Madden 13: Re-Ranking EA Sports Top 10 Defensive Players

If you missed it, the good folks over at EA Sports have revealed the top-10 defensive players in Madden 13.

While the game itself has received drastic upgrades, there will never be a year where the astute NFL fan doesn’t disagree with the rankings. That’s where opinions come in handy.

As great as the game is and as close as the rankings really are to truth, there is little doubt that this top-10 is just slightly out of order.

Thank goodness for everyone that I’m here to make it all better!

EA Sports’ Madden 13 Top-10 Defensive Players

1. Darrelle Revis (New York Jets Cornerback) 99 overall

2. Demarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys OLB) 99 overall

3. Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers MLB) 98 overall

4. Jared Allen (Minnesota Vikings Defensive End) 98 overall

5. Justin Smith (San Francisco 49ers Defensive End) 98 overall

6. Julius Peppers (Chicago Bears Defensive End) 97 overall

7. Haloti Ngata (Baltimore Ravens Defensive Lineman) 97 overall

8. Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers Strong Safety) 97 overall

9. Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens Free Safety) 97 overall

10. Mario Williams (Buffalo Bills Defensive End) 97 overall

Donald Wood’s Re-ranked Madden 13 Top-10 Defensive Players

1. Darrelle Revis (New York Jets Cornerback) 99 overall

2. Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers MLB) 99 overall

3. Julius Peppers (Chicago Bears Defensive End) 98 overall

4. Demarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys OLB) 98 overall

5. Jared Allen (Minnesota Vikings Defensive End) 98 overall

6. Haloti Ngata (Baltimore Ravens Defensive Lineman) 97 overall

7. Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers Strong Safety) 97 overall

8. Mario Williams (Buffalo Bills Defensive End) 96 overall

9. Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens Free Safety) 96 overall

10. Justin Smith (San Francisco 49ers Defensive End) 95 overall

What Changed?

The biggest droppers in this top-10 have to be Dallas Cowboys star Demarcus Ware and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith. EA Sports had them both ranked high on the list, but both were slid down because of overhype and their battles with father time.

As far as the biggest jumpers on this board, Patrick Willis is an absolute stud and deserves to be No. 2. Another great player that deserved to be higher is Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers, who moved up to No. 3.

While the order obviously changed, I also made the criteria for the overall ranking a little stricter.

With the best players being so much better than the rest of the league, they should be rewarded with a definitive edge. Hence the drop to a guy like Justin Smith.

What Stayed the Same?

Any NFL fans knows about Revis Island and what happens when a receiver gets stuck on it, so giving Darrelle Revis anything but a 99 overall rating and the No. 1 overall spot is foolish.

As far as the rest of the secondary players on this list—Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu and Baltimore’s Ed Reed—father time and injuries have caught up with them quickly and they are not the same powerhouses they once were. Being positioned at the back of the top-10 is a sign of respect by EA Sports because neither will finish there.

While defensive ends Jared Allen and Haloti Ngata both moved up slightly, they stayed right around the same spots and deservedly so. As great as both men are, they aren’t the best in the league, but could easily take that honor with a dominant 2012.

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s NFL page to get your fill of all things football.

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