Update August 29: As reported on Monday, EA Sports has confirmed to The Wiire that a forthcoming roster update will remove Michael Vick from Madden NFL 08. Today, The Wiire learned that the roster update will be released on September 6, the same day that the 2007 NFL regular season begins.
Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback who pled guilty to federal charges stemming from his involvement in a dogfighting operation Monday, was included on the Falcons' roster for the game's August 14 release, despite the ongoing investigation that prevented him from appearing at training camp. The roster update is a mandatory download for anyone who wants to play online.
A favorite among Madden players for his dynamic scoring ability as a passer and as a rusher in the open field, Vick had an overall player rating of 90 and the Player Weapons of Speed QB and Cannon Arm QB. The roster update will render Vick an unplayable character during online play. Offline players can always restore the game to its default rosters, but the updated ones must be used online.
Vick appeared on the cover of Madden 2004.
The Wiire reviewed Madden NFL 08 upon its release, and gave it an overall grade of B+. The game earned five awards, including Innovative Design, Multiplayer Mayhem, and Infinite Replay.
The Wiire will have much more on this story as it unfolds. Stay tuned!
