People reference the supposed curse all the time and oddly enough it strikes again. Reigning MVP Shaun Alexander who graces the 2007 Madden cover broke a bone in his foot this past Sunday and is more than likely out 4-6 weeks. This will be a huge blow to the Seahawks success in upcoming games and will he fully recover in time for a the important stretch run to the playoffs?

In respect to the Madden curse review the stars who were the faces of previous Madden games and what happened to them during that season.

Donovan McNabb ’06 – sports hernia in the first game of the year and then the TO debacle. 

Ray Lewis ’05 – first season without INT and then missed last game with a broken wrist. 

Michael Vick ’04 – fractured right fibula basically days after the game hit the stores. 

Marshall Faulk ’03 – ankle injury and never once again broke the 1,000 yard mark for the season. 

Daunte Culpepper ’02 – struggled to 4-7 record before a season ending knee injury. 

Eddie George ’01 – career year, but key turnover led to playoff loss. 

Barry Sanders 00′ – retired the week before training camp 

Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers practiced full speed yesterday for the first time in over twoo weeks. This is excellent news for all Panthers fans after the 0-2 start to the season basically because of the pathetic display of offense. Please “hamstring god” let Steve Smith play full speed this weekend. 🙂

This week it goes to Chris Gamble of the Carolina Panthers. His bonehead idea to try a “Music City Miracle” lateral…err backwards pass…basically lost the game for the Carolina Panthers against the Minnesota Vikings and put them at 0-2 to start the season.

Joe Cullen wins the  award hands down this week. The first year defensive line coach for the Detroit Lions was arrested twice in the past two weeks due to driving while under the influence of alcohol and also for driving through a Wendy’s drive-thru NAKED! Luckily the Wendy’s worker said Cullen didn’t do anything obscene, but call me whacky because I think that is by far obscene enough.

A good friend sent me this long list of all the top NFL analysts and who they think will make the Super Bowl this year. I have to admit many of the selections surprised me. I think this is a testament to how wide open the NFL championship is this year.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sportsline: Pittsburgh vs. Carolina

