Miami Dolphins' Xavien Howard on Madden 23 rating: "I'm used to the disrespect"
MIAMI GARDENS — When player ratings for Madden 23 dropped last Friday and Miami's Xavien Howard was nowhere to be found among the NFL's top cornerbacks, the Dolphins space found itself in what's become an annual uproar.
After ranking 17th in last season’s selection of top 100 players and making the Pro Bowl for the third straight year in 2021, the Dolphins' nine-year veteran was given an 89 OVR by Madden, tying him for 10th, and below Falcons third-year corner A.J. Terrell.
"We've got to do the unthinkable to get recognition," Howard said Wednesday as the Dolphins opened training camp.
Even after leading the NFL with 27 interceptions since being drafted in 2016, Howard was surpassed by Marlon Humphrey, J.C. Jackson, Stephon Gilmore, Marson Lattimore, Darius Slay Jr., Denzel Ward, Tre'Davious White, and Jaire Alexander – all rated between 90-94. Touting a Super Bowl ring and a 98 rating, Jalen Ramsey ranked first overall.
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In Madden 22, Howard's 91 OVR put him at No. 6 behind a top-ranked Ramsey, Gilmore, Alexander, White, and Baltimore's Marlon Humphrey.
"I'm used to the disrespect," Howard said. "They [Madden] always disrespect guys from Miami. I don't know what it is."
The highest-rated Dolphin in Madden 23 is Tyreek Hill, coming in third among veteran wide receivers with a 97 OVR. Entering his final season in Kansas City, Hill ranked second, with a 99 OVR rating.
Tua Tagovailoa, Teddy Bridgewater tied in Madden 23 ratings
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa received a 75 rating. So did backup Teddy Bridgewater.
After virtually doubling his productivity, posting career-highs across the stat sheet in his third NFL season, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins earned a 78 – just three points higher than his rating last year.
"If you don't find ways to keep yourself motivated, you don't last very long in this league," Wilkins said.
Seeking an extension of his rookie contract, Wilkins said "every little thing helps" when it comes to finding motivation to prove Dolphins doubters and naysayers wrong.
"But then again, you can't pay attention to a lot of those things. Just come out here. Work. Grind," Wilkins said. "Let everything take care of itself."
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins Xavien Howard on Madden 23: "I'm used to the disrespect"
