Perennial football whipping boy Nathan Peterman has a 49 Madden rating

Nathan Peterman is the poster child for bad NFL quarterbacks. Every article about who should be brought in at quarterback, from Colin Kaepernick to Joe Flacco, opines that the writer's choice can't be any worse than Nathan Peterman.

The now Las Vegas Raiders backup once posted a 0.0 QB rating in a game for the Buffalo Bills. He went 5-for 18 for 24 yards with two interceptions. Through nine weeks in 2018, he had a rating of 36.4. A quarterback who spiked the ball on every single play would achieve a rating of 39.6.

How does one quantify such horrendous play? Most wouldn't have to worry, but it is the actual job of those who create Madden ratings. They have declared Peterman a 49 overall. Yes, that is out of 100. There are guys in Ultimate Team without photos on their cards that are significantly better than that.

I mean, I am not arguing Peterman's terribleness, but it's wild that any professional football player warrants essentially a failing grade at his position. Of course, considering Peterman is in his seventh year of NFL football, maybe the joke is really on the rest of us?

When I first saw this making the rounds on social media, I was hoping it was wrong. But despite numerous complaints, Madden NFL usually gets this right. I remember several years ago I was reporting on TJ Houshmanzadeh being upset about his speed rating. Just a couple of years later, he was out of the league so I'm thinking EA was dead on.

This is as good a place as any to mention that the Raiders 'top two quarterbacks are Gardner Minshew and Aidan O' Connell, meaning Peterman and his 49 overall rating are far closer to the field than they should be. We could see the legend take the field again in a regular season game.

Heck, he might do something to increase his Madden rating. It wouldn't take very much.