Fake news about Saquon Barkley traveled across the internet over the weekend.
Someone thought it would be cool to dupe the world wide web by putting out a report that the Eagles running back had been selected as the cover player for Madden 26.
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It was done through a fake X account that impersonates ESPN’s Adam Schefter. We’re not linking to it because we don’t want to give the creator a 16th minute of fame.
It is true that Barkley’s Week 9 backward hurdle of a Jacksonville defender was added to the catalog of Madden moves a few weeks after he made the astonishing leap. It’s also true that play would make for a nice cover to the video game.
We will say this: Barkley would be a natural choice for the cover given how great he was for the Eagles a season ago.
In addition to becoming the ninth player in league history to rush for 2,000 yards, he also set the record for most rushing yards in a season when combining the regular season and the postseason. He finished with 2,504 yards and helped the Eagles win their second Super Bowl.
The question is this: Should Eagles fans fear Barkley being on the Madden cover?
For those who believe in curses, the answer is yes. Even if you don’t believe in them, it’s undeniable that a lot of bad luck for players has synched with appearances on the Madden cover.
One example is Donovan McNabb, the only player to ever appear on the cover in an Eagles uniform. McNabb, was on the 2006 cover, which was released in August 2005.
After throwing a career-high 31 touchdowns and leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2004, McNabb played just nine games because of a sports hernia injury in 2005 and the Eagles finished 5-11.
So if you believe in the curse, McNabb was part of it.
So was San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey.
The 49ers’ running back was on the 2024 Madden Cover after leading the NFL in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage in 2023 while also helping the 49ers reach the Super Bowl. McCaffrey played in just four games last season because of injuries.
The list of others haunted by bad seasons after appearing on the Madden cover is a long one.
Seattle running back Shaun Alexander was the 2007 Madden cover, which was released in August 2006 after he led the league in rushing and scored 28 touchdowns for the NFC champion Seahawks in 2005. He never rushed for 1,000 yards again and dealt with injuries in his final three seasons.
Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson appeared on the cover of Madden 2013, which was released in November of that year. He suffered an injury the following month that kept him out of two games, then was suspended for all but one game in 2014 after being indicted in Texas on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child.
Cleveland running back Petyon Hillis rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010, then was on the cover of Madden 2012, which was released in August 2011. A knee injury limited him to 10 games in 2011 and his career went into decline.
Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown was on the 2019 cover. It came out in August 2018, but from 2019 through 2021 he played in just 16 games because of injuries and self-inflicted controversy.
There are also plenty of examples that defy the curse.
Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes shared the cover of Madden 22, which was released in August 2021. Brady led the league in touchdown passes with 43 and passing yards with 5,316 that season at the age of 44. If that’s cursed, sign me up.
Mahomes has won two Super Bowls and an MVP since being on the cover.
Lamar Jackson was on the 2021 cover, which was released in August 2020. He’s been to three Pro Bowls and won his second MVP since then.
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Bob Brookover can be reached at rbrookover@njadvancemedia.com