1999 Cover: Garrison Hearst
Garrison Hearst appearing on the 1999 PAL cover was known to be the "start" of the curse, as after his appearance, he broke his ankle and was out for two seasons
2000 Cover: Barry Sanders
Sanders abruptly retired before training camp
2001 Cover: Eddie George
The Tennessee Titans lost in the divisional round in the 2001 playoffs. Late in the 4th quarter with the Titans down 17–10, a Steve McNair pass was bobbled by George and intercepted by Ray Lewis for a touchdown, sealing the game. George also never averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry for the rest of his career
2002 Cover:Dante Culpepper
He threw 23 interceptions as the Vikings slumped to a 5–11 record. He also tied the record for most fumbles in a single season. While his career looked to be back on track in 2004 with a career season, he blew out both knees in 2005 and 2006 and never resembled the player he was at the start of the decade
2003 Cover: Marshall Faulk
He did not register another 1,000-yard rushing season and his yards per carry average dropped from a consistent 5.4 over the previous three years to 4.5 in 2002 and 4.0 in 2003 and 2004. He started 21 out of a possible 32 games from 2002–2003 as knee injuries got the better of him. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery in 2005 and retired that same year. Since 2007, the Rams have a record of 22-73-1
2004 Cover: Michael Vick
He broke his fibula in a pre-season game against the Baltimore Ravens, and the Atlanta Falcons went 5–11. Years later it was discovered that he participated in an illegal dog-fighting ring and he was sent to prison
2005 Cover: Ray Lewis
His season was cut short in week 15 with a wrist injury. It was also Lewis' first season without an interception
2006 Cover: Donovan McNabb
Tore his ACL and meniscus in his right knee while jumping out of bounds in a game versus the Tennessee Titans, ending his season. McNabb also suffered a sports hernia in the first game of the season
2007 COver: Shaun Alexander
He sustained a foot injury that caused him to miss six starts. As a result, Alexander’s rushing statistics were substantially less than those from the previous season, and he never returned to true form
2008 Cover: Vince Young
Young suffered longer-term injuries in 2008 (from which he came back in 2009) and 2010, which, combined with a coaching dispute, led to the Titans releasing Young prior to the 2011 season
2009 COver: Brett Favre
Favre came back out of retirement and was traded to the New York Jets, where he was plagued by poor on-field performance and an off-field sexual harassment scandal
2010 Cover: Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu
Polamalu sprained his MCL in the first half of the season opener and missed the next four games. After returning, Polamalu played in three more games before injuring his posterior cruciate ligament on November 14, 2009 against Cincinnati, and missed more games as a result. Fitzgerald did not attend the Pro Bowl due to a rib injury, leaving Steve Smith of the New York Giants to take his spot in the 2010 Pro Bowl
2011 Cover: Drew Brees
Brees threw twice as many interceptions (22) that season as in the Saints' 2009 Super Bowl-winning campaign (11). Also, his Quarterback Rating dropped nearly 20 points, and the Saints lost in the first round of the playoffs to the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks, the only team to date to make the playoffs with a losing record in a full-length season
2012 Cover: Peyton Hillis
Hillis missed five games in the 2011 NFL season with a hamstring injury and missed one game with strep throat, causing his numbers to decline continuously after the second week. Hillis suffered a re-injury to his hamstring during practice before week nine. In addition, his divisive behavior in the Browns locker room during the season, particularly with regards to his contentious contract negotiations, were the subject of much media attention. Hillis eventually left the Browns, signing a with the Kansas City Chiefs during the off season as a free agent
2013 Cover: Calvin Johnson
Johnson admitted to playing with broken fingers throughout the season and the Lions had 4-12 record
