Steelers WR George Pickens blasts EA Sports after they issue him disrespectful Madden 25 rating

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of training camp, and it's safe to say emotions have been running high over the last few days.

One player who hasn't been involved in any of the inter-squad scrums is George Pickens, but we know he tends to run hot.

And for Pickens, when he found out he was only an 83 Overall in EA Sports Madden NFL 25, let's just say he wasn't happy.

Pickens Reacts to 83 Overall

"We gotta talk about my Madden rating," George Pickens told Prospect Media. "83 [Pickens Overall Rating] is crazy. When I saw that I thought oh my god, the league is playing with me. They're really playing with me...I don't have any abilities. X-factor... I feel like that comes at 90 overall (or above) but no abilities...No superstar...91 speed...I'm really like 94 speed. Spectacular catch... [that should be] 99...

"...They're [Madden rating adjustors] going to up it [His rating] this year though. As we get playing they have to up my rating. 91, with an X-factor for sure," finished Pickens when asked what his rating will be at the end of the 2024-2025 season.

Now, for those thinking that Pickens is speaking another language when it comes to abilities, superstars, and X-factors, I'll explain. They are simply attributes added to a player's overall rating, and they are characterized based on how that player plays.

For example, with George Pickens, you think of a vertical player who makes miraculous grabs and runs past people right? So for him, two superstar abilities that make sense would be what Madden calls Run-Off Elite and Acrobat .

Speedy receivers have the advantage of simply activating the afterburners and running past defensive backs with their blistering speed. The normally-gifted receivers rely on their technique to outmaneuver defenders which leads to the importance of runoffs. Adjusting the routes that send receivers downfield will involve the pass-catcher performing runoffs. Runoff Elite grants more convincing runoffs that will result in defenders losing their footing or adjusting incorrectly to give you an opportunity for a big offensive play.

While some receivers prioritize safe, possession catches, others tend to be a bit more flashy on the field. These uber talented receivers typically have high ratings in their spectacular catch rating and having Acrobat can give that category a massive boost. Receivers with the Acrobat Superstar ability experience a huge improvement toward diving catches. Spectacular diving catches come in handy when quarterbacks either underthrow their targets or specifically place the pass in an area where only the receiver can make a play.

- Avery Feyrer, The Gamer

When the results were released earlier this week, Pickens wasn't a fan then either, calling out the game for being bad, an opinion that's not an outlier in the gaming community.

I'm all for added motivation. Even if the external impulse comes from something as frivolous as a video game. And while Pickens still has a ways to go in terms of maturity , it's safe to say that Pittsburgh will appreciate anything that helps him build a chip on his shoulder.

Related: Steelers Training Camp Takeaways: Another fight breaks out, tensions flare between teammates on day seven