1. 2001 cover: Eddie George
Before cover: The Tennessee Titans reached the Super Bowl the prior season and the running back had gone to three consecutive Pro Bowls.
After cover: George averaged 3.2 yards per carry in 2001 and ’02 and the Titans haven’t been back to the Super Bowl.
2. 2002 cover: Daunte Culpepper
Before cover: The Minnesota Vikings quarterback threw 33 TD passes and led team to NFC championship game.
After cover: Culpepper missed five games in 2001 with a knee injury, threw a league-high 23 interceptions in 2002.
3. 2003 cover: Marshall Faulk
Before cover: The St. Louis Rams running back was the first NFL player to gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage in four consecutive seasons; the Rams had been to playoffs three straight years.
After cover: Plagued by an ankle injury, Faulk started only 10 games; Rams missed playoffs.
4. 2004 cover: Michael Vick
Before cover: The former No. 1 overall draft pick led the Atlanta Falcons to the playoffs and a first-round victory over Green Bay.
After cover: Suffered a broken leg in Saturday’s exhibition game and will be out at least six weeks.
Note: The video titles correspond to the calendar year of each season’s Super Bowl
