Madden 15: Player Ratings for Underrated NFL Stars
Last week, EA Sports revealed the complete player ratings for the upcoming Madden 15 video game. There weren't many surprises atop the ratings at the various NFL positions.
The Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson received a 99 overall rating. The Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning was the top-rated quarterback, and the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson reigned supreme among halfbacks.
Seeing those guys get love from ratings-makers is expected, but there are at least three NFL stars who can make the argument that they were shortchanged in their overall ratings.
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Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: 92 Overall Rating
It's hard to make a case that a guy rated in the 90s is underrated, but that could be the case with Antonio Brown. Despite finishing second in the NFL in receiving yards and receptions in 2013, Brown isn't even one of the top five wide receivers in the game.
What's up with that?
Perhaps the fact that Brown had only eight touchdown catches last season hurt his chances. Still, it seems as if possession receivers are getting the short end of the stick in Madden ratings.
Of the top five guys, only the Chicago Bears' Brandon Marshall and the Houston Texans' Andre Johnson aren't considered major deep threats at this point in their careers.
Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington: 89 Overall Rating
Pierre Garcon has a gripe similar to Brown's. Garcon led the NFL in receptions with 113, but he was only eighth in yardage and had only five receiving touchdowns in 2013.
Still, a rating below 90 for a guy who caught more passes than any other player in the NFL seems a little low. Perhaps the fact that Garcon had never come anywhere close to his 2013 production in any of his previous seasons played a role.
It may have been hard to jump him up too drastically after one breakout season.
Garcon would still be justified in scrunching his face up at his Madden 15 rating.
Junior Galette, OLB, New Orleans Saints: 85 Overall Rating
How much are 0.5 sacks worth? Depending on how you look at it, one could deduce that the minimal difference is worth eight ratings points in Madden 15.
Despite finishing with 12 sacks in 2013, Junior Galette only came away with an overall rating of an 85. His teammate Cameron Jordan, who plays defensive end, had 12.5 sacks last season, and his rating is a 93.
Some fans seem happy with Galette's rating.
Now obviously, the two men play different positions—but in the New Orleans defense, both of them have a similar responsibility to get to the opposing quarterback.
Jordan's reputation as a pass-rusher dwarfs Galette's at this point in their careers, but one has to wonder if the gap between the two should be a little smaller.
Galette is already using his famous beard as a means to push toward a football goal.
Imagine what he'd look if he decided not to shave until he was awarded a 90 overall rating in Madden. That could be a hairy situation.
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