Does the curse persist?

Sports curses (aside from the one that looms over the Chicago Cubs) aren't real. But try telling that to the football players who have graced the cover of John Madden's videogame only to suffer injuries shortly thereafter.

Troy Polamalu is the latest star to experience the so-called "Madden curse." The all-pro safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers sprained his medial collateral ligament during Thursday night's game against the Tennessee Titans.

Sports Illustrated reports that Polamalu could be out anywhere from three to six weeks. Not as bad as initially feared, but still rough enough to inspire a lot of lookups on "madden curse."

Indeed, almost immediately after Polumalu left the field, folks at home began dialing up searches on past victims of the Madden curse. The list is long but distinguished. And while there are a few holes (Favre escaped '09 without injury), we imagine that Larry Fitzgerald, who shared the 2010 cover honors with Polamalu, might want to wear a little extra padding this season...

• 2010: Troy Polalmalu -- injured for three to six weeks.
• 2009: Brett Favre -- no injury, but as Yahoo! Sports points out, he did "become insufferable."
• 2008: Vince Young -- injured one game and played poorly.
• 2007: Shaun Alexander -- injured for six games due to broken foot.
• 2006: Donovan McNabb -- injured for seven games.
• 2005: Ray Lewis -- missed one game.
• 2004: Michael Vick -- injured for 11 games due to broken leg.
• 2003: Marshall Faulk -- out for six games.
• 2002: Daunte Culpepper -- missed five games.