Nothing might get players more riled up than them seeing their Madden rating lower than what they think it should be.
Usually, unless they’re a 99, which is rare, most guys think they should be rated higher.
This year, one of those guys who feels he was rated a little too low is the Bengals star, WR Ja’Marr Chase. He had a great rookie season that saw him catch 81 passes for 1455 yards and 13 touchdowns. He truly was one of the best WR in the league last year, so most thought he would be one of the higher-rated players.
He was rated an 87, which put him outside of the top 10.
The start of training camps for most NFL teams is only a week away. After a brief break, football is back in the consciousness of the sports fan … if it ever really left. And with it comes the preparation for the latest Madden video game. But this year’s game, which will be released Aug. 19, is a little bit different.
Following the death of the series’ namesake, Hall of Fame coach John Madden, on Dec. 28, 2021, and EA Sports’ decision to put Madden on the cover, there’s a feeling of legacy around the game this year. But Madden always wanted the game to be about football and to approximate the reality of the sport he loved to coach, teach and talk about as closely as it could. He was the one who pushed for it to be 11-on-11 at the outset. He was the one who was still involved in aspects of the video game up until his death.
As the game grew in the zeitgeist of American culture, certain aspects stood out more than others. Ratings matter to players. They’ll complain on social media about their rating and sometimes raise questions to those who are doing it. The Madden staff has an entire crew dedicated to adjusting ratings throughout the year. It’s a big deal.
And with that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the initial ratings at launch of Madden 23, some top players at each position and the annual 99 club, which has turned into an honor around the sport.
Chase just said that it’s extra motivation and that he was going to keep working, but it was Bucs QB Tom Brady who had one of the best responses letting the 2nd year pro that he wasn’t even included in the game his 2nd season.
Brady went on to help lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl win and win Super Bowl MVP, so he might know a thing or two.
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