21. gil101
    21. Posted by gil101 Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:35 am EDT

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    I think I remember Ray Lewis playing with he shoulder injury that would've sat most players... it really affected his game and remember him missing many tackles that weren't like Ray Lewis to miss. Farve wasn't a shining star either with his arm injury and poor play.
  22. Jerichoholic
    22. Posted by Jerichoholic Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:03 am EDT

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    1st....I remember hearing something about Peyton Manning declining to be on the cover one year cuz of the Curse
  23. Jerichoholic
    23. Posted by Jerichoholic Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:06 am EDT

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    2nd....Brett Favre had a terrible stat line down the stretch
    3rd.....BELIEVE when Fitzy goes down on Sunday
  24. The Damn
    24. Posted by The Damn Fri Sep 11, 2009 8:07 am EDT

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    Not to mention that was one of the few years Ray Lewis' Ravens missed the playoffs.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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