NFL Football

[Vrede too]

Oh crap.

Oh well, he's young. There's always the 2027-28 season. Sorry.

[GoCubsGo]

Oh well, he's young. There's always the 2027-28 season. Sorry.

[Vrede too]

Oh well, he's young. There's always the 2027-28 season. Sorry.

First Bear ever . The rest of the NFC North has been represented multiple times.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL#Games_list

[GoCubsGo]

First Bear ever . The rest of the NFC North has been represented multiple times.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL#Games_list

From Wiki:

Curse

Prior to 1998, every annual installment of the Madden NFL series primarily featured Madden on its cover.[3][117] In 1998, Electronic Arts selected Garrison Hearst to appear on the PAL version's cover, although Madden remained on the North American release. Beginning with Eddie George in 2000, the series has usually featured one of the league's top players on every annual installment,[118] despite Madden's opposition.[3] While appearing on the cover has become an honor akin to appearing on the Wheaties box,[3] much like the Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx, certain players who appeared on Madden video game box art have experienced a decline in performance or an injury. This run of misfortune for Madden cover athletes has been dubbed the "Madden curse".[119]

When asked about the Madden Curse, EA Sports' Chris Erb said, "I don't know that we believe in the curse. The players don't believe in the curse."[120] Running back Shaun Alexander, who was featured on the cover of Madden NFL 07, commented, "Do you want to be hurt and on the cover, or just hurt?" and Madden NFL 08 cover athlete Vince Young expressed skepticism,[121][122] while Madden NFL 12 cover athlete Peyton Hillis attributed his subpar season that year to the curse.[123]

The perception that the curse is real has resulted in fans lobbying for their favorite players not to be on the cover, such as fans of LaDainian Tomlinson who were strongly opposed to EA Sports' initial decision to feature him on the cover of Madden NFL 08, so much that a fan created SaveLTfromMadden.com to voice their disdain.[124][125][126] Tomlinson declined the offer, but later said it was solely due to contract negotiations.[126] Starting with Madden NFL 11 EA has allowed fans to choose their favorite player for the cover.[127] However, EA believes that many fans vote against their favorite player to avoid the "curse".[8] It has become so prominent that bookmakers create odds on how likely an injury will occur to the player appearing on the cover.[128]

The injuries that Madden cover athletes experience can be attributed to the physical nature of football.[120] Critics of the curse also note several players had successful seasons when they appeared on the cover, such as Madden NFL 13's Calvin Johnson, who set the single-season record for receiving yards, Madden NFL 18's Tom Brady, who was named MVP, and Madden NFL 20's Patrick Mahomes, who won Super Bowl LIV and was named Super Bowl MVP.[129][130]

In December 2010, EA announced plans to develop a comedy film based on the Madden curse.[131] However, EA Entertainment executive Pat O'Brien stated in October 2014 that EA is not working on a Madden curse movie.[132]

[O Really]

Some who take this seriously might benefit from an understanding that correlation does not equal causation. But it's still fun to pretend - how's that goat gift doing for the Cubbies so far GoCubsGo?

[GoCubsGo]

Some who take this seriously might benefit from an understanding that correlation does not equal causation. But it's still fun to pretend - how's that goat gift doing for the Cubbies so far GoCubsGo?

As a Chicagoian we root hard and deep down expect massive disappointment.

We don't need Madden's help.

It's a hard life.

[Vrede too]

Wow, that sucks.

Some who take this seriously might benefit from an understanding that correlation does not equal causation. But it's still fun to pretend - how's that goat gift doing for the Cubbies so far GoCubsGo?

Not that I believe in curses, but I could imagine some causative factors:
1. The featured players psyching themselves out by belief in the curse.
2. Opponents taking the new "star" more seriously and prepping/playing accordingly.
3. Gamers who are also NFL players choosing to play against the featured player's team more often and whatever psychological effect that has.

[O Really]

Numbers 2 and 3 seem unlikely, but number 1 could be a possibility. But really, wouldn't EA Sports have to have a contract with their proposed cover boy? They couldn't just pick somebody and put them arbitrarily on the cover could they? So if a player really believed in the curse, couldn't he decline the ummm "honour"?

[Vrede too]

Numbers 2 and 3 seem unlikely, but number 1 could be a possibility. But really, wouldn't EA Sports have to have a contract with their proposed cover boy? They couldn't just pick somebody and put them arbitrarily on the cover could they? So if a player really believed in the curse, couldn't he decline the ummm "honour"?

According to Wiki:

... Madden NFL 12 cover athlete Peyton Hillis attributed his subpar season that year to the curse.

