I was pumped yesterday for the football season to start again, but I felt deflated and already wanted this season over after seeing the Carolina Panthers just completely fall apart. Beyond feeling sorry for everyone on that team, I'm also feeling sorry for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Troy Polamalu, who is yet the latest in a line of people suffering from the Madden curse.

Troy Polamalu, who is one of the two stars on this year's cover of Madden, was injured in the first half of last night's season opener against the Tennessee Titans. After the Steelers blocked a field goal attempt, Polamalu bent down to recover the ball -- only to have a Titan land on his leg. Reports from early this morning say that it's a sprain to the MCL (medial collateral ligament) in his left knee, an injury that typically sidelines a player for 3-6 weeks.

When will football players learn to just say no to being on the cover of Madden?