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For the first time in Madden history, two players will be on the cover of the upcoming Madden 10.  Releasing on August 11th, Madden 10 features AFC defense against NFC offense on a cover that is unlike previous versions of the game.  Despite having one extra person, the cover art has effects never before seen from Madden games.   Other features included in Madden 10 haven’t been released except for the inclusion of new personalities and head/eye movement.  This feature will allow players heads to turn to track the ball in flight and will stop the issue with defenders jumping up and swating a ball away when they never even looked back to know it was there.

The players, Troy Polamlu and Larry Fitzgerald, both played in this year’s Super Bowl and make fine additions to the list of Madden cover models.

“Being on the cover of ‘Madden’ is a real honor,” Fitzgerald said on Friday, after Electronic Arts made the announcement. “And sharing it with a talent like Troy is really special.”

One thing they aren’t worried about is the so-called “Madden Curse”.  It seems that each year, the player featured on the cover of the hottest selling sports video game title has suffered an injury during the season following the release of the game.  Such has happend to Donovan McNabb, Shaun Alexander and Vince Young.  Last year featured Brett Favre and he never really suffered an injuries, unless you consider ‘arm fatigue’ to be an injury.  The curse may be broken or just hocus pocus but for two players that are cabable of MVP seasons this upcoming year, they better hope its not real.

John Madden decided the time was right, to retire from the world of NFL football.  Or at least calling the games that is.  For the last three years the famous coach and face of the NFL has commentated on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.  Travel was increasingly becoming more difficult and was reluctant to fly to each weeks game and instead traveled on a bus.

Madden left coaching in 1979, leaving the Oakland Raiders, and became a broadcaster.  He lent his talents to all four networks covering NFL games.  John Madden is also the inspiration for “Madden NFL Football”, the best selling video game of all time.

Madden will be missed in the booth but he hasn’t left entirely.  Madden will miss the gig but decided it was time to retire.  His last called game was Super Bowl XLIII featuring the Arizona Cardinas against the Pittsburgh Steelers.