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Madden NFL 10: Two Cover Stars and Top Ten Position Ratings

By BrianEk, GameSpotPosted Apr 24, 2009 1:57 pm PT

As you probably know by now, this year's Madden cover features two football greats: Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu. It's the first time the Madden cover has been shared and it marks Fitz's return to the cover of an EA Sports football...

As you probably know by now, this year's Madden cover features two football greats: Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu. It's the first time the Madden cover has been shared and it marks Fitz's return to the cover of an EA Sports football game (he was last seen on NCAA Football 2005).

Today, I had a chance to hang out with Larry, speak with him about being on the cover of the game (look for that video next week) and also check out the annual Madden luncheon, which featured a panel discussion about the game, player ratings, and the upcoming 2009 NFL Draft. Hosted by Rich Eisen of the NFL Network, the show also featured players like Fitzgerald, Madden NFL 2005 cover star Ray Lewis, newly minted Kansas City Chief Matt Cassel, and New York Giants' running back Brandon Jacobs.

Host Rich Eisen, Brandon Jacobs, Matt Cassel, Ray Lewis, Larry Fitzgerald

During the show, Eisen and company revealed the top ten players at several positions in the upcoming Madden 10, as well as their overall ratings. Here's how things will break down this season:

Quarterback
(Name, Team)
1 Peyton Manning -- Indianapolis
2 Tom Brady -- New England
3 Drew Brees -- New Orleans
4 Kurt Warner -- Arizona
5 Ben Roethlisberger -- Pittsburgh
6 Donovan McNabb -- Philadelphia
7 Tony Romo -- Dallas
8 Philip Rivers -- San Diego
9 Jay Cutler -- Chicago
10 Eli Manning - New York
(Sorry, wasn't quick enough on the draw to grab the QBs' overall ratings)

Wide Receiver
(Name, Team, Overall Rating)
1 Larry Fitzgerald -- Arizona -- 99
2 Andre Johnson -- Houston -- 98
3 Steve Smith -- Carolina -- 97
4 Randy Moss -- New England -- 96
5 Reggie Wayne -- Indianapolis -- 95
6 Anquan Boldin -- Arizona -- 94
Roddy White -- Atlanta -- 94
8 Wes Welker -- New England -- 93
9 Brandon Marshall -- Denver -- 92
Calvin Johnson -- Detroit -- 92

Tight End
(Name, Team, Overall Rating)
1 Tony Gonzalez -- Atlanta -- 98
2 Jason Witten -- Dallas -- 97
3 Antonio Gates -- San Diego -- 95
4 Chris Cooley -- Washington -- 91
Dallas Clark -- Indianapolis -- 91
6 Kellen Winslow -- Tampa Bay -- 90
Heath Miller -- Pittsburgh -- 90
8 Owen Daniels -- Houston -- 89
9 John Carlson -- Seattle -- 87
10 Jeremy Shockey -- New Orleans -- 86

Running Back
(Name, Team, Overall Rating)
1 Adrian Peterson -- Minnesota -- 98
2 Brian Westbrook -- Philadelphia -- 97
3 Michael Turner -- Atlanta -- 95
DeAngelo Williams -- Carolina -- 95
5 Clinton Portis -- Washington -- 94
LaDanian Tomlinson -- San Diego -- 94
7 Steven Jackson -- St. Louis -- 93
Frank Gore -- San Francisco -- 93
9 Maurice Jones-Drew -- Jacksonville -- 92
10 Marion Barber -- Dallas -- 91

Defenders
(Name, Team, Position, Overall Rating)
1 Albert Haynesworth -- Washington -- DT -- 99
Ed Reed -- Baltimore -- FS -- 99
Troy Polamalu -- Pittsburgh -- SS -- 99
Nnamdi Asomugha -- Oakland -- CB -- 99
Jared Allen -- Minnesota -- DE -- 99
6 James Harrison -- Pittsburgh -- OLB - 98
Justin Tuck -- New York Giants -- DE -- 98
DeMarcus Ware -- Dallas -- OLB -- 98
Adrian Wilson -- Arizona -- SS -- 98
Patrick Willis -- San Francisco -- MLB -- 98

