EA Sports Madden 25 release sure to stir player-rating debates
BY JOE COWLEY Staff Reporter August 26, 2013 5:12PM
- DOWNLOAD: "Brian Urlacher: Bear For Life" eBook
- DOWNLOAD: "Marc Trestman: 'Smartest Guy in the Room'" eBook
- DOWNLOAD: "The 50 Greatest Bears" eBook
Article Extras
Updated: August 27, 2013 10:51AM
Who said there was no respect for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler out there?
Last year’s Madden ’13 overall rating was an 87. In the game’s latest version - Madden 25 – Cutler was bumped up to an 88.
That’s progress. Baby steps, but progress.
That also puts him in the same zip code of other quarterbacks like Josh Freeman (87), Philip Rivers (87), and Colin Kaepernick (87). Cutler’s physical grade is a 97. Where he gets hurt? Intangibles (79). Whether it’s bad body language, shoving his own linemen now and again, or his lovable personality with the media, Cutler’s 98 throwing power means little in the Madden world.
So let the debate begin.
That’s what usually happens this time of year when EA Sports releases the latest version in the Madden video game franchise, with most of that arguing taking place in NFL locker rooms between players.
Even last year, Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was floored with the fact that his speed rating was a 94. His argument was his 4.36 40-yard dash at the combine compared to the 4.41 Devin Hester ran.
Jennings’ case was heard by EA Sports’ Director of Marketing Anthony Stevenson, and then simply ignored, with Jennings still landing a 94 rating in the speed category compared to the 98 that Hester still owns.
That doesn’t mean that changes weren’t made in the 25th anniversary of the most successful sports video game franchise.
A new precision modifier unlocks different variations that ballcarriers can unleash on the opposition, such as spins, jukes, stiff arms or simply trucking a defender over.
Madden 25 also borrowed some of the playbook upgrades from NCAA ’14, especially when it comes to the read option that San Francisco, Washington and Seattle have all adopted.
But the biggest change is tweaks to the Infinity Engine, which makes tackles and impact more realistic.
Overall, Madden 25 continued to move the game in a forward direction, and there will be a lot of happy gamers with the release this week.
Who knows, maybe even Cutler.
TOP PLAYER RANKINGS FOR THE BEARS Charles Tillman 97 Matt Forte 93 Tim Jennings 91 Brandon Marshall 90 Julius Peppers 88 Jay Cutler 88 Jermon Bushrod 88 Robbie Gould 88
Email: jcowley@suntimes.com
