The All-Time Madden Team at the Skill Positions

Madden 13 is one of the best versions of the game in its 24-year series. In those 24 years, the game has seen some truly dominant players.

Supremacy is in the player ratings, and only a few possess the power to grant virtual gridiron invincibility.

Every year a team of developers—that happen to be football fans—get together to properly rate every player in the NFL based on their performance from the previous year.

This isn’t a "what have you done for me lately?" process. Established stars get the benefit of the doubt in some areas, even if they didn’t shine as bright in the most recent season.

For example, if Ray Lewis misses a few more tackles in 2012 than he did in 2011, EA isn’t going to treat him like a rookie in the player ratings.

Rating the players is a thankless job, because no matter what happens you can't please everyone.

The results have been interesting in some cases, as the ratings and gameplay have created some absolute monsters.

This is a list of the most awesome cyber athletes ever created in an EA Sports laboratory. Of course, every player on the list had an overall rating of at least a 99. 

Yes, I said at least; flip through the slideshow to see what I mean.

Quarterback – Mike Vick in Madden 04

Mike Vick was the cover athlete for Madden 04, and he was nearly unstoppable. 

Vick was the closest thing to Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl in regards to video game awesomeness. In some instances, he may have had Bo beat, because Bo couldn’t throw the ball.

Vick was blazing fast. 

He could throw on the run about as accurately as he could flick it standing still. To top it all off, Vick’s strong arm was well represented also.

If you were playing against a human opponent controlling Vick and the Atlanta Falcons, you were in for a long game.

Check out the video to see a few examples of Vick decimating opponents.

Running Back – Barry Sanders in Madden’ 99

Barry Sanders was so fast in Madden’ 99, it was as if he was running at a different frame rate than the other player models.

Literally all it took was one juke, and he was gone.

Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson have all been devastating forces on Madden, but as the realism increased their effect on the game wasn’t as drastic as Sanders’.

No virtual back was more dominant than Barry.

Wide Receiver – Randy Moss in Madden’ 09

The year after Moss lit the world on fire for the New England Patriots with 98 receptions, 1493 receiving yards and an NFL-record 23 TDs, EA Sports justifiably made him a virtual beast in Madden’ 09.

If Moss was in one-one-coverage against any cornerback, you may as well chalk up six points. 

He was rated a 98 in speed, a 97 in catching and a 93 in awareness. He was even given a 95 rating in morale.

He was “straight cash homie.”

Defensive Lineman – Jared Allen in Madden’ 11

Allen deserved a 99 overall rating in Madden’ 13, in my opinion. But he definitely earned his maxed-out rating in Madden’ 11. The human calf-roper was a colossal cyber force in this version of Madden.

How dominant was Allen in the game?

Consider this: I’m a diehard Chicago Bears’ fan, but I packaged three players and two draft picks in my franchise mode to acquire him.

Take a look at Allen showing off his speed and hands in the video.

Linebacker - Ray Lewis – Madden’ 02-06

Lewis is my favorite player in real life, and he’s one of my favorites to control in Madden. He was rated a 99 overall for five consecutive versions of the game.

Only Peyton Manning had a longer streak with six-straight.

A 99 awareness rating for Lewis is like an absolute given, so even as his physical ratings begin to drop, he maintains a solid overall rating because of his mental edge.

Lewis was so good in all five of his max-rated seasons that I simply can’t choose one. 

Ray has certainly left his mark on football and on the Madden series. Check out the inspiring Madden 13 trailer featured above.

Cornerback – Deion Sanders – Madden’ 99

We talk a lot about 99 overall ratings, but Prime Time was one of a handful of players to receive the rare 100 overall rating. But Deion is the only player to receive the honor twice in the retail version.

In Madden’ 99 he was at his best.

I loved using him at both WR and CB, and of course as a kick and punt returner. Sanders is another one of my all-time favorites, and the greatest cornerback in Madden history.

Safety – Troy Polamalu – Madden’ 10

Polamalu shared the cover with Larry Fitzgerald after the Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

But Polamalu stood alone amongst safeties in Madden. The man with the hair had a 93 speed rating, a 91 in awareness and an 85 in tackling.

No defensive player tackled as hard and could beat you with the clutch interception like Polamalu could. The video is an ode to his fierce presence in Madden’ 10.

Kick and Punt Returner – Devin Hester – Madden’ 08

Generally I wouldn’t have included this position, but Devin Hester is ridiculous. His dominance as a return man in real life prompted EA Sports to give him an unprecedented 100 speed rating in Madden’ 08.

Sure it is only one point higher than the speed ratings for Moss and Deion Sanders in the past, but it was the principle of the honor.

Hester's speed could change the game as a return man.