Saints Get Several Mentions in ESPN Outside the Lines (Madden Franchise)

CantonLegend said
I look forward to madden every year

its the only perennial game that stores have midnight opennings for every year

Madden helps casual fans understand the subtle nuances of the real game. it helps you create a love for certain players and teams

and it puts you in the game. its great to watch the games every sunday.....but theres nothing quite like playing.......madden is as close as some people will ever get

This will actually be my first Madden game. In the past I've played it casually at parties and such, but this is the first time I've actually been motivated to go buy it.

The author makes the point that modern players and coaches were influenced by Madden growing up. Although I doubt this applies to Sean Payton in particular, the Saints are one of the most "video-game-like" teams in the league. Saints games are packed with highlight-reel material on both sides of the ball. They were one of the most entertaining teams to watch last season, and that's not just the homer in me speaking.

Right before the Superbowl, ESPN's Gregg Easterbrook wrote:

Watching New Orleans is like watching an outdoor cocktail party play football. The Saints are spontaneous, unpredictable, boisterous. They love trick plays. Every week the offense shows new formations and actions. The defense uses a zany style -- blitzing way too much, gambling for interceptions way too often. No NFL team plays a more relaxed style or seems to be having so much fun. Review film of the Saints and you have no idea what they are going to do -- they probably don't, either.

It's a match made in heaven for the Madden franchise, and the first time I felt like buying an annual football release would be money well spent.