Seahawk lands on Madden cover

Running back Shaun Alexander adds prestigious honor of Madden NFL 2007 cover athlete to professional accolades.

Madden NFL 07

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In the past, sports stars knew they had really made it when they landed a deal with a shoe company, soft drink, or even their own cologne. Now, the upper echelon of athletes separates itself from the mere all-stars by one thing: getting on the cover of a sports game. The cream of the crop is the Madden NFL cover, and even with all the superstition that surrounds it, it's still considered a prestigious honor.

Today, on ESPN's SportsCenter, 2005-2006 NFL Most Valuable Player Shaun Alexander was announced as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 2007. The Seattle Seahawks running back was a fixture on highlight reels and delighted fantasy-football owners everywhere by rushing for a record-breaking 27 touchdowns.

"To be on the cover of Madden NFL '07 is a big milestone in my career, since I have always been a huge fan of this franchise," said Alexander.

As is the case, the cover athlete's position represents the latest emphasis on new features in the game. Last year, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb helped usher in the new quarterback vision system, and linebacker Ray Lewis covered the game when defensive tweaks were made to the 2005 edition. This year, Alexander says there will be an "improved running game," but neither he nor EA went into detail.

He and his team may have lost last year's Super Bowl (though some in Seattle would argue that the referees did), but to say things are going well for Alexander would be an understatement. In addition to being on the cover of the most successful gaming franchise, the Alabama alumnus signed an eight-year, $62 million contract last month.

Madden NFL 2007 will be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation Portable, and Game Boy Advance in August, but noticeably absent were any mentions of a PlayStation 3 or Revolution edition.

114 Comments

  • nickythenewt21

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 10:20 am PT

    Well, the Madden curse lives on. And my 'Hawks made it to the playoffs... but lost to the Bears.

  • Sandman100

    Posted Apr 30, 2006 11:48 am PT

    The new RB feature sound great.

  • Sandman100

    Posted Apr 30, 2006 11:47 am PT

    It still has the Madden name on it that a good thing. Sense he want be a commentar of Monday Night games this year on ABC. Seen it going to ESPN, and he'll be working for NBC, on Sunday.

  • Sandman100

    Posted Apr 30, 2006 11:44 am PT

    There announce the PS3, and Wii version at E3, there release it in Nov like. Madden 06 was for the 360. That sound very great he was one of the best players lasted year. Hopeful the Madden cures doesn't get him, and the Superbowl cures get the team.

  • inlinr16

    Posted Apr 29, 2006 2:38 pm PT

    I feel good for Shaun that he made the cover. I mean, he did lose the Super bowl to my STEELERS! Hopefully this new running feature will be better than that stupid passing cone...

  • CapoMafia

    Posted Apr 27, 2006 4:54 pm PT

    There is no cover curse. You see, top athletes are put on covers. And since they are at the top, there is less statistical room for improvement and more for failure. Therefore, "the curse".

  • andrewdyne

    Posted Apr 24, 2006 10:05 am PT

    I'm glad for Alexander...he seems like a pretty cool guy, I just hope nothing bad happens.

  • Xoa07

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 5:06 pm PT

    If Shaun Alexander can make it through the season in one piece, then he'll break the "curse". BTW, STEELERS!!

  • StealthyBurrito

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 5:03 pm PT

    what no Clinton Portis

  • tomservo51

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 4:32 pm PT

    No, because all the Madden lovers would be forced to play 2k and everyone would realize that is a better game!

  • kcarlson1130

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 4:20 pm PT

    all of you haters on EA need to get your story straight and start hating the right people. the NFL shopped there lisence to the public. not the other way around. the NFL made the choice to sell there rights to only one bidder. in fact i heard one of the highest bidders was disney for some reason. if EA hadnt got the rights then 2k would have and then that means no madden at all till 2008. i think we would have alot more pissed off people if that happend. so hate the NFL not EA.

  • Bigbudz

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 2:48 pm PT

    Who gives a S$%T. here's a thought spend that money on GETTING THE DAMN GAMEPLAY RIGHT EA ASSCLOWNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • superkoolstud

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 2:37 pm PT

    "in the past five years no team who lost in the superbowl has made it back to the playoffs.
    That plus the madden curse equals, seahawks are screwed"

    Yes but the NFC is easy so the Seahawks should have no trouble. Besides Alexander didn't do everything just a lil bit. Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, Grant Wistrom and the O line got the Seahawks to the Superbowl.

  • LinkErdrich

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 2:24 pm PT

    in the past five years no team who lost in the superbowl has made it back to the playoffs.
    That plus the madden curse equals, seahawks are screwed

  • yteHoward87

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 1:41 pm PT

    cool...i guess its better than having a raiders rams player on the cover. hehehe.....how about alex smith on next years cover?

  • Foolio1

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 12:53 pm PT

    Yay Seahawks

  • Pradmetro

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 12:39 pm PT

    $100 bucks says he breaks something during the 06-07 season. anyone wanna get in this?

  • GoPhins123

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 12:01 pm PT

    Poor Shaun is gonna get hurt now oh well, sh!t happens.
    You Seahawks fans really need to stop whining, The Steelers would have won the game anyway, except it would the score would be 14 -10. On a related matter,The NFL needs to do something about horrible officiating it has been getting worse every year.

