I don't think that saying it is in trouble is a stretch at all from a profitability standpoint. Again, I am not saying that Tiburon is about to close down or that this is the last Madden that will ever be made, just that financially, when you look at all factors. it's in trouble lol. Symantics of what you or I consider trouble to mean or what severity an individual places on the word "trouble".
And by letting the exclusive deal expire will not make profits go back up like magic. Look at the number of sales in 2005 and the numbers since. In order for profits to go back up, they would need to at least match the sales that they were making, before they entered into the exclusive deal. What would be the catalyst that would make that happen? If sales are declining with no competition, why would they go up WITH competition?
Again, Madden is in "trouble" lol.