Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

[TDogg09]

I have been wondering this for a little while now, but haven't posted a thread on it yet. The NFL has certain standards that they want the Madden team to follow in making the game. I think I've heard that this means that, among other things, things like tattoos won't make it into the game. I know that the Madden team is working hard trying to make the most realistic representation of the NFL in Madden's history, but if things like tattoos aren't included in the game, some players never will be accurate representations of their real-life counterparts.
My question in regards to this is, why does the NFL have these restrictions? Why are they preventing EA from putting some things in Madden that are In the NFL?

Can anyone from the Madden team shed light on this?

[thecougarbear]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

The NFL is image driven, and the image they want to project is a reflection of their priorities. The reasons why tattoos won't make it into the game are the same reasons why they suggested a "hair rule" at last year's owner meetings.

In many ways, the NFL is out of touch with the reality of the world around them.

[Exonerated]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

Well.

Lets say. Johnny ColtsFan wants to play football. But his mom sees madden and sees all those tattoos and helments flying off.

His mom goes, oh no Johnny, looks at all those tattoos and how dangerous football is. Don't play it.


Simply. The NFL is out of touch with contemporary society. Goodell still thinks its like his own childhood.

[thecougarbear]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

Simply. The NFL is out of touch with contemporary society. Goodell still thinks its like his own childhood.

Bingo. The NFL is run by a bunch of old and rich suits. The thread on uniform violations touches on this as well. The level of control over the individual is absurd.

Yes, football is a team sport. Yes, most (excluding 99% of WRs) understand that no individual is "bigger" than the game. But individuality is what gives the NFL character. I can honestly say that without characters like Troy Palumalu (a freaking wild man) my interest in the NFL would be greatly reduced.

I was in high school and middle school when players like Ricky Williams were still good, and the truth is that every single running back on our team wished that they could sport dreds like he did. The individuals make the team. The NFL doesn't like that at all, and it has shown in Madden as they have tightened their grip on EA over the last five or six years.

Remember, we used to have colored cleats and tattoos..

[AndyBernard]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

Andy is a fan of how they fine for big clean hits, and then turn around and sell the "NFL's most bone crushing hits of 08" dvd for 19.95

[Outkizast]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

Andy is a fan of how they fine for big clean hits, and then turn around and sell the "NFL's most bone crushing hits of 08" dvd for 19.95

An excellent point Mr. Andy.... I CANNOT STAND the fines they were giving out last year... if they are CLEAN hits and are not a penalty during the game because the hit was LEGAL, then why do they get fined???

[Perfect Zero]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

I think a lot of it has to do with the NFL wanting to be a professional organization. If I had somebody come into work with messy dreadlocks and not sporting a uniform standard, I would tell him to get a haircut or find another job. This is a job, and the NFL takes their image very seriously.

The NBA is the opposite I guess. A lot of players are individuals in many ways in the way they wear their uniforms. The NBA lets players do a lot of things the NFL would cringe at, but this works to the NFL's advantage. For example, I would say that there are as much NBA players arrested as there are NFL ones. The NFL has a cleaner sheet though because their players are held to a strict image, and don't look like thugs all the time.

[DC]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

Hell at least the NFL isn't telling Madden that ALL of their games have to be sell outs like the NBA does with NBA 2K

[Boucher]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

the NFL is like a poligamist colony

[marktg30]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

Oh, the sarcastic remarks I am holding back....

[DoubleDeuce]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

All of their money comes from companies wanting to be associated with the NFL as a brand. They don't want to upset them. Also, one time Bryant Gumbel interviewed an NFL guy and showed him the late hits on NFL Blitz and he got real embarrassed and probably chewed somebody out and said 'no more of that.' Shame really, the original NFL Blitz on the PS1 is one of the best multiplayer games ever devised by man.

[dougdeuce]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

If you want tats and personal fouls go play blitz... sadly that's your only option. I think the realism should be there, but I think the NFL doesn't want to go the way of the NHL. I miss the days of the late hit in madden. I remember clobbering everyone. Oh the memories.

[Exonerated]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

One of the reasons I don't like hockey is all the fights.

Personally, something about going at eachother on the ice turns me away from ice hockey.

The hits and legal stuff are awesome. But all the fighting is stupid. I don't want to watch a sport that portrays its players as thugs and stuff.

From just a first glance, the fighting has turned me away from ice hockey. My exposure to the sport is limited, but seeing all the bad images is bad.

The NFL just wants to eliminate the thuggery image. In things like tattoos, incorrect uniforms and such.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

One of the reasons I don't like hockey is all the fights.

Personally, something about going at eachother on the ice turns me away from ice hockey.

The hits and legal stuff are awesome. But all the fighting is stupid. I don't want to watch a sport that portrays its players as thugs and stuff.

From just a first glance, the fighting has turned me away from ice hockey. My exposure to the sport is limited, but seeing all the bad images is bad.

The NFL just wants to eliminate the thuggery image. In things like tattoos, incorrect uniforms and such.

Five dollars says there are more incarcerated NFL players than NHL players.

[Steeler99]

Re: Why does the NFL have restrictions on Madden?

Five dollars says there are more incarcerated NFL players than NHL players.

Comparison wouldn't even be close ... NHL as a whole has WAY less "thuggary" than the NFL. The more your around hockey, the more you understand why they allow in-game fighting. Right or wrong it has been a part of hockey since it's inception.

Long-story short, since all players carry a "weapon" (stick), fighting (after dropping their stick) is a means for them to vent without causing serious injuries (you rarely see a fight cause serious injuries). Fighting also provides a means to minimize "goons" from intimidating smaller finesse "star" players, as they will then have to answer to the other team's "goon" or fighter. Not a great explanation, but fighting really does have a purpose in this sport.

NFL is likely #1 or #2 for incarcerations, right up there with the NBA considering all major sports. Of course it's a small minority of players in either sport that find themselves in trouble with the law, unfortunately it's this type of news that makes the headlines giving the majority a bad reputation.