Next up were the movers and shakers, the players who have had seen the biggest year-on-year swing (either positively or negatively) in their overall Madden rating. First up, the bad news:

Shakers
DeAngelo Hall -- Washington CB
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 93
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 68
Difference: -25

Matt Leinart -- Arizona QB
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 85
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 62
Difference: -23

Devin Thomas--Washington WR
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 81
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 63
Difference: -18

Torrey Holt -- Jacksonville WR
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 96
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 84
Difference: -12

Fred Smoot -- Washington CB
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 87
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 76
Difference: -11

Finally, take a look at the players who improved most from the previous Madden game. You'll notice more than one rookie on this list:

Movers
Chris Johnson -- Oakland CB
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 67
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 82
Difference: +14

Steve Slaton -- Houston RB
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 74
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 87
Difference: +13

DeAngelo Williams--Carolina RB
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 84
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 95
Difference: +11

Matt Forte -- Chicago RB
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 80
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 89
Difference: +9

Matt Cassel -- Kansas City QB
Madden NFL 09 Overall Rating: 76
Madden NFL 10 Overall Rating: 83
Difference: +7

So there you go; a first look at some of the ratings in Madden NFL 10. Who do you think should be tops at each position in the game?

114 Comments

  • myrtlebeach

    Posted Aug 11, 2009 11:29 am PT

    why is shawne merriman not on that list after missing the season, but tom brady is there (and at the top of the list no less) and he missed the season too.. stupid stuff

  • nstraton

    Posted Aug 11, 2009 9:57 am PT

    wtf why is deangelo williams so high? i mean he had a good season but not that good and there is no way that steve smith is better than randy moss . . . i think theres a panther fan on the development team

  • shayor_usa

    Posted Jul 20, 2009 8:40 am PT

    steve smith should not be higher than moss or wayne

  • Kool-Aid247

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 7:19 pm PT

    What about Matt Ryan! That dude is beast..
    it should be..

    1. Tom Brady
    2. Drew Brees
    3. Kurt
    4. Jay
    5. Ben
    6. Carson
    7. Donovan
    8. Phill
    9. Romo

  • ivyn1

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:39 am PT

    Quarterbacks: 1. Peyton Manning- 99
    2. Tom Brady- 98
    3. Drew Brees- 97
    4. Kurt Warner- 94
    5. Ben Roethlisberger- 93
    6. Donovan McNabb- 91
    7. Philip Rivers- 88
    8. Carson Palmer- 87
    8. Jay Cutler- 87
    8. Tony Romo- 87

    Eli not in to 10 for some reason

  • bryanj2006

    Posted May 18, 2009 1:53 pm PT

    were is terrell owens? reggie wayne, brandon marshall, and roddie white, but no T.O. and why drop torry holts stats b/c he was on a crappy team, and now hes on a decent team? and why drop devin thomas to a 63, he did start making plays at the end of his rookie year last year, and hes going to see way more playing time this year?

  • YungPakaCaveman

    Posted May 13, 2009 3:18 pm PT

    I think LT should be right ahead of Michael Turner he had one good season and LT has proven alot more than he has! and Philip Rivers should definitely be ahead of Tony Romo!

  • Franchise123

    Posted May 10, 2009 6:06 pm PT

    Don't you hate it when in the offseason in franchise mode when a player retires when in real life he goes for another season? For example, Lorenzo Neal, he's old but he always goes for another season. My point is, they should make it so the manager has the choice to if he retires or not.(only if his contract is over with the team, but also another team should be a able to sign him)

  • Neovenator12

    Posted May 9, 2009 11:30 pm PT

    Wow! D. Hall dropped 25 points. I sure am glad Dan Snyder invested $50 Million in him

  • bxj4pres

    Posted May 6, 2009 9:16 pm PT

    I think Brees to Mcnabb should be 97 to 95. and i just wanna know what Desean Jackson rating is gonna be after having a great rookie season. he should have probably been in the category for most improved. if he isn't high 80'2 to 90 then there is a problem.

