07.21.09 WIDEOUT BOYCOTTS MADDEN OVER HIS RATING

New Seahawks wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was overshadowed in Cincinnati by the play, and later the antics, of Chad Ochocinco. Now that Housh has the stage to himself in Seattle, he’s putting on his own show, threatening to boycott playing the new Madden game because of his rating.

“I understand I averaged 10 yards a catch, but it’s the offense, not me,” Houshmandzadeh said, via Mike Sando of ESPN.com. “I’m not playing Madden no more until they get my rating right. . . . I used to be the best in the world at Madden. I’m going to miss not playing it, but until they do me right, I’m not playing it any more.” via.

The people at Electronic Arts, the wards of the great football franchise, had already announced earlier in the year that gamers would see less parity in their favorite players’ ratings for this year’s game. The logic was that the elite talents in the NFL should be the elite talents in its virtual counterpart.

But here’s the rub–Housh has an overall rating of 91 in this year’s game. Not bad for the leading receiver on a team that went 4-11-1 last season. Why do the wideouts always have to be so crabby? You’d think they were playing in the slot wearing high heels and a Valentino gown. Heh, slot.