Madden Reportedly Influenced How One NFL Owner Runs His Team

As a long-time gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but chuckle at the bizarre story of Woody Johnson and his reliance on Madden NFL ratings to make crucial decisions for his NFL team, the New York Jets.

Each year, the football simulation game Madden, developed by EA Sports, is said to have impacted the decisions made by an actual NFL team owner during the recent offseason. Since its inception in the ’80s, Madden’s purpose has been to faithfully replicate the real NFL experience. One method EA Sports uses to achieve this authenticity is by assigning ratings to each player, a topic of discussion with every new edition. Although player ratings in Madden haven’t traditionally held significant weight, it appears that one owner placed great importance on the grades given by EA Sports for Madden NFL 24.

According to a recent article from The New York Times, it was claimed that Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets, relied on the video game Madden to make the ultimate decision on a trade deal that fell through during the previous offseason. In February, it was rumored that the Jets were in negotiations with the Denver Broncos for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. The nearly completed deal for Jeudy was called off at the last minute, as Johnson allegedly instructed former Jets GM Joe Douglas to abandon the trade. Sources suggest the reason for this decision was because Johnson felt that Jeudy’s Madden rating wasn’t sufficient for the assets the Jets would have traded away. As a result, the Broncos found another trading partner in the Cleveland Browns, where Jeudy has since had an outstanding season in 2024.

It’s quite astonishing for several reasons that owner Johnson appears to be disregarding the advice of his hired professionals in the Jets. Given that he spends a significant amount on coaches and general managers, it seems unusual that Johnson would rely on Madden – a video game – as the primary source for his decision-making, a practice which might not be mirrored by the other 31 NFL teams.

The report continued by stating that a significant portion of Johnson’s evaluation of NFL talent is influenced by his sons, Brick and Jack, during his teenage years. This allegation led to former Jets General Manager Douglas reportedly claiming that Johnson was more guided by his sons, Brick and Jack, rather than himself. However, it was Douglas who was let go in late November when he was dismissed as the Jets GM following the team’s failure to achieve their targets.

If there is a silver lining to this story, it’s that acquiring Jeudy likely wouldn’t have done much to change the season that the Jets have had. Currently, the Jets have a dismal record of 4 wins and 11 losses, making them one of the worst teams in the NFL. This poor record will lead the Jets to having one of the top draft picks in this coming year’s NFL Draft. Whether or not Johnson will look to consult EA Sports College Football 25 when it comes to scouting talent for the draft remains to be seen.

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2024-12-23 03:41