Eli Manning Madden 09 cover rumor
February 19, 2008 by pastapadre
Following the Super Bowl I wrote an article about how Eli Manning had propelled himself into consideration for the cover of Madden 09. Being that it was just a couple hours after the game ended that was just pure speculation on my part. However now there is buzz going around that not only is he at the top of the list, but that he is actually in negotiation and appears to be EA’s top choice for 09.
The problem with this is the basis of the rumor comes from a random forum post on an obscure Madden fan site. That was picked up on by Deadspin which wrote an article on the topic. Those two things were then cited along with my article in a Yahoo Sports blog. The blog posting has now reached the front page of Yahoo which is huge. Unfortunately it is probably without merit as it’s simply speculative and has a reliance on a random forum poster who almost certainly made the story up. However the blog does a good job of representing how the mainstream views Manning completely differently now than just a two months ago.
It is something to follow regardless. Manning is now at the point where the thought of him being the cover athlete is accepted. To break through from “no chance” to “makes sense” in such a short period of time was definitely unexpected. It wouldn’t be surprising to find out that EA had a few favorites in their sights but given the events Manning entered the picture and changed who their top target ultimately would be. Unless there is some sort of leak it’s unlikely we’ll find out who ends up on the cover until at least mid-April.
23 TDs 74 passer rating lets just say that I am not buying Madden 09 this year. I think I will manually update Madden 08 with CAPs and buy NBA 2k9.
agent k wrote:
I agree with you. He had 4 good/great games in a row and people want to put him on the cover. It was a great run by Eli and the Giants but it was only 4 games. I think they should Adrian Peterson, or Brian Westbrook should be on the cover.
What I meant to say is I think they should put Adrian Peterson , or Brian Westbrook on the cover.
To me, using Eli Manning is a risk. He had an outstanding playoff run but you really never know, it was only a few games. I guess when you think about it, he cant be any worse than Young, Alexander, Mcnabb, Culpepper or Eddie George.
Tomilson? Brady? Manning? Peterson? Romo? Favre?
HEY AGENT K, YOU LEFT OFF SUPER BOWL MVP!
AND WORLD CHAMPION, YOU SOUR PUSS!
I like it…Hes hot, so why not. Whats to lose
Funny… Call of Duty 4 it is! He will most def be a Madden Curse, What about Brady?
The first time in Madden history that someone comes on the cover already with the Madden curse.
Since Eli could be on the cover and the Giants came out of nowhere to surprise us, does this mean Madden might come out of nowhere and actually be a good game? hmmm…. nevermind…….
Eli manning might just be the cover guy that sees the game with the least amount of change
I doubt he makes the cover either, but he does play in a huge market and his fame and marketability is at an all time high right now
Rico wrote:
his rating will be 84… yeah he is a legend, and so is trent dilfer. Why aint he get on the cover? He won it all… Ah yes, the defense… In that case, put the Giants D on the cover
to compare eli’s playoff and superbowl performances with trent dilfer’s is just dumb. you just don’t like eli manning. that doesn’t mean he didnt own all ass in the playoffs. i love eli but i don’ think he should be on the cover either.
It doesn’t really matter who they put on the cover, it matters more what they put inside of it.
However, if EA wants to go classic put Archie Manning on the cover. Great NFL legend with two sons who were SB MVPs (in consecutive years, mind you).
Elmira Express wrote:
I also agree, I mean honestly, him being on the cover takes so much away from the gameplay. The game with him on the cover is virtually unplayable.
pasta do you think this means they will be working on the passing game in this years game for the AI and human?
Don’t put Adrian Peterson on the cover!!! (Well… unless it’s that AP on the Bears…)
Really now… they just need to put John Madden on the cover and leave the players alone.
ncthompson11 wrote:
I think they’ve gone away from choosing a cover guy as a represenation of the features or improvements.
Sammyboy wrote:
Since when has a cover impacted the gameplay? Yes, in recent years EA has focused on certain elements but the cover has zero to do with the game.
The entire issue of who is on the cover is complete minusha. Put Brian Bosworth or Eric Hipple on the cover, if the game plays well I COULD CARE LESS!!!
As a matter of fact, put me on the cover. 6′1″ and 240 pounds of Chipotle burritos…..
Braylon Edwards
For the commercial, if Eli is on the cover, EA could reproduce the Helmet Catch using the Madden engine.
This is interesting speculation, but Madden has much bigger issues.
Eric Hipple… now that’s a name I haven’t heard in years…
OK… best idea yet. Peter Moore on the cover.
I don’t think that the cover will impact the game or anything but Eli will and already has gotten a crazy boost in ratings. EA likes to rate the cover boys high. If anything make Eli’s playoff clutch rating (yes I made that up) really high (I got respect for anybody who can beat the Patriots) but his everyday ratings cannot be that good based on his stats for his last 2 years. As much as we bash on other games for their ratings and lack of timely roster updates, Live and 2k basketball don’t hype nearly as much.
