Luckily, I was pointed in the direction of mtv.com's "multiplayerblog", who provided the following update courtesy of EA:
Madden NFL 09 will hit stores on Aug 12 with Brett Favre on the cover in his Green Bay Packers uniform... We do not plan to re-issue packaging, but WILL offer a free downloadable cover in the coming days on easports.com featuring Brett Favre in a Jets uniform. Fans can print this new cover out and insert it into the case of Madden NFL 09.
I'm glad to see EA take such a proactive approach to this, because if there's one thing gamers can't stand, it's a sense of false reality.
If EA is going to start providing downloadable covers, why limit yourself to just one? How about 32 covers, one for a star for each respective NFL club. What better way to remove the stigma of the Madden cover jinx than by allowing fans to curse the team of their choice. Patriots-haters could install Tom Brady on the cover. Those tired of the Colts could queue up Peyton Manning for posting. For those loathing the Denver Broncos, print out... I dunno. Selvin Young?
In any case, it's nice to see EA moving forward. Although there is one extenuating situation still to be resolved:
