Can Richard Sherman Avoid the Dreaded Madden Curse?
By Erik Lambert
Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) celebrates during the second half of the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Going All-Pro and winning a Super Bowl gave Richard Sherman the right to grace the cover of Madden 15. Will he and the Seattle Seahawks regret it?
Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson were latest curse victims
Players are always eager to say they don’t believe in the Madden curse? Why should they in a sport where luck and superstition have no place, right? The truth is if one looks at the facts, the curse can be considered very real and has remained prevalent since the start of the new millennium. Without delving too deep into the painful memories, one merely has to look at the previous two stars to grace the cover for validation. In 2012 it was Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson. Most are quick to point out that “Megatron” finished that season with an NFL record 1,964 yards on the season. However, curse purists are quick to point out it’s not only the player that can be affect, it’s his team. Detroit plummeted to a lowly 4-12 record that season. On top of it, Johnson later admitted he played through the year with broken fingers. Then in 2013 it was the turn of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, fresh off his MVP campaign. Not only did Peterson end up missing two games last season with injuries, his team also finished 5-10-1, resulting in his head coach getting fired.
Either Sherman or Seattle Seahawks will feel the curse
For the superstitious fan, the appearance of Richard Sherman on the Madden cover couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Seattle Seahawks. After all, they have high expectations for defending their Super Bowl crown in 2014. Meanwhile Sherman, the self-proclaimed best cornerback in the NFL hopes to continue backing up that talk against new challengers like Patrick Peterson and Joe Haden. History has shown the curse, for those who believe, strikes in different ways. It can go after the player, often resulting in an injury or a serious drop in production. On the other hand it can impact the team, yielding a worse record than the year before and almost never a championship. Sherman claims he fears nothing and his play has reflected that in the past. Still, if history is any indication, the loudest mouth in the loudest stadium in football might be screaming for different reasons this season.