The problem was with the "launch.exe" file and the checks it did...
I copied the entire CD to an empty folder, replaced original with cracked exe and tried to install but it didn't work...
Then i replaced "launch.exe" with "NFL Madden 2003 Internet Demo.exe" from the Madden 2003 demo. These are the same, only the second doesn't check anything!
Then edited the "autorun.cfg" in the Autorun folder to point to "NFL Madden 2003 Internet Demo.exe" instead of "launch.exe" and it worked!!!