The higher the climb, the harder the fall -- on your hamstring, Hillis. Enjoy your cover art. Muhahahaha.
This Madden curse might actually be a real thing: Peyton Hillis is injured
by Jessica Conditt 
on Nov 5th 2011 4:30PM
64
The higher the climb, the harder the fall -- on your hamstring, Hillis. Enjoy your cover art. Muhahahaha.
Reader Comments (64)
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 4:34PM Haikiba said
Wait, what's the "Madden NFL '12 video"?
I don't play Madden, but somehow I always assumed it was interactive.
I don't play Madden, but somehow I always assumed it was interactive.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 4:41PM Apakal said
He's just nursing the hammy so he's not forced to carry 40+ times a game with the expectation of being the sole offensive player on the entire team.
He knows his value and his potential for a better team and a better program. He's just one of the smart players not wasting that for the Browns.
He knows his value and his potential for a better team and a better program. He's just one of the smart players not wasting that for the Browns.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 6:05PM pokota said
@jsx92
You're probably thinking of Chris Johnson, who got a huge contract. As far as I know, talks broke down between Hillis and the Browns. Personally, I can't blame the Browns, as Hillis has only performed at a high level for 3/4ths of a season over the course of his career. He faded big time down the stretch last year, and they likely want him to prove he's not a fluke. Meanwhile, he sits out because he's filling sick, and even his teammates thinks he's sandbagging. He's actually LOSING value by doing this.
Joe Forte, on the other hand, is also having a contract dispute with the Bears, but instead of moping about it, he's gone out and had a career, MVP quality year. While Hillis is losing value, Forte's value is going though the roof, and he will see a huge payday for his efforts.
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You're probably thinking of Chris Johnson, who got a huge contract. As far as I know, talks broke down between Hillis and the Browns. Personally, I can't blame the Browns, as Hillis has only performed at a high level for 3/4ths of a season over the course of his career. He faded big time down the stretch last year, and they likely want him to prove he's not a fluke. Meanwhile, he sits out because he's filling sick, and even his teammates thinks he's sandbagging. He's actually LOSING value by doing this.
Joe Forte, on the other hand, is also having a contract dispute with the Bears, but instead of moping about it, he's gone out and had a career, MVP quality year. While Hillis is losing value, Forte's value is going though the roof, and he will see a huge payday for his efforts.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 6:36PM machewchew said
@pokota You're probably thinking of Matt Forte.
Here are some other starting running backs who have missed games this season who weren't on the cover of Madden 12: Jamaal Charles (out for season), Arian Foster, Darren McFadden, Daniel Thomas, Mike Tolbert, Ryan Matthews, Beanie Wells, Tim Hightower (out for season), Willis Mcgahee, and LeGarrete Blount. And that's just off the top of my head. There will probably be another two or three hurt this weekend.
This Hillis thing isn't a big surprise anyway, since he lost so much steam at the end of last season. Getting him on the cover was just a testament to great mobilization by Cleveland's loyal fans.
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Here are some other starting running backs who have missed games this season who weren't on the cover of Madden 12: Jamaal Charles (out for season), Arian Foster, Darren McFadden, Daniel Thomas, Mike Tolbert, Ryan Matthews, Beanie Wells, Tim Hightower (out for season), Willis Mcgahee, and LeGarrete Blount. And that's just off the top of my head. There will probably be another two or three hurt this weekend.
This Hillis thing isn't a big surprise anyway, since he lost so much steam at the end of last season. Getting him on the cover was just a testament to great mobilization by Cleveland's loyal fans.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 4:42PM The Aquacharger said
"Enjoy your cover art. Muhahahaha. " Is not really appropriate. A man was injured.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:58PM Drago Dracini said
@The Aquacharger
OH NO! A man was injured playing watered down rugby?! Scandalous!
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OH NO! A man was injured playing watered down rugby?! Scandalous!
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 10:25PM Miranda Lawson said
@jzainer That made so much sense I felt high for five seconds.
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Posted: Nov 6th 2011 10:30AM VideoGameFan said
@Drago Dracini
Yeah rugby takes some real brains to play. They really lack any form of refined talent. If these rugby players were such skilled athletes, they would take a year off and go make some real money in the NFL. Oh wait, THEY CAN'T PLAY IN THE NFL BECAUSE RUGBY IS WHERE THE U.S. SENDS OUR DIV. 2 REJECTS!
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Yeah rugby takes some real brains to play. They really lack any form of refined talent. If these rugby players were such skilled athletes, they would take a year off and go make some real money in the NFL. Oh wait, THEY CAN'T PLAY IN THE NFL BECAUSE RUGBY IS WHERE THE U.S. SENDS OUR DIV. 2 REJECTS!
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 4:42PM Master Troll said
IT LIVES ON!
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 4:52PM (Unverified) said
If it was Peyton Manning on the cover, then I would believe in this curse.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 4:56PM Tradio said
def was not worthy of the madden cover - should have been Cam Newton allll the waaaayyy GUY IS THE NEXT DAN MARINO!
