At a time when the sport is not as widespread as in mid-July, the sports media must find content wherever possible. ESPN found it in the release of the Madden 21 players’ initial ratings.
The initial ratings have limited relevance to the game itself, since the ratings are constantly changing and changing – especially in modes like Franchise and Ultimate Team. But the initial ratings have some relevance in terms of how players react to them.
The ball carrier Jets Le’Veon Bell reacted negatively to its rating (87), saying on Instagram that “I don’t even want Madden to update my shit … keep that energy”. He added separately on Tuesday: “I’m not crazy, I’m motivated.”
The reaction to the Madden rating comes a week after Bell offered an “LOL” and a laughing and crying emoji about an ESPN ranking that placed him 10th among all running backs entering 2020.
Meaningless rankings and leaderboards certainly make sense in that they have an impact on the mindset of the players. If, for example, the perceived diss starts an additional fire to get Bell to work very hard before and / or during training camp, he will be in better shape than otherwise, laying the foundations for a better season.
As explained earlier this year, the problem with Bell’s performance in 2019 probably had less to do with its inherent capabilities and more to do with the quality of the players around it. A high-end ball carrier is the icing on the cake of a functional offense. With a few exceptions (the list probably includes only Barry Sanders), counterattacks cannot generate a huge impact without proper blocking and the threat of a passing game that can take advantage of the attention that is otherwise devoted to stopping the turning back. .
Last year, opposing defenses were able to clog the box and shut down Bell, contributing to the perception that it is not as good as it was. An improvement to Jets Offense in 2020 could make it easier for Bell to have the kind of impact that will force those who doubt to eat the crow. But, ultimately, the player himself will not be much different; if he has a big year, it will have a lot to do with the fact that the Jets will have an offense featuring players with a higher level of talent.
