8 Crazy Video Game Urban Legends You Need To Hear

8. The John Madden Series Is Cursed

Being selected as the cover star for the latest edition of EA Sports' Madden NFL series is a great honour that only the sport's most bankable players are offered, but according to some, it's more of a curse than a blessing.

Curse in this particular context is meant literally, as there are conspiracy theorists out there who will tell you the bestselling football franchise is jinxed, pointing out that many of its cover stars have either picked up a nasty injury or suffered a downturn in form after lending their likeness to the game's box art.

Cleveland Browns fullback Peyton Hillis is often cited as a victim of this so-called curse. After fronting Madden NFL 12, he endured an injury nightmare the following season, playing just 10 games and scoring only three touchdowns as a result.

Other alleged Madden Curse victims include Marshall Faulk, Daunte Culpepper, Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Donovan McNabb, Shaun Alexander and Vince Young.

Although the words coincidence and confirmation bias spring to mind, that hasn't stopped scores of superstitious NFL fans from lobbying to ensure their favourite players aren't featured on the cover of Madden games over the years.