The perception that the curse is real has resulted in fans lobbying for their favorite players not to be on the cover, such as fans of LaDainian Tomlinson who were strongly opposed to EA Sports' initial decision to feature him on the cover of Madden NFL 08, so much that a fan created SaveLTfromMadden.com to voice their disdain. Tomlinson declined the offer, but later said it was solely due to contract negotiations.

Starting with Madden NFL 11 EA has allowed fans to choose their favorite player for the cover. However, EA believes that many fans vote against their favorite player to avoid the "curse".

You had your shot, GoCubsGo.

It has become so prominent that bookmakers create odds on how likely an injury will occur to the player appearing on the cover....

As for #3:

... Marshall Faulk in 2010 estimated that "50 percent on up" of NFL players are Madden players, who play in the league with or against childhood heroes they once chose to play as in the game....

Wiki goes on to describe in detail gaming by NFL players for entertainment and education purposes, but there's no mention of the cover athlete's impact. EA's Madden has reportedly changed the live game immensely.

[Vrede too]

Some who take this seriously might benefit from an understanding that correlation does not equal causation. But it's still fun to pretend - how's that goat gift doing for the Cubbies so far GoCubsGo?

As a Chicagoian we root hard and deep down expect massive disappointment.

We don't need Madden's help.

It's a hard life.

I see what you mean.

Illinois governor won't 'foist' billions of dollars onto taxpayers to keep Bears in Chicago
Illinois governor says he won’t force billions in public funding onto taxpayers to keep the Chicago Bears in the city, amid controversial plans to relocate to Indiana

The Hammond (Indiana) Bears? It is right on the border, still close.

I'm inclined to support Pritzker - no welfare for billionaires. What do you think?

[O Really]

Depends maybe on what else he would foist the billions onto if not da Bears. I've never spent a lot of time in/around Chicago, but my perception is that they hold their teams in high value and might be willing to pay to keep them, but I know nothing. There are multi-state fan bases, of course and the "New York" Giants and Jets play in NJ, but I still think it's a baaaaad idea to move da Bears. I'm not the only one who'll hold a grudge for decades over a team "betrayal." In my case it's mostly just for fun, but then ask how many San Diego fans still follow the Chargers as their first team, even though they moved "only" a hundred miles up the coast.

[GoCubsGo]

O Really is mostly right, but there are some who don't care.

I may be wrong, but AFAIK the Bears aren't asking for funds for Arlington Heights, just some pretty big tax breaks.

Now the state would get nothing, including the ancillary revenue that would come with multiple events.

I will not go to Indiana for a game, with traffic it would probably take 2 hours to go 60 miles, plus the Bears absolutely belong in Illinois.

And I actually think the this is an artificial crisis brought on by the Bears to get action. Their Soldier Field lease doesn't end until 2033 but they have the option to get out early. This may be smart because we are seeing what kind of a mess this kind of problem is in Illinois.

[GoCubsGo]

Then again, I could be wrong about everything.


They certainly know where there fan base commutes from, but I think they're misjudging the game day loyalty.

[supesalemgr2]

Then again, I could be wrong about everything.


They certainly know where there fan base commutes from, but I think they're misjudging the game day loyalty.

I would have thought the northwest suburbs to be a preferred location.

[GoCubsGo]

Then again, I could be wrong about everything.


They certainly know where there fan base commutes from, but I think they're misjudging the game day loyalty.

I would have thought the northwest suburbs to be a preferred location.

It is. The Bears bought the land a few years ago with a big development in mind.


$$$$$$$....tax breaks.

There's no such thing as ownership loyalty when there's real money involved.

[supesalemgr2]

Then again, I could be wrong about everything.


They certainly know where there fan base commutes from, but I think they're misjudging the game day loyalty.

I would have thought the northwest suburbs to be a preferred location.

It is. The Bears bought the land a few years ago with a big development in mind.


$$$$$$$....tax breaks.

There's no such thing as ownership loyalty when there's real money involved.

I would think there are many more ticket buying fans in the NW suburbs than NW Indiana. It is no short hop from where the fans are.

[Vrede too]

Then again, I could be wrong about everything.


They certainly know where there fan base commutes from, but I think they're misjudging the game day loyalty.

https://x.com/ChicagoBears/status/2062931548278513990

I've heard that the team name would also change -
Hammond Eggs

[GoCubsGo]

I honestly don't think the McCaskeys realize the blowback that they are in for.

[GoCubsGo]

[GoCubsGo]

I honestly don't think the McCaskeys realize the blowback that they are in for.

It ain’t over until it's over.

Bears President Kevin Warren already played this game once successfully with the Vikings to get their stadium.



https://youtu.be/5350tL-hns0?si=2GYmnHzLQuGN9UQI