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As first reported Sunday by Gambling911.com, online gambling site Sportsbook.com has now published betting odds on the so-called "Madden Curse" and the possibility of Arizona Cardinals cover boy, Larry Fitzgerald, becoming its latest victim.
The "curse" didn't take long to rear its ugly head this season with Pittsburgh Steelers Troy Polamalu sustaining an injury during the first game of the 2009 NFL season against the Tennessee Titans.
Larry Fitzgerald shares the cover of the popular Madden NFL game.
Michael Vick appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 2004, and suffered a leg injury that sidelined him for most of the 2003 season. Donovan McNabb was featured on the cover of Madden 06, on November 19th, 2006 in a game against Tennessee, McNabb tore his ACL while attempting to scramble out of bounds which left him sidelined for the remainder of the season. Running back Shaun Alexander, then the league's reigning Most Valuable Player, was featured on the cover of Madden NFL 2007, and sustained a foot injury that caused him to miss six starts. As a result, Alexander's rushing statistics were substantially less than those from the previous season, and he never returned to true form Madden 08's cover featured Vince Young, the starting quarterback of the Tennessee Titans. On September 7th 2008 Vince Young sustained a knee injury which put him out of the game. He has not yet regained his starting quarterback position since he was relieved by backup quarterback Kerry Collins.
Brett Favre appeared to have escaped the curse last year until he recently announced a late season injury was partially to blame for his demise with the Jets the last few weeks of 2008.
The good news is that Sportsbook.com oddsmakers believe the "Madden Curse" will end with Polamalu.
"Larry Fitzgerald is a favorite NOT to get injured this season," expressed Dave Stanley of Sportsbook.com.
Here were the "Madden Curse" betting odds as they appeared at Sportsbook.com:
Will Larry Fitz, miss a regular season game due to injury this year (regular season)?
Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
