The Madden Curse... and my week 1 preview

Every year the final whistle blows on the Super Bowl, the confetti pours down and someone is going to Disney World. This is one of the saddest moments of the sports year. No more football for several long months.

So we wait, watch basketball, hockey, then baseball, patiently waiting the next season. Watching the draft, gearing up for your team's run at the title in the coming September.

But before we get there, as long as there will be a football season, one thing will be certain: there will be a Madden NFL football game released in August. Why would we care? Well because the Curse of the Madden cover has become one of the single most intriguing plot lines of every football season since Madden started putting players on his cover.

Garrison Hearst was the first player to appear on the Madden cover, and the first to suffer the wrath of the Madden curse, breaking his ankle in the 1998 playoffs. He would never be the same. Barry Sanders never played another game after appearing on the cover. Eddie George, the first of two victim's that hit home for me, completely dropped off in production the year he was on the cover, scoring 11 less touchdowns. Daunte Culpepper goes from being one of the most productive QB's in the game, to getting hurt and never regaining his top form, ending the Super Bowl hopes of Viking fans everywhere. Being on Madden marked the beginning of the end for Marshall Faulk's career, he was never the same dominating back he was before the curse befell him.

The next year was Michael Vick. He was a special case of the curse because not only did he break his leg that year, but we all know the true effects of the curse on his career. The dog fighting ring, the jail sentence, and the subsequent destruction of his career. Maybe he comes back well in Philadelphia, but the deck is stacked against him.

Ray Lewis had his worst season after appearing on Madden the next year, Donovan McNabb missed 7 games in his Madden season. Shaun Alexander breaks his foot, which ends his career, after having a record breaking touchdown season. Vince Young loses his mind, and his starting spot, the year after he appears on the cover. The second player that hits home. I still hold out hope for his career, but with the Madden curse already on him, hope is all it may ever be.

They thought they were safe in putting a retired Brett Favre on the cover last year. Then Favre made the decision to come back, tarnishing his God-like legacy in Green Bay and having his pretty decent season derailed by injury at the end of the year and dividing a locker room in the process.

So here we are in 2009, and with the release of Madden 10, for the first time there are two players on the Madden cover. It didn't take long for the curse to strike, as Titans tight end Alge Crumpler landed on the knee of Troy Palamalu, and early reports have him missing d early reports have him out 3-6 weeks with an MCL sprain. The other cover boy is Larry Fitzgerald, arguably the best wide receiver in the game. If I were a Cardinals fan, or I owned him in a fantasy league, I'd be shaking in my boots right now. The curse is viscious, and doesn't like to waste time.

On to the picks (I had Tennessee on Thursday):
Home Team is in CAPS

ATLANTA (-4) Over Miami
I expect Miami to prove that last season was a fraud and have a miserable season. Atlanta however improves on last season's playoff run.

CINCINATTI (-4) Over Denver
Denver has no defense (well neither does Cincinatti) and Kyle Orton is battling injury. Knowshon Moreno also isn't entirely healthy heading into the season and Brandon Marshall is a complete wild card at this point. I'm taking Cincinatti here.

Jacksonville (+7) Over INDIANAPOLIS
I expect Jacksonvillle to come into this game and show Indianapolis what tough, physical football is all about. They are going to smack the Colts in the mouth. Expect a big game out of Maurice Jones Drew. They are fairly evenly matched, in my opinion, so I am definitely taking the points.

NEW ORLEANS (-13) over Detroit
Detroit will be better this year than last, but so will New Orleans. Expect a ton of points, but New Orleans will get the majority of them and should make this a blowout.

BALTIMORE (-13) Over Kansas City
KC is overmatched here. That defense could leave them scoreless, especially if Cassel can't go or is hampered by the injury. Ray Rice is a great fantasy play for this game.

HOUSTON (-4.5) Over New York Jets
The Jets will be the first victim of the dynamic Houston Texans offense in their quest for their first ever playoff birth. The Jets are in for a rebuilding year, and a lot of teams are going to take advantage of that.

Washington (+6.5) over NEW YORK GIANTS
Plaxico will be huge, Eli is overrated and they have no one proven to throw to. I seem to be alone but I really don't see them having a good season. The Redskins on the other hand, I do like, and as the underdog in this one, I'll definitely take the points.

ARIZONA (-6.5) Over San Fransisco
San Fransisco is in for a rough year, and as much as I don't like the Cardinals this year, I like the Niners a lot less. Arizona walks all over them.

SEATTLE (-8.5) Over St. Louis
Seattle should win this weak division this year and they match up against arguably the worst team in football. No contest.

GREEN BAY (-3.5) Over Chicago
You all know my feelings about Green Bay, and I feel that although Chicago should slow them down, it won't be enough to stop them entirely and Green Bay covers the spread.

NEW ENGLAND (-11) Over Buffalo
Lots and lots of points will be scored. Most of them will go to New England.

San Diego (-9.5) Over OAKLAND
Oakland is in the running for worst team in football. San Diego is in the running for the best. The spread should be bigger.

Lock of the Week Second Runner Up:
Dallas (-6) Over TAMPA BAY
This is more of a condemning of Tampa Bay than a praising of Dallas, but the Cowboys are a far superior team. This one will not be close. Tampa will not be able to hang and only giving 6 points is a gift.

Lock of the Week First Runner Up:
Minnesota (-4) Over CLEVELAND
Once again, more condemning Cleveland than praising Minnesota. I think people will learn very quickly how bad this Cleveland team will be this season, and Favre should be ok to start the season (how he finishes is a different story).

LOCK OF THE WEEK
Philadelphia (-1.5) Over CAROLINA
For my lock of the week I am picking the Eagles. I love the Eagles, and they match up well with Carolina. They can stop the run, and will put up points. They are only giving 1.5 and I think they should win the game easily. Not that Carolina is a bad football team, the Eagles are just better.