Beware Vince Young!

So it’s been unofficially announced that Vince Young will be the cover man for Madden 2008. I’ve tried my best to be skeptical of the “Madden Curse”…..that is until last year, in outright defiance of the “curse”, I selected Shaun Alexander first overall. That’s right, over LT and over LJ. Although LT and LJ were more attractive picks, I decided to go the “safe” route and bank on a consistent 100 yds and at least a TD every week. I’m not making that mistake again….at least not until someone breaks the curse!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Madden Curse…here’s the breakdown:

Madden 1999: Garrison Hearst. Hearst has a career year with 1,570 yards and 7 TDs. However in their first playoff game on the first play, Hearst suffers a bad ankle break and would not play till 2001.

Madden 2000: Barry Sanders. A week before training camp, Barry abruptly and prematurely retires.

Madden 2001: Eddie George. George sets career highs in yards (1,509) and TDs (16). Hooray the curse is broken!?!?

Madden 2002: Dante Culpepper. Dante goes from throwing 33 TDs the previous year to 14 TDs and 13 INTs, then misses the final 5 games with a knee injury.

Madden 2003: Marshall Faulk. Sustains an ankle injury and TDs fall from 21 to 10.

Madden 2004: Michael Vick. Suffers a broken leg in preseason and misses 11 games.

Madden 2005: Ray Lewis. Misses a only 1 game due to a wrist injury but it is the first and only year Lewis fails to make an interception, after a career high 6 the year before.

Madden 2006: Donovan McNabb. McNabb misses the final seven games due to a sports hernia.

Madden 2007: Shaun Alexander. Fresh off a record setting season, Alexander suffers a foot injury and misses 6 games. After 1,880 rushing yards and 28 total TDs, he rushes for 896 yards and scores only 7 times.

Will Vince Young be the next victim of the curse? I guess we’ll have to wait till this fall to find out. But I can tell you I’m not drafting Vince Young. Ok, I’ll admit, I’m probably still not a 100% believer in the curse….but there’s just no reason for me to tempt fate again.

But...... just in case the curse is indeed very real. I'd like to take this time and place a curse of my own...