Madden 15: Latest News, NFL Player Ratings and Release Date Info

The release date of Madden NFL 15 is scheduled for Aug. 26 in North America (Aug. 29 internationally), and it has football fans and video game enthusiasts counting down the days.

Customers will be greeted with Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman on the cover.

With the 2015 edition of the game being released on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, fans of the video game series from around the world will be able to enjoy the latest release.

Here is the latest news, a full breakdown of Madden NFL 15 and a full list of ratings for the top players at every position.

Top Quarterbacks	Team	Rating
Top Fullbacks	Team	Rating
Top Running Backs	Team	Rating
Top Tight Ends	Team	Rating
Top Wide Receivers	Team	Rating
Top Offensive Linemen	Team	Rating
Top Defensive Ends	Team	Rating
Top Defensive Tackles	Team	Rating
Top Middle Linebackers	Team	Rating
Top Outside Linebackers	Team	Rating
Top Cornerbacks	Team	Rating
Top Free Safeties	Team	Rating
Top Strong Safeties	Team	Rating
Top Kickers and Punters	Team	Rating
Peyton Manning	Denver Broncos	98
Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay Packers	98
Drew Brees	New Orleans Saints	96
Russell Wilson	Seattle Seahawks	93
Tom Brady	New England Patriots	93
John Kuhn	Green Bay Packers	93
Mike Tolbert	Carolina Panthers	92
Marcel Reece	Oakland Raiders	92
Anthony Sherman	Kansas City Chiefs	90
Jerome Felton	Minnesota Vikings	88
Adrian Peterson	Minnesota Vikings	98
LeSean McCoy	Philadelphia Eagles	97
Jamaal Charles	Kansas City Chiefs	97
Matt Forte	Chicago Bears	95
Marshawn Lynch	Seattle Seahawks	95
Jimmy Graham	New Orleans Saints	97
Rob Gronkowski	New England Patriots	96
Vernon Davis	San Francisco 49ers	94
Jason Witten	Dallas Cowboys	93
Greg Olsen	Carolina Panthers	88
Calvin Johnson	Detroit Lions	99
Brandon Marshall	Chicago Bears	96
Andre Johnson	Houston Texans	95
A.J. Green	Cincinnati Bengals	95
Dez Bryant	Dallas Cowboys	94
Joe Thomas	Cleveland Browns	98
Evan Mathis	Philadelphia Eagles	97
Josh Sitton	Green Bay Packers	97
Trent Williams	Washington	95
Joe Staley	San Francisco 49ers	94
J.J. Watt	Houston Texans	99
Robert Quinn	St. Louis Rams	97
Cameron Wake	Miami Dolphins	96
Calais Campbell	Arizona Cardinals	96
Cameron Jordan	New Orleans Saints	93
Muhammad Wilkerson	New York Jets	93
Ndamukong Suh	Detroit Lions	97
Geno Atkins	Cincinnati Bengals	96
Gerald McCoy	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	95
Kyle Williams	Buffalo Bills	95
Jurrell Casey	Tennessee Titans	93
Patrick Willis	San Francisco 49ers	96
NaVorro Bowman	San Francisco 49ers	96
Luke Kuechly	Carolina Panthers	94
Derrick Johnson	Kansas City Chiefs	91
Jerod Mayo	New England Patriots	91
Von Miller	Denver Broncos	96
Aldon Smith	San Francisco 49ers	96
Justin Houston	Kansas City Chiefs	93
Lavonte David	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	93
Robert Mathis	Indianapolis Colts	93
Richard Sherman	Seattle Seahawks	99
Darrelle Revis	New England Patriots	97
Joe Haden	Cleveland Browns	95
Patrick Peterson	Arizona Cardinals	93
Vontae Davis	Indianapolis Colts	92
Jairus Byrd	New Orleans Saints	96
Earl Thomas	Seattle Seahawks	95
Devin McCourty	New England Patriots	94
Eric Weddle	San Diego Chargers	94
Charles Woodson	Oakland Raiders	86
Kam Chancellor	Seattle Seahawks	93
Troy Polamalu	Pittsburgh Steelers	93
T.J. Ward	Denver Broncos	91
Eric Berry	Kansas City Chiefs	90
Reshad Jones	Miami Dolphins	89
Brandon Fields	Miami Dolphins	96
Matt Prater	Denver Broncos	95
Andy Lee	San Francisco 49ers	95
Robbie Gould	Chicago Bears	93
Justin Tucker	Baltimore Ravens	93

*All stats via EASports.com.

Breaking Down Madden NFL 15

The biggest news of the last week from EA Sports was the official rating of cover boy Sherman.

According to Adam Rank of NFL.com, Sherman is one of three players ranked 99 in this year’s game (Calvin Johnson and J.J. Watt are the other two) and is listed as No. 1 overall. Gamers and NFL fans have come to expect nothing less from the athlete on the cover of the game.

While the staggered release of the player ratings has created a legitimate buzz around this year's Madden release, the actual gameplay has many gamers intrigued about the upgrades EA Sports made over the winter.

One of the biggest upgrades will be the Defense Tackle Mechanics.

Gamers love playing defense. Since the invention of the Hit Stick, the art of laying the biggest hits is a Madden specialty that hardcore gamers take great pride in. The fans of defense in the series will be excited about the upgrades to the fundamental playing system.

EA Sports has broken tackles down into two types: aggressive or conservative. Just as in the NFL, a conservative tackle is the safer bet, but it is nowhere near as explosive. While aggressive hits have a lower success rate, they can also create tackles for a loss.

Another upgrade on defense is the War in the Trenches Mechanics. With the ability to utilize power or finesse pass-rush moves, gamers will get a more realistic feel from the defensive-line players. Add in the upgrades for speed off the line and the ability to disengage offensive linemen, and playing defensive line won’t just be for inexperienced players anymore.

Some of the best upgrades this year are part of the presentation.

Fans have always wanted to play games that feel like they are watching the action on television, and Madden NFL 15 does a great job replicating that feeling. From more team celebrations to timeout cutaways, NFL Films Senior Cinematographer Brian Murray was hired by EA Sports to be the presentation director for this year’s game, and he's made wholesale upgrades.

Fans of football and video games should expect more intimate visual presentations and montages, and the improvements of the jumbotrons and the commentary team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will have even the most jaded gamers satisfied.

This year’s Madden NFL 15 is much more than a roster update.

*Stats via NFL.com.

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