Top 5 Linebackers in 'Madden NFL 12' - ESPN

Top 5 Linebackers in 'Madden NFL 12' - ESPN

You see who is #1 right? (smiles) If you DON'T get why I would care, look up to the left at the top of the blog...Self explanatory...

EA SportsJames Harrison is looking to bring the pain in "Madden NFL 12."

Top 5 QBs | Top 5 LBs | Top 5 WRs

All this week, ESPN's Gamer Blog and SportsNation are teaming up to bring you the Top 5 rated players at key positions in "Madden NFL 12." And while yesterday's list of Top 5 quarterbacks sparked some serious debate from Michael Vick and Big Ben fans who felt their favorite players had been wrongly left off the list, I'm sure Bears fans will be just as passionate when asking why Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs fell just short of making the "Madden" cut today (especially when there are six players on the list due to a tie for fifth place). Do they have a case? Let the debate begin.
James Harrison: 98
James Harrison is here to hurt you. That's all you need to know about his "Madden" character as the Steelers bad boy boasts 97 toughness, 95 hit power, 98 power moves, 99 awareness, 97 block shedding, and 95 player pursuit. Add to the fact that the game features concussions that will knock players out of the lineup, and playing as Harrison is like a virtual fine waiting to happen.

EA SportsDeMarcus Ware has been an elite "Madden" character for years.

DeMarcus Ware: 98
DeMarcus Ware has been one of the most popular (if not the single most popular) defensive player in "Madden" for the past few years. The reason? Ware not only has the size and strength to make his presence felt, but in tournament play, he has the ability to sack quarterbacks like no other. "Madden 12" is no different as Ware checks in with 86 speed, 97 acceleration, 90 strength, 88 agility, 99 power moves, 97 finesse moves, 99 pursuit, and 88 hit power.

EA SportsPatrick Willis just wants to hit you as hard as possible.

Patrick Willis: 98
Patrick Willis knows what it's like to obliterate opponents on the field for real, and when he plays "Madden," he likes his video game football just as violent. "I'm not the type of guy just to push square and go for a regular tackle," Willis told me last year during an interview. "I always like to be on top coming down with that Hit Stick and see what happens." Pain, that's what happens, especially when Willis is running at you with 90 speed, 96 acceleration, 98 tackle, 99 stamina, 94 toughness, 98 pursuit, and 94 hit power.

EA SportsJon Beason is one of the best tacklers in the game.

Jon Beason: 97
With 97 tackle, 99 pursuit, 99 play recognition, and 92 hit power, Jon Beason is about as close to an automatic tackle as there is in the game. But with only 75 strength, is "Madden" suggesting Beason spend more time in the gym?

EA SportsClay Matthews and his 98 power moves are ready to make a play.

Clay Matthews: 95
Clay Matthews is a beast for the Packers in the game, dominating the virtual field with scores of 86 speed, 94 acceleration, 98 power moves, 97 pursuit, and 88 hit power. If only he could get a 99 for hair.

EA SportsEven after all these years, Ray Lewis can still Hit Stick with the best of them.

Ray Lewis: 95
When Ray Lewis was on the cover of "Madden NFL 2005" (arguably the best "Madden" to date), he helped forever change the game for the better as producers introduced the Hit Stick in honor of Lewis. Seven games later and Lewis is still one of the top dogs thanks to 99 toughness, 97 player pursuit, 99 play recognition, and 98 hit power. Who would've thought, all these years later and Lewis is still king of the Hit Stick.