  • GC4ever

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 11:17 am PT

    WHOOOOOO!!! Go Shaun!!!!!! Seahwaks baby WHOOOOOOO
    I know I just found a reason to buy a Madden game now!

  • superkoolstud

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 11:16 am PT

    I hate you EA ,put the Cheatin Steelers on the cover. Oh well atleast Hasslebeck is one of the best QB's in the league, plus Mo Morris is a pretty good back-up. I am worried, but Seahawks will make the Superbowl next year despite the EA curse. GO HAWKS!!!!!

  • snizzlez

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 10:33 am PT

    thats weird cuz eagles lost the superbowl n mcnab ended up on the cover n now the seahawks lose and shaun alexander is on the cover......

  • sasuke55

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 10:15 am PT

    I like Madden! I hope they step their game up. I thought 2k Did ok with the things they had but their gameplay as far as movement lacked a fluid motion just like NBA 2k series. I do however think that having a wide variety of sports games forced madden to be more creative.

    2k sports shouldn't have pissed off the NFL by undercutting the price of the game like that.

    ON a side note OBLIVION IS GREAT

  • Writeous

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 10:14 am PT

    F*** Shaun Alexander... they should have put Gerome Bettis on the cover, he went thru alott this season, his injuries are insane, and he still played the sport for the love of the game.

  • Pablo620

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 9:49 am PT

    I want my NFL 2k series back i hate you EA. Funny thing is EA is so huge i have tons of their games even though i hate them

  • Drudaddy

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 9:42 am PT

    this game will be out again on the xbox360 before the rivals, in august by the time november hits it will be 3 months old and the more fan base will go to xbox360.

  • Hellraiser3899

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 9:42 am PT

    FAAANTASTIC

  • Some-Killz

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 9:29 am PT

    Great...ANOTHER madden...

  • mgall80

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 9:08 am PT

    OH NO!

    i hope the curse ends, otherwise my fantasy team is going to suffer!
    haha

  • ninfan4life

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 8:22 am PT

    itz a matter of time dat he getz jinxed too
    lololololololololololololololololololololol

  • PRGundam91

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 8:02 am PT

    Madden NFL 07 will be much better than the 06 version for the XBOX360. EA just pieced 06 together so they can have a madden game at the 360 launch. 07 will have the franchise and superstar modes back, the animations, player movements, gameplay, and graphics will all be improved. Hopefully they'll fix the commentary because although it was better than madden, it could use imrpovement and I heard that they may bring back the pregame in madden (right before every game there would be a little pregame scene where the players would be stretching and warming up and madden would analyze an impact player on a team).

  • cf8240a

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 8:00 am PT

    He also had the dreaded "Sports Illustrated cover" curse - and nothing came about that. Alexander just mans up everytime. Can't wait to buy this game! The last time a Seattle Sports Star was on a game, it was Ken Griffey Jr.

  • 777rak

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 7:07 am PT

    It should have maybe ben Big Ben, or Bettis IMO

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 6:04 am PT

    Good for Shaun Alexander. However, I'll just continue to enjoy my copy of NFL 2K5 for which I only paid $4. Only when the next-gen versions of Madden NFL go about 4 generations in will I consider an upgrade. Perhaps EA will lose the exclusive NFL lisence by then. We can only dream...

  • WPack911

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 5:40 am PT

    Awesome cover, looks really cool.

  • xljohn

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 4:35 am PT

    Should have been Shaun King.

  • DarkHero1

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 4:17 am PT

    NICE!

    But I will never buy it.

  • KiLLer_ba

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 1:16 am PT

    Madden curse Victim

  • warrner11

    Posted Apr 21, 2006 1:11 am PT

    Alexander u poor poor Bastard... looks like your season is over with. If i was you, i'd insist that they take ya mug off the case b4 EA ends up KILLING YOU!!! You should hold off till midway does another BTL so you can be the "face" for that KICK @$$ game.

  • Sil3n7Knight

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 11:48 pm PT

    OMFG like we care!

  • crippla87

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 11:29 pm PT

    I love it! At least the Seahawks get some respect in some way. Ive seen nothing but Big Ben on the pics at EBgames. Goes to show you they should wait before they make fake pics! Heres to the Madden curse finally breaking, I hate that damn thing no matter what player it is.

  • Kwiksilva

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 11:06 pm PT

    super wack alexander isnt even that good

  • JMAN226

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 10:37 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • holhardy

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 10:23 pm PT

    chad or urlacker, jason taylor would be cool (fin fans) but shaun's a nice choice.

  • holhardy

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 10:21 pm PT

    chad johnson should have been better

  • jamesmt0032

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 9:44 pm PT

    now shaun will get hurt and itll be mack strongs turn to show u what a true man can do behind walter jones

  • vee438

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 9:39 pm PT

    hahaha seahawks are goin to be worse next season. you know im sayin this cuz im a falcons fan

  • MAILER_DAEMON Site moderator

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 9:00 pm PT

    Uh oh. There go the Seahawks' chance of returning to the Super Bowl next year.

  • Dafdiego777

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 8:26 pm PT

    Eh, can't wait for the 360 version.

  • Arley569

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 8:22 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • Smoke2Much

    Posted Apr 20, 2006 8:20 pm PT

    I think it's a great choise!

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