After 25 years of being the face on the most popular sports franchise video games, the time has come for EA Sports to go in a new direction. "Madden Football" is so synonymous with the NFL, sure it will be tough to put a new name on the game. The game is already in the NFL Hall of Fame, won many awards, and has been a big part of many young men's lives, but now it's time to move on and pick a new face! This one!
No. no. no! Not that on, this one!
Jon Gruden has made a huge presence in the NFL over the last 15 years, from the field to the booth, that it just seems fitting! Even being a Broncos fan, I really enjoy Gruden's commentary on Monday Night Football. He's clever, he's funny, and he knows the game extremely well. Mike Tirico does a solid job as his play-by-play announcer, but if you were to pair him up with say, Al Michaels, or Gus Johnson("COLD BLOODED"), or Jim Nantz, a Gumbel, hell, even Joe Buck's monotone voice, all of them would work with Gruden. He's got the resume for it and he is young enough to be around for at least a decade. Let's compare John Madden, and Jon Gruden;
John Madden
Former Raiders Head Coach
Won Super Bowl XI
Numerous TV Ads (Tinactin, ACE, etc.)
MNF Commentator
Crazy Eyebrows
Inivator of the Replay Screen
Catchy Commentary
Jon Gruden
Former Raiders Head Coach
Won Super Bowl XXXVII
MNF Commentator
A Few TV Ads (Hooter's)
"Chucky" Look
Gruden's QB Camp
Catchy Commentary
It will be hard to replace John Madden, absolutely. And so many fans will be angry at first, but let's look at a few things before you start thinking negative. The "Madden Curse", where the player on the cover gets injured, and/or has a bad year, could be broken. Maybe turn it the other way, and the player on the cover of "Gruden Football" has a career year. Or don't even put a player on the cover, and just have Gruden on the cover for the first few years. "Madden" the game, has become increasingly difficult over the last 5 years or so, EA Sports could introduce the general play of the game by putting "Gruden's QB Camp" as some sort of tutorial. Even have some sort of "Chucky Cheat", where your QB or coach is Chucky! C'mon, that would be hilarious! Any way that they can do it, they should just do it. "Madden 25" is a great way to end the franchise, and the timing is perfect. When John Madden retired from the game a few years ago, he stepped away from the game entirely. Madden doesn't do interviews, and he isn't seen at very many games. Also, let's be honest, how many more years does he have left?
Gruden has the name, has the look, and has no need to go back to coaching. And man, has he had the offers. Everything from college to the pros, any team would be willing to have him as their head coach. But Gruden has no desire to return. Why should he? He's got a cushy job at ESPN, and they will pay him enough to make sure he doesn't leave. Why would he go back to a team that will more than likely need him to turn around their franchise? That would be way to stressful for a guy who has it made in the sun. He's got his ring, and he got it by beating the team that he built. Why would he go back and work for an owner who has too much control of the team?
In about a decade, when our kids begin to play video games, they will have no idea who John Madden is, unfortunately, but truthfully. With Gruden, you get the voice of MNF, in the game, plus I would much rather listen to Gruden any day over Cris Collinsworth. I like Collinsworth, but he doesn't have the charisma, or intelligence that Gruden has.
So listen up EA Sports! This would be a very wise decision, and after 25 years of John Madden as the voice of video game football, he can gracefully bow out, and let Gruden take the spotlight. Get started soon, "Guden Football '14" is less than 11 months from being released!
