Detroit Lions legend and Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders was declared the winner of the Madden NFL 25 Cover Vote, beating out Adrian Peterson in the finals of the 64 player tournament. The Post had a chance to speak with Sanders about his road to victory and how he feels the newest edition of Madden will put the glory back into the running game.
Anthony Sulla-Heffinger: First off, congratulations on winning the Madden cover vote. This is your second straight year being on a video game cover, what’s that like for you?
Barry Sanders: I know man, it’s pretty awesome. Last year was nice, getting the chance to do NCAA Football with RGIII and I thought that was big but now obviously this year, going through this process, it’s even more amazing and certainly a surprise.
Sulla-Heffinger: You had to go through some pretty big names in order to nab the cover. Going up against guys like Ray Lewis, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana and the Adrian Peterson. At any point did you feel nervous about advancing?
Sanders: Actually, yeah. I certainly thought it would be difficult to get past Ray, in more ways than one. Obviously he had a great career and such a terrific season and all of the storylines surrounding their team. Once I got past that, you don’t expect to win against Joe Montana, so I don’t know what happened there. The great thing about it is [Madden] has been so kind to me, the designers have been generous to the things that I can do on the field and it really has come full circle. So many kids that never saw me play know me through the game and the game has done such a great job of capturing what I did. I don’t know what the rating is on the game itself [this year] but the designers have been very generous. This year’s game is really geared toward the runners, they are more powerful, more elusive, there are a lot more things that they can do with the runners so it’s kind of fitting that I would be the one fortunate enough to grace the cover.
Sulla-Heffinger: With this being the 25th anniversary of the Madden Franchise, do you see it as fitting that an NFL legend such as yourself is on the cover rather than a current athlete?
Sanders: I think so, I like that angle, absolutely. I hadn’t thought about it and I don’t know what Coach Madden thinks, but I think he’d choose me over Adrian Peterson. I certainly think there’s something to be said about that and years ago I was actually scheduled to be on the cover but that was the year that I retired so it didn’t happen so it’s also fitting that after all these years I’m able to have the good fortune and fan support to be on the cover.
Sulla-Heffinger: Over a decade after retiring, what’s it like for you to see yourself back in a video game and in the minds of a new generation of football fans?
Sanders: It’s terrific because at home my sons play, I know how popular it is and it seems that it just continues to become more and more popular. It has really kept alive not just my career, but so many great players. I played in a great era of pro football. The 90s was a great era with so many great players that people still remember and this game captures that. It’s great for that reason also.
Sulla-Heffinger: You beat him out in the finals for the cover, but who’s a better running back, you in your prime or Adrian Peterson now?
Sanders: Oh man, I don’t know. He does so many things well. I know I’m not as fast as he is, I was never that fast. At times I may be a little more elusive than he is but he’s the type of guy, where I had to be elusive because I couldn’t run anyone over, he has the option depending on whatever mood he’s in. Sometimes he’ll run you over, sometimes he’ll run around you, sometimes he’ll just fake you out. What I like about it is that I have been watching running backs for many, many years and I’ve always thought there was something special about running backs and the running game. I love that part of it. He continues that tradition of brilliant NFL runners that know what to do when they get the ball in their hand.
Sulla-Heffinger: Does it make you feel better that it was two running backs in the final and the game will be focused on the rushing attack as opposed to the live product which is becoming more geared toward the passing game?
Sanders: Absolutely. I think for a lot of reasons but certainly, the season that Adrian had, it shows what can be done on the ground. I think the fact that he and I were the finalists in this competition, I would have assumed he was going to win, especially after he won almost every offensive award possible at the NFL Awards Dinner during the Super Bowl.
Sulla-Heffinger: Not only is it two years in a row for you, but back-to-back Lions with Calvin Johnson being on last year’s cover. What’s it like to see the Lions getting as much love as they are from the fans?
Sanders: It’s great. Calvin made us so proud because we were certainly excited about him being on the cover and then to see him have the year that he had last year, it was just remarkable for us. I love to see a guy in his position, who had just recently received a new contract, a lot of attention for being on the cover of Madden and to have that kind of a year, his best year ever, I think it says a lot about his focus and drive to be great.
Sulla-Heffinger: Do you buy into the Madden Curse?
Sanders: I never necessarily bought into it really. Obviously you can make arguments on both sides of that but he certainly shattered any discussion or real belief in that as far as I’m concerned.
Sulla-Heffinger: You mentioned your sons play the game, is it the case where you’re the NFL legend and they are the Madden Legends?
Sanders: I jump in and play with my sons. I don’t get to play as much as they do, but they are passionate about the Madden game. I can sometimes hang with my six-year-old but my 11-year-old, I stand no chance.
