It might not be coming out until August 25—which was disappointing when I heard that—but the newest installment of the Madden video game series, Madden ’16, still has football fans on the edge of their seats in anticipation.
With new features including touch and roll-out passes and a risk/reward pass-defend system, along with the standard, trademark gameplay, there’s no doubt that this year’s Madden will live up to the hype of previous seasons and deliver the best virtual football experience available.
Over the years, Madden has helped evolve the sports video game industry into something never before seen, giving those who play it the feel of real-life football.
Of course, like on the real gridiron, not every player is created equal, with different guys carrying different attributes, leaving some to have unworldly talent.
Who were the most dominating Madden players in the history of the game, though? I dug through the annals to answer that very question for you—and I’m sure you’ve been burned by a few of these guys before.
10. Marcel Reece, 2011
You may be wondering why in the hell I started this list with a fullback. Seriously, do you think I’m insane right now?
But, before you go all agro on me and just tune-out the entire article, hear me out.
While good Madden players depend on high-profile names at running back, wide receiver and tight end to bury their opponents, it’s the great ones who see matchups to help get them wins.
Marcel Reece in 2011 represented that unfair matchup.
Blessed with a 90 speed rating, Reece would blow by every linebacker that even attempted to defend him, giving a decently accurate quarterback a target to hit on most plays.
With solid passing ability, Reece—yes, Marcel Reece—could single-handedly make you lose your shit in 2011’s Madden.
9. Daunte Culpepper, 2002 and 2006
Having earned cover-boy status for the 2002 version, former strong-armed gunslinger quarterback Daunte Culpepper was a safe bet to absolutely shred a defense, using a strong arm and tremendous accuracy to do so while with the Minnesota Vikings.
While the ’02 version of Culpepper was great, the 2006 digital Daunte was actually even better, earning a 98 overall rating that saw the guy put together an aerial show that compares nicely to the Blue Angels.
He may have flamed-out shortly after, but 2006 Culpepper was nearly unstoppable to stop through the air in that season’s Madden.
8. Reggie Bush, 2007
For those not old enough to remember the hype surrounding Reggie Bush’s rookie season, I can tell you that it was insane.
Compared to NFL Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, Bush was supposed to rewrite what being a running back in the league was supposed to be, showing versatility, speed and a pass-catching ability never before seen.
You know who really bought that hype? The developers of Madden 2007, who gave the former USC Trojans star an unprecedented rookie rating of 87 overall rating.
With amazing speed and the agility to juke defenders at ease, the ’07 Madden Bush consistently racked up over 2,000 yards on the ground and 90-plus catches through the air during a Franchise mode season.
7. Peyton Manning, 2006
There have been really good Madden quarterbacks, and then there have been really frustrating ones—who also happen to be really, really good.
That was Peyton Manning in 2006, which, thanks to the new quarterback vision cone, was next to unstoppable when it came to defending passes against him.
Virtually spanning the entire field from sideline-to-sideline, the greatest passer in NFL history was rewarded for his golden arm even nine years ago, with the ability and accuracy to throw to any of his receivers without have to scan the field while under pressure.
It really was unfair and, more than likely, caused a few broken controllers from human players who were just pissed off with how ridiculous it was.
6. Ed Reed, 2006
A consistently ranked 99 overall for years, longtime Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed was just about the prototype safety for the Madden franchise.
Whether it was his ability to sit back and read offenses with his awareness and 99 zone rating, or his playmaking ability as a punisher on hits or following a turnover, Madden 2006 Ed Reed was terrifying to play against.
There were times where, playing with him, I would bring Reed to a linebacker spot and just blaze through an open hole on the offensive line for a quick sack, consistently knocking the offense I was up against back seven or eight yards.
Reed was a luxury whose video game character was about as perfect as they come.
5. Marshall Faulk, 2003
I may actually be doing an injustice by putting Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk at “just” No. 5 on this list, because, in Madden 2003, there wasn’t anyone more terrifying than he.
A dual-threat combo on virtual steroids, Faulk was lethal as a runner, capable of hitting holes up the middle or breaking one to the outside, but near unguardable when he lined up as a slot receiver, blowing by linebackers and safeties with ease for big-time catches.
The ’03 cover boy really could do no wrong—and he anyone who used him properly made sure they showed that off while playing.
4. Deion Sanders, 1999 and 2000
One of the most dynamic players in NFL history, Hall of Fame cornerback/returner Deion Sanders was praised for his athletic skills in both 1999 and 2000, when the developers of Madden those years gave him a perfect 100 rating.
As one would imagine, when a guy has zero flaws, it’s pretty damn hard to even challenge him as a cornerback, with Neon Deion capable of jumping a route and taking a pick to the house.
Absurd on defense, Deion was even better as a returner, where he had blazing speed and was a nightmare anytime he had the chance to field a punt, often going the distance thanks to his quickness and agility.
Bottom line—Sanders, in back-to-back Madden games, definitely burned your ass if you tested him.
3. Ray Lewis, 2005
Like a fine wine, EA Sports developers believed that former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis just continued to be good as he aged, giving the guy a 99 overall rating for four years straight from 2002-06.
His best season, though? That would be 2005, when he graced the cover in the hopes of preaching defense, defense, defense.
That was also the year that Madden introduced the Hit Stick, which, if a player ever got popped by Lewis from, either caused an incompletion, deflected pass for an interception, a fumble or… OK, something really bad for the offense.
Lewis may have been feared on the real gridiron, but it was Madden 2005 that made him the most pulverizing linebacker ever seen in a football video game.
2. Jerry Rice, 1998
In most cases, there are no players rated higher than a 99—although, as mentioned earlier, a 100 has been used in special circumstances.
So, can someone tell me how in the fuck Jerry Rice earned a, get this, 189 overall rating in Madden ’98 on Nintendo 64?
No, that’s not a typo. The greatest receiver to ever play the game was a 189.
I mean, Rice is head and shoulders above anyone to line up at the position, but, really, what could anyone do to prevent big plays against him in that year’s game?
1. Michael Vick, 2004
Earning “just” a 95 overall rating in Madden 2004, then Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was really good as a passer, but he made his living as a runner in that season’s video game.
Sure, Vick had 97 throw power—meaning he could absolutely bomb the ball down the field—but, realistically, when it was second- or third-and-long, anyone controlling him knew what to do.
That would be get out on the edge and just take-off, given the ability to run and elude defenders thanks to his 94 speed rating and Playmaker ability.
I won’t take anything away from the human Michael Vick, but the 2004 Madden version of the guy may have made him more famous than anything he ever accomplished during his real-life NFL career—that’s how renowned his character was.