Rico- How does Eli “already have the Madden curse?” IF by Madden curse you mean proving himself to be one of the league’s best quarterbacks and winning a Super Bowl title, then I catch your drift.
Do you people even read the things you’ve said before you post them? When will this country of sports fan hypocrites finally just learn to SHUT THEIR MOUTHS and recognize how little they know about sports, put a ball gag over their mouth when it comes to such topics, and END THE NONSENSE!
Let me get this straight. For years EVERYONE wanted to hate Peyton Manning for being a “GREAT REGULAR SEASON PERFORMER”, we don’t care about his stats everyone stated, we only care that he hasn’t won a superbowl ring. Now Manning has his ring and you all shut up, for a while anyway.
And now Eli goes out, against all odds, wins 4 straight on the road, comes back in the 4th quarter TWICE against NEw England, proves that he IS CLUTCH WHEN IT COUNTS, and all you ignorant fools can do is rant about how his regular season stats aren’t good enough? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Stop being hypocrites, you can’t have it both ways. All the Brady defenders for the first six years of his career never wanted to talk regular season stats, CUZ HE HAD NONE, but oh of course he had those three rings, and that is all anybody wanted to talk about. Now that Tom Brady has broken the habit of playing on super bowl winning teams, ALL WE HEAR ABOUT IS WHAT A REGULAR SEASON STAT MACHINE he has become, albeit he has only had 1 GREAT statistical season.
HYPOCRITES, most of you anyway… Go find a new hobby, cuz sports are way too deep for your ignorance…
they can’t put farve, manning, tomlinson, or brady on the cover. they were all on rival covers of a different football game. IMO it should be…..Mario Williams.
oh yeah, this is the 20th anniversary, so actually look for a historic player or even madden himself again.
Matt wrote:
Derek Anderson was a better qb than Eli..According to NFL.com qb ratings Maybe u should go take a look at the whole season for Mr.Manning. He had a good playoff run though. One of the Leagues best Quarterbacks please…
Rico wrote:
I REST MY CASE! QB RATING!?!?!?!? QB RATING!?!?!?!?
By your logic, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and DAVID GARRARD are the three best QB’S in football……COME ON BRO!!!!!!!!!! Stop reading stat sheets and LEARN THE GAME!!!!!!!
Jason wrote:
Defense check this out.. pats ppg 36.8/// dal ppg 28.4// gb ppg 27.2// tb ppg 20.9. that is all the teams the giants beat in the playoffs points per game during regular season. Now these are the playoff finals Pats only score 14// Dal only score 17// GB only scores 20 and TB scores 14. I hope u see the big difference. It was The GIANTS D not Eli.
Jason wrote:
Lol Ill take Garrard over eli anyday.. And to get in the HOF u got to have the stats BRO!!!!!!!!
Rico, please, quit while you are ahead. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. Move on to some other blog where you can pretend to know what you are talking about… So you need great stats to make the hall of fame hey? Ever heard of George Blanda? He threw 40 more INTS than TD passes in his career. HE IS IN THE HALL OF FAME…Dan Fouts? 12 more TD passes Than INTS in his career, HE TOO IS IN THE HALL OF FAME! Terry Bradshaw, you know him? 2 MORE TD PASSES THAN INTS for his career, HE TOO IS IN THE HALL OF FAME! Joe Namath? 47 MORE INTS THAN TD PASSES FOR HIS CAREER, HE TOO IS IN THE HALL OF FAME!!!! Need I continue??? Thought so, have a good one…
Jason wrote:
thought so, have a good one..?? were u talking to me in ur head lol. I never said anything bout great stats either. But u cant go into the HOF just by being the winning qb in super bowl correct? I dont know what Im talking bout okay buddy say what u want but defense wins championships just like this year Pats O vs Giants D. Winner Giants.
You the man Jason! thats what u wanna hear huh? U act like ur a sports GOD.
Rico wrote:
Rico, just leave it alone Jason thinks he big time. Those players he mentioned are in the HOF for a reason.
HEY PUT TRAVIS MINOR ON THE COVER! LOL
you know who should be on maddenn 09,Devin Hester.that boy is crazy good
mj23 wrote:
He would be great and deserving.
maybe the whole giants d should be on the cover because they are the ones who won the superbowl for the giants
agent k wrote:
Brilliant…
Good idea lets get the super bowl LOSER on the cover of madden. That will sll wll. Or maybe Romo, who screwed himself up dating Simpson and then losing in the playoffs. Go with the super bowl champ/ MVP!
agent k wrote:
Exactly!! Finally peeps realize the Giants D. Great Idea.
Eski wrote:
Eski, maybe you missed the undertone of mocking?
Rico wrote:
If by “Giants D” you mean Justin Tuck and Mike Strahan.
