Another year means EA Sports may disappoint a new generation of Houston Texans fans with a poor Madden NFL. The video gaming giant has fallen into disrepair as it prioritizes micro transactions and makes the player experience the worst it’s ever been. The gameplay is disappointing, but fans also dislike its ease of access. To limit fan interaction with your game, require fans to sign into an EA account every time they play. There are many reasons the franchise has broken apart, but we don’t want any Houston Texans players to be this year’s cover athlete.
Many have talked about a “curse” following cover athletes. Within weeks of the game’s release, Michael Vick shattered his leg. Daunte Culpepper and Marshall Faulk endured major setbacks during their cover years. Shaun Alexander went from MVP-winner to one of the league’s worst running backs the year he was on the cover. Every cover athlete seems to get injured and decline. Eddie George started this tradition in 1999 and continues today. On June 11, 2024, Madden will reveal its 2025 cover artist.
We hope it’s not a Texans player. But not due of the “curse”. The curse doesn’t exist, and many of the game’s cover stars were elderly and declining after years of fame. This isn’t due to the curse. We don’t want Texans players on the cover because we don’t want Hard Knocks in Houston. Or anything similar—it distracts. Yes, there has never been a Texans player on the cover, but with all the anticipation and expectation this year, we want as few distractions as possible. The Texans’ schedule will grow rougher. Fewer clubs will be surprised this year. The league has lots of tape. The squad must improve, and losing one of its greatest players to press responsibilities won’t help this season.
