Madden 12 Player Ratings: 5 Players Who Must Receive 100 Club Status

I can’t stand the wait! I’m about to explode from the anticipation of Madden 12!

The greatest football game ever is set to hit the streets August 30 to consume our souls for the next 12 months.

After playing the demo, it’s easy to say this will be the best Madden in history. The game is smoother than ever and the graphics are phenomenal. This year, five players will receive the all-coveted 100 rating in one select category. This is an extreme rarity in Madden. The 99 rating used to be the most coveted, but 100 takes player ratings to a completely new level.

We have five candidates fighting it out for the fans’ vote in five different categories to be honored with this immense 100 rating. We know players get bent out of shape with their player rating—rightfully so—so I can only imagine the mayhem that will ensue when some of these men have their hopes and dreams of earning 100 club status shattered.

EA Sports has provided us with some questionable candidates, but it won’t matter in the end as there is only one player worthy to be in the 100 club for each category. If I hear one word from one of these undeserving candidates about not making it, I’ll flip.

Given the anticipation for this year’s Madden, it’s great to see EA Sports giving the fans an opportunity to partake in the ratings. We the fans have made Madden a phenomenon and deserve to have our voice heard—as long as the public makes the right choice.

We know the fans often have difficulty doing what’s right in All-Star voting, so it is imperative they listen to reason and make the right decision with these all-important Madden player ratings. Our Madden experience on and offline is at stake with these ratings! We must do what’s right! We must grant these five following players 100 club status!

Throw Accuracy

"

Candidates:

Tom Brady

Peyton Manning

Drew Brees

Aaron Rodgers

Philip Rivers

"

As much as I would love to give it to Tom Brady, who I feel is the greatest quarterback to ever live, it’s all about last year’s Madden cover boy.

Drew Brees is the most accurate QB in the game today. The guy simply gets “it.” He knows exactly where to place the ball for his receivers to haul it in with ease. He targets the eyes of his receivers to give them the best opportunity to haul in the rock anywhere on the field.

He’s completed an astonishing 69.4 percent of his passes the past two seasons. Brees is the unquestionable definition of accuracy. He has completed at least 64 percent of his passes the last seven seasons and now, entering a contract year, he will enjoy another explosive season. 

Elusiveness

"

Candidates:

Jamaal Charles

Adrian Peterson

Danny Woodhead

LeSean McCoy

Ray Rice

"

This is an interesting category given the candidates, because they the likes of Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice are elusive in more “powerful” ways. Danny Woodhead and “Shady” McCoy deserve to be on the list, but over somebody like Chris Johnson? I don’t know about that just yet.

When I first think about a running back that is elusive, I think of Johnson. The next best option is the man who is most compared to the Titan: Jamaal Charles.

Charles emerged last season as one of the most dynamic playmakers in NFL history. He nearly broke Jim Brown’s yard per carry average last season, as he finished with 1,467 yards on 230 attempts for a 6.38 average. He makes his living slicing and dicing defenders with his envious jukes and cut-back ability.

Hit Power

"

Candidates:

Ray Lewis

James Harrison

Patrick Willis

Rey Mualuga

Clay Matthews

"

This is a tough category since Ray Lewis, James Harrison and Patrick Willis all make strong cases for the 100 club. Unfortunately, there are no ties in this business—unlike the NFL, right Donovan McNabb?

It comes down to Lewis and Harrison, who give ball carriers nightmares for weeks leading up to their meeting. Lewis broke Rashard Mendenhall’s shoulder three years ago while Harrison concusses nearly anybody he touches.

You never want to go against the greatest middle linebacker, because Lewis will punish you and get away with it. But I’ll give the nod to “The Terminator” Harrison since he destroyed more souls last season than Ray.

Spectacular Catch

"

Candidates:

Braylon Edwards

Brandon Lloyd

Larry Fitzgerald

Calvin Johnson

Dez Bryant

"

This is another difficult category since Brandon Lloyd, Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson make more circus catches in a season than anybody else. It is often mind-boggling how they make some of their receptions since a normal human being wouldn’t even come close.

With many apologies to Lloyd (don’t want to be cursed out) and “Megatron” (don’t want to be annihilated), I’m giving the nod to Fitz. On my clutch scale, he still ranks ahead of Lloyd and Megatron, so he deserves to enter the 100 club. He already has two phenomenal receptions in the preseason and was signed to a well-deserved extension, which means we’re in store for more goodies in Arizona. 

Speed

"

Candidates:

Chris Johnson

DeSean Jackson

Jamaal Charles

Devin Hester

Jacoby Ford

"

Congrats to Charles for making two categories, but he won’t receive two 100 ratings this year.

Not a single man on this list can topple Chris Johnson in the speed category. This is the same man who ran a 4.24 at the NFL combine in 2008. His speed is off the charts and is truly “every Coach's dream,” but more importantly, “every defensive coordinator's worst nightmare.”

There is no way to prepare for his speed. He can out-run anybody on the field and rivals Adrian Peterson as the best running back in the NFL because of his inhumane combination of speed and agility.

Tennessee needs to pay this man top dollar because he’s worth every penny. It is scary to think he can get better, but he’s headed that way with improved strength and vision as he enters the prime of his life.