National Madden Day

We're an hour in to what should one day be a federal holiday.

We can dream anyway.

It's Tuesday, August the 12th, and that means the release of Madden 2009.

It's a good thing classes haven't started yet, because if they had I might not be attending any.

Let's have a look at the team ratings:

Patriots 97
Cowboys 96
Chargers 95
Colts 95
Giants 94
Steelers 94
Jaguars 93
Packers 91
Eagles 91
Bucs 91
Vikings 90
Browns 88
Redskins 88
Seahawks 87
Saints 87
Panthers 86
Broncos 84
Titans 84
Bills 82
Ravens 81
Bengals 80
Bears 80
Cardinals 78
Texans 78
Lions 78
Rams 77
Jets 76
49ers 72
Chiefs 71
Raiders 71
Falcons 67
Dolphins 67

The Giants at 94? Really? I mean, I know they won the Super Bowl, but no Strahan, no Shockey. The Raiders got shafted a little bit with only a 71. They actually have quite a bit of talent.

I can't really quibble with the 97 they gave New England, despite the Pats losing Asante Samuel and having major questions at corner. The Chargers are loaded. But so are the Colts. I thought maybe you'd see New England ahead of Indy, but not the Cowboys, too.

Meanwhile, the Colts individually are about what you'd expect. Peyton is a perfect 99 rating (Bob Sanders too). Reggie's at 97, a new high for him. Marvin dips to a 94, nothing for a 36 year-old WR to be ashamed of. Dallas Clark was sort of a surprise, with a 93, and Antoine Bethea received the same. Matching 95's for Mathis and Freeney, interesting that the producers now put those two on equal footing (that says a lot for Robert Mathis, doesn't it?)

So there you have it. Madden 2009 is out. Happy gaming everybody. Don't stay up too looooong. (It'll affect your field vision, ya know!)