  • Giants42

    Posted May 5, 2009 3:35 pm PT

    Where is Big Bad Brandon Jacobs? He is better than he better than barber, gore and jones-drew, he is the reason the gmen have the best run game in the nfl in 2008. And Eli is better than Baby Cutler, Romo and Rivers(good job for getting the qb ratings).

  • zmdecker24

    Posted May 5, 2009 2:44 pm PT

    One last thing...

    Jennings is one of the elite recievers of the league, but he plays on a team that gets NO credit (the Packers).
    However, i think they should make him a 94+, he is a talent and something teams have to plan for. Also, Aaron Rodgers should be up there too. For succeeding the legendary Brett Favre, he did a hell of a job.

    One last thing; Michael Turner was second in the league for rushing and had a lot of touchdowns. Thats why he's 3rd in the game. He's a tank. Did anyone even watch those game? haha

  • zmdecker24

    Posted May 5, 2009 2:40 pm PT

    Alrighty...first off i disagree with the claim on Barber being overrated; he is an exclusive up-the-middle back and still managed a par season with a struggling Cowboys team. I agree, however, that LT is overrated still. Hopefully he bounces back though!

    I am most frustrated with the rating on Jared Allen though. Jared Allen is NOT the best Defensive End in the league. He is very good, but not the best. Being a Falcons fan, it would be obvious i assume John Abraham is better. I do they are equal; John Abraham had 2 more sacks on the season, whereas Jared Allen had 17 more tackles. John Abraham also had one more fumble forced. I find it hard to believe that the Abraham will be rated around 94 when he had just as (if not better than!) good as stats as Allen did. I just find that frustrating. Especially in the divisions; Allen played in the weakened NFC North (Bears horrendous offense, Detroits 0-16, and the Packers rebuilding team) whereas Abraham played the surprising NFC South (The playoff-bound Panthers, the passing machine that is the Saints, and the smashmouth team of the Buccaneers). I think they need to revalue the DE in this game, even if it is not John Abraham.

    *Also, i agree. Calvin Johnson should be a 95ish. He had a spectacular season for a terrible team.

  • xZeppelin18x

    Posted May 3, 2009 5:07 pm PT

    calvin got f***ed.

  • shawn305

    Posted May 3, 2009 10:53 am PT

    for Wide Receiver from Fitzgerald to Moss should be 99 overall

    Brady and PAYTON Manning should be 99 overall

  • shandoo45

    Posted May 3, 2009 10:43 am PT

    Wes welker should be 95 moss 94 and cassel should be 85

  • Coltz53091

    Posted May 1, 2009 4:44 am PT

    I think Ben should be a higher rating than he is, I saw this, and I think his rating was 93. I think he deserves to be more, he already has 2 super bowls :\ I also can't believe Wes Welker is that high a rating..Frank Gore is over rated, Chris Johnson should be much higher. and I'm glad Carson Palmer finally isn't highly rated..that is one sucky QB XD

  • foofightersrule

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 8:17 pm PT

    No Jamarcus on the top 10 quarterbacks??!! Hell who am I fooling, he wouldn't make the top ten if there were only 10 in the league... I hate my team

  • elijah783

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 12:18 pm PT

    really EA....calvin johnson rated lower than wes welker...the guy played for detroit with a revolving QB door...continually beat double teams and teams focused on stopping him....wes welker caught screen passes...all year....he probably caught 8 balls that were further than 4 yards from the line of scrimmage....he's a product of a scheme and having randy moss get the D's attention

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