THE GIANTS D definitely deserves the cover…….with Tuck And Strahan at the forefront of the group…..how’s that sound
“23 TDs 74 passer rating lets just say that I am not buying Madden 09 this year. I think I will manually update Madden 08 with CAPs and buy NBA 2k9.”
“I agree with you. He had 4 good/great games in a row and people want to put him on the cover. It was a great run by Eli and the Giants but it was only 4 games. I think they should Adrian Peterson, or Brian Westbrook should be on the cover.”
“To me, using Eli Manning is a risk. He had an outstanding playoff run but you really never know, it was only a few games. I guess when you think about it, he cant be any worse than Young, Alexander, Mcnabb, Culpepper or Eddie George.
Tomilson? Brady? Manning? Peterson? Romo? Favre?”
“What I meant to say is I think they should put Adrian Peterson , or Brian Westbrook on the cover.”
Do you guys know anything about football? It doesn’t matter if it was only a couple of games. What matters is that they won the Superbowl. Guess who the MVP was……Eli Manning. By all means he deserves a shot at the 09 cover. If there even is a curse and you believe it….I hope Manning isn’t on it. As for the players you listed to get a chance on the cover they don’t really deserve is. Only Favre would has a shot.
Tomlinson = got injured
Brady = choked in the end
Manning = couldn’t defend his title
Peterson = Rookie and didn’t make it to playoffs
Romo = also choked like Brady
Westbrook = also never made the playoffs so what good was he
You have to understand that to the victor goes the spoils. Eli Manning is a good player and he showed it.
NEW YORK GIANTS = SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS!
Enough said.
Even thought im a huge giants fan and eli is my favorite player I still think that OSI Umenyora or Micheal strahan should be on the cover
I completely agree with what Jason said about the stats. To get in the HOF, You should have been the morale setter for your team. Not only thatbut you should have been able to carry your team when their most in need. Eli manning showed those essential attributes in the playoffs and superbowl. You can’t say anyone like Brady should be on the cover. Sure he set a record for pssing td’s and had a PERFECT regular season. But, he completely choked in the superbowl. Eli manning threw a winning td in the last 2 min of the game. he was a 4th year player. and carried his team vs probably the most explosive team in nfl history. He deffinetely should be one of the top choices for The Madden 09 cover. Along with Brian Westbrook. Probably the most Versitile player in the nfl
I’d like to see Reggie Bush on the cover.. I know he didn’t have a good 2nd season, but I look for him to be utilized better in 08′-’09.. Other than that it really doesn’t matter to me who is on the cover.
they should definantly put favre on the cover or else there’s no point in putting anybody on the cover
I Dont Care As long as Tony Homo Or Terrell Owens (AKA Cry Baby) isn’t On the Cover
i think its about time a pittsburgh steeler should grace the cover of a madden game……(ben, polamalu, parker, harrison?)
or to really piss people off put a buffalo bill up there!
i do agree that reggie bush would be kinda cool haha
I can’t believe people are complaining about an Eli Manning Madden cover when Madden 08 had the worst QB in the league on the cover.
What was Vince young’s stats? Anyone know???
2007
TDs 9
INTs 17
QB RTG 71.1
2006
TDs 12
INTs
QB RTG 66.7
statistically, Vince Young is the worst starting QB in NFL history. So before you judge a Superbowl WINNING QB who is responsible for orcastrating one of the greatest, game winning drives in Superbowl history, against an undefeated team that everyone was touting as “The Greatest Team Ever”, please, learn your stats.
Not to mention, “The Helmet Catch”!!!!!
First of all, we don’t want John Madden to be on the cover because his own curse would most likely force him to have a heart attack at some point this year and we don’t want that to happen. Secondly, in the most recent stats update for Madden 08, Eli has an overall rating of 92. You can look for that to be about the same going in to next Season. Should Eli be on the cover? Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is that I have been buying Madden games for 15 years now and is it really going to stop me from buying the game this year if Eli makes the cover? Of course not. If that would stop any one of you from buying it, you are officially a douche bag, not really a Madden fan and shouldn’t even be wasting your time posting on this forum.
They should put David Ortiz (not the redsox player) from the Madden 08 development team on the cover. Maybe the curse will kill him for ruining Madden 08.
QB vision and Weapons sucks!!!
Good idea superdynamite but honestly i couldn’t care less if they put Eli Manning or Peyton Manning or Archie Manning on the cover. I’m still a football fan, so I’m still buying the game. But if I had a preference, I believe other players deserve it… like Tom Brady. (*please, God, strike him down…*) Just kidding.
BRETT FAVRE THEN THE CURSE WILL BE BROKEN
put Randy Moss or Wes welker
yeah that not gonna happen and if it does madden has gone from choosing great players on the cover, to lucky players
it should be patrick willis he was the most dominating player in football this year besides punk ass tom brady. patrick willis held adrian peterson to 4 yards in a whole game