‘Madden Ratings Hotline’ Open for Your Vikings Complaints
Ted Schwerzler
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Over the past week, EA Sports put forth their annual Madden ratings reveals. There were just a few members tabbed to the exclusive “99 Club,” and only a handful of Minnesota Vikings reveals have been made. That said, if you feel scorned about the positioning of a certain player, there’s now an outlet for your frustration.
Should you feel frustrated about the positioning of a certain player, EA Sports unveiled a number dubbed the “Ratings Hotline” that you can call in and make a case regarding your favorite player. The most likely outcome is that you’ll be sent to voicemail and find your call one of 1,000’s currently waiting in a queue. If you get lucky, however, you’ll have an opportunity to talk directly with a Ratings Adjustor on the other end of the phone.
For Minnesota, the top dog this season will be Dalvin Cook. At 94 overall, he’s one of the best running backs in the game, which accurately depicts his ability in the league itself. It was somewhat of a surprise to see Justin Jefferson so far down the list, but he still made the top 10 among wide receivers at 93 overall.
Harrison Smith is the only other member of the Minnesota Vikings with at least a 90 overall rating. Although he continues to age, the pace at which Smith slows down is noteworthy as he continues to rack up Pro Bowl appearances.
The Vikings are going with a new 3-4 scheme under Ed Donatell this season, and the linebacking corps, including Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, and Za’Darius Smith, are all seen favorably in the 86-88 range. Right tackle Brian O’Neill has made the leap to an 83 overall, and the hope would be that left tackle Christian Darrisaw can see a similar level of ascension during another strong season.
Not surprisingly, quarterback Kirk Cousins was not among the ten best quarterbacks in the game this season. He has an 80 overall rating, and despite a career year last season, he’s largely viewed as a mediocre or middle-of-the-road option across the league. Veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson leads Minnesota’s group at 78 overall. With Cam Dantzler and Andrew Booth Jr. as the other two favorites to see substantial playing time, that group will be tested plenty throughout the year.
It will be interesting to see where first-round safety Lewis Cine checks in among Madden ratings. He’s expected to start in the secondary alongside Smith, and the Vikings are certainly hoping he can be an impact player from day one. Cine is viewed as a big hitter, so ratings regarding hit stick and tackling could be where he really shines.
Madden 23 is set to launch on August 16, so we’re just about two weeks away from what’s known yearly as a Maddenoliday. Who are you most looking forward to playing with on the Vikings this season? Is there someone from the 2022 Draft class that you’re excited to see on a different squad?
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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