Electronic Arts' Madden NFL series has become a big part of football culture over the years, a part players and fans take very seriously. NFL Players, past and present, play this game faithfully and expect it to adhere to the EA sports slogan, ‘It's in the game.'

When the game doesn’t meet players' expectations, they don't have a problem letting you know about it. One of the first to ever do so was now-retired Pro bowl wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh back in 2009, saying “They ranked me low and made me slow, so I said something about it.”

Houshmandzadeh was so upset about the ratings Madden gave him that he decided to boycott the game. In an interview with ClutchPoints over ten years later, he stated, “I hadn't played Madden for like twelve years. I recently got back on because of quarantine.”

When asked about the wide receiver ratings in Madden NFL 21, Housh felt the overall ratings were fair. He took issue with some of the speed ratings.

“Julio Jones I believe is a 91 speed rating on Madden 21,” said Houshmandzadeh. “Julio should never be under 95, he ran a 4.3 coming out, especially when D-lineman are getting 88 speed ratings.”

Would it make sense for Madden to have former players help out with ratings because of their knowledge of the game? Housh likes the idea.

“You want the game as close to reality as possible,” Houshmandzadeh tells ClutchPoints. “Guys will drop a 300-lb D-lineman in coverage and they run 35 yards down the field with receivers intercepting the ball. That's not real.”

Madden is the greatest football video game series ever created. Every year people can't wait to see the new ratings, player reactions to the ratings, and lastly, play the game. No matter how frustrated people get with the game, they can't deny the greatness of it.

Madden NFL 21's release date is August 25th. Until then, people get to enjoy the controversy that always surrounds the player ratings.