<h1>New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he's willing to take
on the 'Madden curse'</h1>
<h5>April 19, 2010, 3:12PM</h5>
After leading the New Orleans
Saints to the first Super Bowl in franchise history, quarterback
Drew Brees might have another daunting task on his hands - breaking the
"Madden curse."</p>
<span style="display: inline;" class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-photo"><span class="photo-breakout photo-right medium">
<span class="byline">Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune</span><span class="caption">New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees said he's OK
being on the cover of "Madden".</span></span></span>Brees is one of
three finalists for the "honor" of appearing on the cover of EA Sports'
Madden 11 video game. The winner, based on fan voting, will be announced
before the draft on Thursday night. The other two finalists are
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen and Indianapolis Colts
receiver and New Orleans native Reggie Wayne.</p>
"You know what, I'm not rooting against it," Brees said, when asked
about his hopes for the vote. "If it does happen, just like records are
made to be broken, curses are made to be broken too. If the fans have
spoken, if I am indeed their vote, then I'll do my best to break that
trend."</p>
The supposed Madden curse hasn't really been all that bad over the
years. But it is uncanny how many injuries and subpar seasons have come
from the players after they appear on the cover.</p>
The most notorious examples were Detroit Lions tailback Barry Sanders
in 1999 (abruptly retired before the season); Atlanta Falcons
quarterback Michael Vick in 2003 (broken leg in the summer);
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb in 2005 (season-ending
hernia); and Seattle Seahawks tailback Shaun Alexander in 2006 (broken
foot).</p>
Last year, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu and
Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald appeared together on the
cover. Polamalu was limited to five games because of knee injuries, but
Fitzgerald played in every game and had another All-Pro season. </p>
Just to be on the safe side, though, Saints fans likely have been
voting in droves - for Jared Allen.</p>
on the 'Madden curse'</h1>
<h5>April 19, 2010, 3:12PM</h5>
After leading the New Orleans
Saints to the first Super Bowl in franchise history, quarterback
Drew Brees might have another daunting task on his hands - breaking the
"Madden curse."</p>
<span style="display: inline;" class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-photo"><span class="photo-breakout photo-right medium">
being on the cover of "Madden".</span></span></span>Brees is one of
three finalists for the "honor" of appearing on the cover of EA Sports'
Madden 11 video game. The winner, based on fan voting, will be announced
before the draft on Thursday night. The other two finalists are
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen and Indianapolis Colts
receiver and New Orleans native Reggie Wayne.</p>
"You know what, I'm not rooting against it," Brees said, when asked
about his hopes for the vote. "If it does happen, just like records are
made to be broken, curses are made to be broken too. If the fans have
spoken, if I am indeed their vote, then I'll do my best to break that
trend."</p>
The supposed Madden curse hasn't really been all that bad over the
years. But it is uncanny how many injuries and subpar seasons have come
from the players after they appear on the cover.</p>
The most notorious examples were Detroit Lions tailback Barry Sanders
in 1999 (abruptly retired before the season); Atlanta Falcons
quarterback Michael Vick in 2003 (broken leg in the summer);
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb in 2005 (season-ending
hernia); and Seattle Seahawks tailback Shaun Alexander in 2006 (broken
foot).</p>
Last year, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu and
Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald appeared together on the
cover. Polamalu was limited to five games because of knee injuries, but
Fitzgerald played in every game and had another All-Pro season. </p>
Just to be on the safe side, though, Saints fans likely have been
voting in droves - for Jared Allen.</p>
