The Madden curse widens

As EA Sports releases Madden 09 today, one has to wonder if the curse is getting stronger with each passing year. In years past, the curse has only affected the cover boy, albeit physically. Only this year, what should have been a safe release has turned into a PR mess, not just for the cover boy, but for many others.

Yes, with none other than unretired NFL hero Brett Favre gracing the cover in a Green Bay Packers uniform, Madden 09 has touched the lives of fans and multiple teams alike...

After a brutal battle over whether Favre should return to the Packers after retiring a mere five months ago, fans are angry. Favre's legacy is tarnished. The Packers face a no-win situation. And the New York Jets – one of the worst teams in the NFL – now have a cursed quarterback on their roster.

But let's not forget about Madden 09. EA Sports is now having to offer an online patch to install him on the Jets' roster, and a new cover is available for download.

We guess we'll just have to wait and see how everything works out this season. But with a curse this strong, we can't help but wonder why more people aren't superstitious.