Posted: Nov 7th 2011 7:50AM Blackbird37 said
@Tradio
You mean the same Cam Newton that wasn't even in the league last year? That Cam Newton? It's almost as bad as saying Tim Tebow should have been on the cover last year or Matt Stafford the year before. See, they have to play in the league and perform well for at least a season before they can make the cover.
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You mean the same Cam Newton that wasn't even in the league last year? That Cam Newton? It's almost as bad as saying Tim Tebow should have been on the cover last year or Matt Stafford the year before. See, they have to play in the league and perform well for at least a season before they can make the cover.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 4:56PM pluupy said
Ouch! Hamstring injuries are no fun. An injury upon those can easily render you immobile.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 4:56PM dblue said
im just glad vick didnt get the cover
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:38PM Master Troll said
@leatherface
As an Eagles fan. I respect that comment. It made me spill my Milk. Damn you!
Reply
As an Eagles fan. I respect that comment. It made me spill my Milk. Damn you!
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 8:03PM Gandalf the Grey said
@Master Troll
Eagles fans are trolls? Who could have guessed?
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Eagles fans are trolls? Who could have guessed?
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:12PM Tr3pidation said
You know, on the wikipedia page about the curse they point out about how people who share Peyton's name have also been injured. Peyton Hilis. Peyton Manning. Sean Payton. The Madden curse is spreading.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:21PM The Joy of Painting w Bob Ross said
If you play in the NFL, you're going to get injured. The only curse at work here is the curse of actually having a Cleveland Browns player on the cover.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:24PM Kayonesoft said
Just in: Someone is hurt during a violent sport.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:36PM Vuvuzelas said
last year was a fluke anyway
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:40PM Dubiousity said
While I don't enjoy the fact that someone got hurt, I do find it a little funny that this "Curse" manages to work its magic every year.
Also, why wasn't this posted 3 weeks ago when he actually received the injury?
Also, why wasn't this posted 3 weeks ago when he actually received the injury?
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 8:10PM Gandalf the Grey said
@jynxycat I've always been a fan of that avatar, just saying
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Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:43PM Shadowbender said
Poor fellow. Hope he recovers peacefully.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:55PM recca said
I remember reading the odds of an NFL player getting injured (big or small) during an NFL season is 99%.
Posted: Nov 6th 2011 6:26AM Xero Theory said
@jynxycat I'm not sure if you're doubting that claim or not. I myself don't find it hard to believe. No professional athlete is 100% all of the time. It's the nature of the beast. You train and practice hard and you compete at the highest level. You're bound to get a strained this or sprained that or you could receive a season ending injury.
I think that his claim is entirely plausible since he included the qualifiers "(big or small)"
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I think that his claim is entirely plausible since he included the qualifiers "(big or small)"
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 5:57PM Apex Omega said
if we REALLY wanted to test it out... we would put John Madden Back on the cover.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 6:48PM Deezul AwT said
@Apex Omega At a minimum, Madden's mouth. God I hated him.
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Posted: Nov 5th 2011 6:14PM Yuglyoshi said
The real Madden curse is the one that compels people to buy the same sports games every year.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 6:23PM Master Troll said
I was just on NFL.com He's also getting cut from the team after this season. Damn, Madden Curse hit him hard.
Posted: Nov 5th 2011 7:18PM TreyIM2 said
Yea, I think it's crazy how since Madden, himself, stopped being on the cover, all the athletes who have subsequently been on it have suffered major disasters the same football season, except, maybe, Larry Fitzgerald and that's only because he shared the cover with Troy P, who actually was out for the entire regular season after getting injured in the first game of the season. and that was the first and only time the cover was shared.
Even then, I think Fitzy's stats took somewhat of a big dip that year in TDs and minor one in receptions and I think he got severely hurt late in the season. Eh.
Whatever the case, Hillis is definitely going through a major blow while being on the cover. Ppl can say that players get hurt and yes they do but not ALL of them who get hurt always have major disturbances to their gameplay nor do all of them get knocked out of playing during the season. It's just strange situation with this Madden deally.
Even then, I think Fitzy's stats took somewhat of a big dip that year in TDs and minor one in receptions and I think he got severely hurt late in the season. Eh.
Whatever the case, Hillis is definitely going through a major blow while being on the cover. Ppl can say that players get hurt and yes they do but not ALL of them who get hurt always have major disturbances to their gameplay nor do all of them get knocked out of playing during the season. It's just strange situation with this Madden deally.
Posted: Nov 6th 2011 1:04AM TreyIM2 said
@Hoops
LOL. Funny but Kurt was still QB the season Fitz was on the cover however, I think those stats I mentioned actually dipped after Kurt left. His total yds and total yds avg dropped but he actually had one more reception and caught one more TD during his cover year.
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LOL. Funny but Kurt was still QB the season Fitz was on the cover however, I think those stats I mentioned actually dipped after Kurt left. His total yds and total yds avg dropped but he actually had one more reception and caught one more TD during his cover year.