Dave Richard, CBS Sportsline: Cincinnati vs. Dallas

William Foote, Ultimatecapper.com: Indianapolis vs. Seattle

Ty Gaston, Ulitmatecapper.com: Denver vs. Arizona

Adam Schein, FOXSports.com: Cincinnati vs. Carolina

Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Indianapolis vs. Dallas

Dr. Z, Sports Illustrated: Miami vs. Carolina

John Clayton, ESPN: Indianapolis vs. Seattle

Trey Wingo, ESPN: Miami vs. Carolina

Michael Irvin, ESPN: Denver vs. Dallas

Ron Jaworski, ESPN: Indianapolis vs. Seattle

Chris Mortensen, ESPN: Cincinnati vs. Dallas

Len Pasquarelli, ESPN: Indianapolis vs. Seattle

Michael Smith, ESPN: Indianapolis vs. Carolina

Merrill Hoge, ESPN: Cincinnati vs. Dallas

Tom Jackson, ESPN: Indianapolis vs. Carolina

Mark Schlereth, ESPN: New England vs. Carolina

Sean Salisbury, ESPN: Indianapolis vs. Carolina

Mike Golic, ESPN: Indianapolis vs. Carolina

ESPN SportsNation Poll: Indianapolis vs. Carolina

Doug Kretz, Scouts Inc: Denver vs. Seattle

Jake Jarmelli, American Sports Analysts: Kansas City vs. Dallas

Mike Beas, Herald Bulletin: Indianapolis vs. New York Giants

Micah Joel, Mad Sanity: Cincinnati vs. Arizona

Adam Stone, DeafDC.com: Denver vs. Carolina

Greg Melikov, Sportsbook.com: Indianapolis vs. Dallas

Chris Schultz, TSN Canada: Indianapolis vs. Seattle

Ron Borges, MSNBC.com: Cincinnati vs. Carolina

Jason Whitlock, ESPN Page 2: Baltimore vs. Washington

Gary Myers, Daily News: New England vs. Dallas

Hub Arkush, Pro Football Weekly: San Diego vs. Carolina

Dan Arkush, Pro Football Weekly: Indianapolis vs. Seattle

John Miller, Draftsharks.com: Kansas City vs. Atlanta

Lenny Pappano, Draftsharks.com: San Diego vs. Carolina

Is it just me or do the Cowboys have the most media frenzy around them so far this year? We all knew the TO and Parcells saga would be a daily dose of news, but recently it has turned to Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo. The drama really gained steam when Romo played the entire first preseason game and did extremely well. Shouldn’t he do well though when he is playing against a lot of guys who will never play a real NFL game? Anyway, many media outlets are trying to say there could be a quarterback controversy and Parcells is starting to lean towards Romo as the starter.  I think the hype fired up Drew Bledsoe because last night he made the New Orleans Saints defense look like Swiss cheese. Bledsoe completed 12 of 16 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns to effectively for now stop the Romo fever. Let’s face it, Bledsoe is a Parcells type player and has been with him through many seasons. The starting job for the Cowboys is Drew’s until his concrete feet finally do him in.

It’s still preseason and there is already turmoil in Vikings camp. Not only big trouble for Minnesota, but even bigger trouble for Koren Robinson. K-Rob was arrested last night on suspicion of DUI when clocked at a rate of 100 mph in a 55 mph zone last night. Robinson didn’t stop immediately due to the fact he was very close to missing his 11pm curfew at Vikings camp. There is still a lot to be determined, but with all the previous drinking issues Robinson has had this could bring the worst trouble yet. He could not only be kicked out of Minnesota, but he could miss a whole year in the NFL. Koren Robinson could also be sent to jail for a year due to a previous DUI when he was with the Seattle Seahawks. This has me personally disappointed me in so many ways because just last winter things looked so bright for Koren and he signed a new deal worth a guaranteed $5.5 million. Only time will tell, but this could be the end of a real talent!

Matt Leinart was the last of 255 drafted prospects to agree to terms after he signed his deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Leinart has missed the last two weeks of training camp because of the hold out. Leinart who was recently ripped to pieces by head coach Denny Green for his absense could make up to $51 million if he hits all the different incentive goals within his contract. The bitterness between the two sides will quickly fade once Leinart is throwing touchdowns for Arizona. Let’s face it, Kurt Warner cannot make it through this season without being hurt and then it will be Leinart’s team.

Can someone…anyone tell me what the heck is going on up in Cincinnati? I can’t remember in my lifetime one team with so many run-ins with the law in such a short time period. Cincinnati Bengals guard Eric Steinbach is the most recent player to be arrested after driving his boat under the influence on the Oho River this past weekend. He is only one of five Bengals players who have been breaking the law. We certainly can’t forget wide receiver Chris Henry who has been arrested FOUR times since December ’05 and is on trial this month in Orlando, Fla. for a gun charge. Then you have newly drafted defensive players Frostee Rucker being arrested for spousal battery and A.J. Nicholson for burglary and grand theft. Finally let’s not forget Matthias Askew who last month had to receive the effects of a stun gun because he resisted arrest. I really don’t think you can blame coach Marvin Lewis for not controlling his players because these are grown adults doing these things outside of his supervision. I do think though it’s time for some major steps to be taken before the Cincinnati Bengals have to play their games on a prison field like in “The Longest Yard.” Is it a coincidence the tiger stripes slight resmeble prison stripes??? I think not!

It was only a week ago that people were speculating Reggie Bush might sit out the entire NFL season and re-enter the NFL draft next year. My how things can change in one week when two parties sit down and really negotiate. Reggie Bush has come to terms with the New Orleans Saints and should be in practice with them starting today. The deal can earn Bush up to $62 million with a little more than $26 million of the deal guaranteed. I’m sure New Orleans is thrilled to have this behind them and to now focus on preparing Reggie Bush for the upcoming NFL season.