NFL running back Peyton Hillis, 25, knows about the supposed curse that goes along with being selected for the cover of the Madden 12 video game. He just doesn’t buy into it.

“I don’t believe in curses,” Hillis told the New York Times.

“I could get hurt next year, but I don’t believe it has anything to do with the curse,” he added. “I’m a Christian man and I don’t believe anything could be put in front of me that God can’t take away. I would love to prove everyone wrong and have an exceptional year and not get hurt.”

After New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees made the cover of Madden 11, an ESPN NFC South blog chronicled the many injuries players have suffered after appearing on the cover of the game. Here are a few of them:

After appearing on the cover in 2002, quarterback Daunte Culpepper had a season-ending knee injury. In 2004, quarterback Michael Vick fractured his fibula one day after the game was released. In 2005, linebacker Ray Lewis broke his wrist, missing a game and experienced his first season without an interception. In 2006, quarterback Donovan McNabb had a sports hernia and missed seven games. In 2007, Shaun Alexander fractured his foot and missed six games.

The list goes on and on.

Follow us

But in 2010, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald shared the cover and he had a great season, making 97 receptions, scoring a career-high 13 touchdowns and being selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2011, quarterback Drew Brees was on the cover and he threw for 4,620 yards and 33 touchdowns and he too was selected to the Pro Bowl.

Rather than worrying about the curse, Hillis has been busy working out and trying to improve his Madden 12 skills.

“I’m good enough now to beat my brother,” Hillis said in the New York Times article. “That’s the most important thing.”