ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals lineman Justin Pugh is OK with his 73 Madden rating

Jul 17, 2019, 9:52 AM

Arizona Cardinals OL Justin Pugh goes through drills during the team’s mandatory minicamps Wednes...

Arizona Cardinals OL Justin Pugh goes through drills during the team’s mandatory minicamps Wednesday, June 12, 2019, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/ArizonaSports)

(Tyler Drake/ArizonaSports)

The newly released player ratings from EA Sports’ Madden NFL 20 game are causing some uproar among players around the league.

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen and former Arizona safety Tony Jefferson are a few of the players not happy about their ratings.

But current Cardinals guard Justin Pugh was cool with his.

Pugh joined The Lefkoe Show on Bleacher Report to discuss his rating of a 73.

It was one digit higher than his own projected rating of 72.

“I’m a realist, not an idiot,” Pugh said of his rating.

He says players get too caught up in what the video game has to say about them.

“Some of the guys are unrealistic about who they are as a player,” Pugh said.

Even with his contentedness with the lower rating, Pugh still boasts confidence in himself.

“I know I’m one of the best guards in the NFL,” he said. “I’ve gotten hurt the past two years, so how can I say that when I haven’t gone out there and done that?”

Pugh was a bit more aggressive with the details of his rating, though.

“I at least should be in the 90s when it comes to my awareness,” he said. “But I know I’m probably like an 86.”

He was a 79.

But Pugh underrated himself when it came to his strength.

“When I went to Syracuse, they called me puny because I wasn’t very strong. So whatever they gave me, I actually think is better than where I’m at,” Pugh said.

Pugh projected himself at 84. Madden gave him an 88.

His stamina also was rated well.

“Linemen are getting discredited here all the time, but I should have one of the best stamina for the offensive linemen,” Pugh said.

A projected 64 from Pugh was actually a 92 in the game.

“I love that because that’s really where I’m at. I don’t know who’s following me around that’s seen that I can go,” he said.

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