It is no secret that I am a big fan of the 2k Sports games, and consequently, not fond of EA Sports. So to no surprise, was I extremly irritated by the NFL contract signed years back with EA, limiting all NFL an NFLPA rights to one and only one game developer. I for one feel victimized, but not as much as Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, and Shaun Alexander, to name 3 of many. So who will it be next? Find out more after the jump, including the '08 Cover Boy and some Madden Curse history.

Madden Curse (Madden Cover Curse): A myth created by gamers and football fans stating that the player featured on the cover of EA Sports' Madden NFL series, will be ridden with injuries or poor performance in the season to come

Before we get into the next chapter of this plague, I'd like to present to you some information regarding the origin and the history of this Urban Legend.

• Garrison Hearst was the first person [other than John Madden] to be featured on the cover of a Madden franchise game. This was in the summer preceding the 1999 season. Hearst had just come off his most productive season ever scoring 7 TDs and rushing for over 1500 yds. In the first game of the season, he broke his ankle against the Atlanta Falcons and hadnt returned to the field until the 2001 season.

• Barry Sanders and Dorsey Levens were both featured on the cover of Madden 2000. Some may say that it had nothing do with the curse while others may argue that Barry Sanders had abruptly retired prior to the season start as a result of it. Over seas, the PAL version featured side by side pictures of Sanders and Dorsey Levens. Much like Hearst, Levens had previously had a career year making a name for himself. In the following season he was held to a total of 224 rushing yards for the entire season.

• Madden NFL 2001 pictured Eddie George as the cover boy for the new game. Although he had an outstanding season when he was pictured, in the season followin he only averaged 3 yds per carry and tallied a total of 5 TDs on the season, both career lows. For the rest of his career his numbers were similar, never again reaching a yards per carry totaling higher then a 3.4.

• In 2002, Daunte Culpepper wasn't immediately effected by the curse of the cover. But it was soon after that his Minnesota Vikings were a 4-7 record in the 2006 season before ultimately being sidelined due to a season ending knee injury.

• St. Louis Rams phenom, Marshall Faulk, made his marks on the Madden '03 cover. In his next season he missed 5 games with an ankle injury and never quite recooperated to the running back he once was. Faulk never reached a 1000 yds rushing in season there after.

• Everyones favorite rushing quarterback, Michael Vick, took a hard hit in a preseason exhibition matchup vs. the Baltimore Ravens, which resulted in a broken fibula. Vick did not return to the starting role until 5 games remained in the season. At the point it was too late as the Falcons finished the season with a 5-11 record.

• Although he was the first defensive player to make it to the cover, with a league leading and career high 6 interceptions in the previous season, Ray Lewis found himself looking in a mirror every time he picked up his copy of Madden '05. Unfortunately for Lewis, he had plenty of time to play, as he sat home with a broken wrist for the conclusion of the regular season.

• Now onto Donovan McNabb. After leading his team to the Bowl in 2004, he suffered a sports hernia that went untreated in the first week of the '05 season. It wasn't until an interception to Roy Williams of the Dallas Cowboys, that McNabb decided to have season ending surgery regarding the hernia.

• Finally (so we hope), Shaun Alexander, made his way into the eyes of the media, with a record breaking season, having the most TDs in a single season, in NFL history. In addition, he was also the reigning NFL MVP, before having his record smashed just one year later. Alexander broke his foot in his first regular season game in 2006. He attempted to play through the pain for the next 2 weeks before being announced that he would be placed on the DL. He missed the next 6 games and his stats were less then half as good as the previous season.

Now onto the real gaming news. Its that time of year again, the EA team has developed a new game, well for arguments sake lets say its a new game. There publicists have scouted out all the possible superstars that may agree. Fans of the Chargers have spoken and LaDainian Tomlinson, thus far, is out of the picture. It will not officially be announced until later tonight during Jimmy Kimmel Live, but the reliable Nashville print, The City Paper, has reportedly listed Heisman trophy runner-up, Vince Young, #3 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Entry Draft, as the Madden '08 Cover athlete.

Well Vince, it was nice watching you last season, but if history serves us well, the Tennessee Titans may be on the hunt for a new QB once again.

**Edit: VY confirms the rumor on ESPN.com

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