Are curses, hexes, jinxes and the such real, or just something for people to talk about around the water cooler? That, of course, is debatable. But how many years in a row do we have to see the effects of the “Madden curse” before we actually start to believe it?

From Daunte Culpepper to Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, Marshall Faulk and Troy Polamalu (to name a few), athletes on the cover of the Madden video game have either suffered injuries or a decline in statistical success the following season.

The latest victim is Drew Brees.

Brees didn’t miss a game this season, but Saints coach Sean Payton did confirm this week that his superstar quarterback suffered a low-grade MCL sprain earlier in the year. As a result, he played at less than 100 percent for most of the 2010 campaign.

That, in part, could have been the reason he threw a career-high 22 interceptions. Brees still recorded an impressive 4,620 yards and 33 touchdowns, but his fantasy point total was the lowest since 2008. Don’t forget the Saints also lost in the wild card round to the Seahawks, the first team to reach the NFL postseason with a losing record.

Is this all a coincidence, or is there really a Madden curse?

You decide …

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