One of the most intriguing and valuable additions to Madden NFL 12 has come with the introduction of ’Player Roles’. The impact of each role varies from being helpful or detrimental on the field or in identifying their place on a team roster for management purposes.
Here is a look at what each of the 23 roles signify and the current lineup of players who have received a role for each NFL team. It’s unclear at this time if roles will be altered over the course of the year through roster updates.
Deep Threat: This role means that this player is someone who is a threat to stretch the defense on any play. It does have an in-game impact, increasing the player’s receiving ratings and his QB’s deep throw accuracy.
Defensive Playmaker: This role means that this player is valued by their franchise as a player who can make a huge play when needed the most. It does have an in-game impact, increasing the player’s ratings at key moments in the game.
Feature Back: This role means that this HB is valued by their franchise as the focus of their running game. It does have an in-game impact, and it increases this player’s stamina and ball carrier vision ratings.
First Round Pick: This role means that this player was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Franchise Quarterback: This role means that this QB is valued by their franchise as the QB they want to build the team around. It does have an in-game impact, and it increases this player’s short, medium, and deep accuracy ratings.
Fumble Prone: This role means that this player has a hard time holding on to the football. It does have an in-game impact, increasing the chances of the player fumbling at key points in the game.
Future Star: This role means that this player is viewed as a potential future star for his team.
Game Manager: This role means that this player is someone that the team can count on as a safe option at QB. It does have an in-game impact, increasing the player’s ratings on third down.
Go to Guy: This role means that this player is valued by their franchise as a player that can make the big catch when needed the most. It does have an in-game impact, and it increases this player’s catch in traffic rating and his QB’s medium throw accuracy rating.
Injury Prone: This role means that this player has a hard time staying on the field because of injury issues. It does have an in-game impact, increasing the chances of picking up an injury during the game.
Iron Man: This role means that this player fights through injuries to stay on the field. It does have an in-game impact, increasing injury and toughness ratings during the game.
Offensive Playmaker: This role means that this player is someone who can take over the game when the team needs it. It does have an in-game impact, increasing key ratings on 3rd down and in the 4th quarter for the player and decreasing ratings for the opposing defenders.
Pass Rusher: This role means that this player is viewed as a player who consistently puts pressure on the QB. It does have an in-game impact, positive for his teammates in the secondary and negative for the opposing o-line.
Playoff Performer: This role means that this player really turns it on in the playoffs. It does have an in-game impact, increasing key ratings for the player and his teammates in playoff games.
Project Player: This role means that this player is someone with great physical talent but a low overall rating.
QB of the Future: This role means that this QB is valued by the franchise as their potential future QB. It prevents the team from drafting another QB in the first round or signing a better QB in free agency.
Return Specialist: This role means that this player is valued by their franchise as someone who can be a threat in the return game. It does have an in-game impact, positive for the player and his blockers and negative for the defenders trying to tackle him.
Run Stopper: This role means that this player is viewed as a great defender vs. the run. It does have an in-game impact, positive for the defensive teammates of the player and negative for the opposing HB.
Shutdown Corner: This role means that this player is valued by their franchise as someone who can shutdown any WR in the NFL. It does have an in-game impact, positive for the player with the role and negative for the opposing WR and QB.
Team Leader: This role means that this player is the unquestioned leader of his team. It has a large in-game impact, increasing ratings of all teammates on the field.
Team Mentor: This role means that this player is a valuable presence in the locker room. It does have an in-game impact, increasing awareness and play recognition for the player’s teammates at his position.
Trench Warrior: This role means that this player is a beast in the trenches. It does have an in-game impact, increasing run and pass blocking ratings for the player.
Underachiever: This role means that this player is considered someone who has not lived up to expectations. It does have an in-game impact on the player.
Bears
Brian Urlacher (Defensive Playmaker)
Julius Peppers (Pass Rusher)
Roy Williams (Underachiever)
Johnny Knox (Deep Threat)
Chris Spencer (Underachiever)
Devin Hester (Deep Threat, Return Specialist)
Jay Cutler (Franchise QB)
Vernon Gholston (Underachiever)
Chris Williams (Injury Prone)
Matt Forte (Offensive Playmaker)
Bengals
Jermaine Gresham (Future Star)
Carlos Dunlap (Future Star)
Andy Dalton (QB of the Future)
A.J. Green (Future Star, Offensive Playmaker)
Carson Palmer (Fumble Prone)
Adam “Pacman