Mike Rucker Madden Career 2000-2008 - Peak 93 OVR
Julius Peppers' bookend on Carolina's Super Bowl front
Rucker came out of Nebraska a two-time national champion and went to Carolina in the second round in 1999, 38th overall. He grew into the veteran counterweight to a young Julius Peppers, and in 2003 the two became the only defensive-end duo in the league to each post double-digit sacks, driving the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII against New England.
That 2003 season was his best. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Month for September after five sacks in four games, then repeated the honor in September 2004, one of only a handful of players ever to win it for the same month twice in a row.
Madden captured the ascent from role player to force. He sat at 68 in the 2001 edition and 73 the next year before the breakout landed him an 88 in the 2003 edition and a career-high 93 in 2004. He held at 91 through the mid-2000s. An ACL tear in December 2006 signaled the end, and he retired after 2007 having spent his entire career in Carolina.
Mike Rucker Madden Career Milestones
- Peak rating: 93 OVR in Madden NFL 2005 (age 29)
- Appeared in 8 Madden releases (Madden NFL 2000 through Madden NFL 2008)
- Entered at 73 OVR in Madden NFL 2000, climbed 20 points to his peak
- Biggest single-year rise: 15 points into Madden NFL 2004
- Played for the Panthers across every Madden release in his career
- Listed as a defensive lineman in every Madden release
- Final Madden appearance: Madden NFL 2008 at 88 OVR
Mike Rucker Madden Career Ratings
| Madden | Team | Pos | OVR | Speed | ACC | AGI | STR | JMP | STA | INJ | TGH | AWR | PRC | THP | TAS | TAM | TAD | CAR | BTK | TRK | BCV | SFA | SPM | JKM | CTH | SPC | CIT | SRR | MRR | DRR | RLS | RBK | PBK | IBL | TAK | POW | PUR | MCV | ZCV | PRS | KPW | KAC | KRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2000 1999 NFL season
|
|
DE | 73* | 59 | 55 | 64 | 78 | - | - | 78 | - | 49 | - | - | - | - | - | 29 | 29 | - | - | - | - | - | 24 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 69 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
2002 2001 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 68 | 66 | 57 | 67 | 77 | 53 | 76 | 87 | 79 | 53 | - | 17 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 27 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 | 26 | - | 72 | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | 27 | - |
|
2003 2002 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 73 | 65 | 70 | 67 | 79 | 54 | 62 | 81 | 79 | - | - | 21 | - | - | - | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 31 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | 30 | - | 74 | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 31 | - |
|
2004 2003 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 88 | 72 | 78 | 72 | 85 | 54 | 62 | 81 | 79 | 83 | - | 21 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 31 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | 30 | - | 80 | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 31 | 0 |
|
2005 2004 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 93 | 75 | 84 | 75 | 78 | 54 | 69 | 81 | 79 | 87 | - | 21 | - | - | - | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 31 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | 30 | - | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 31 | - |
|
2006 2005 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 91 | 75 | 83 | 74 | 77 | 54 | 69 | 81 | - | 87 | - | 21 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 16 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 31 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | 30 | - | 83 | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 31 | 0 |
|
2007 2006 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 91 | 74 | 80 | 72 | 79 | 54 | 69 | 81 | 79 | 90 | 86 | 21 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 16 | - | 35 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 31 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 16 | 30 | 16 | 84 | - | 80 | 27 | 22 | - | 20 | 31 | 0 |
|
2008 2007 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 88 | 74 | 78 | 68 | 78 | 54 | 69 | 75 | - | 77 | 75 | 21 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 16 | - | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 31 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 30 | 16 | 78 | 68 | 80 | 27 | 22 | 18 | 20 | 31 | 0 |
Era Defensive Linemen who played alongside Mike Rucker
Mike Rucker Madden Ratings by Year
Mike Rucker Madden NFL 2000 rating: 73 OVR (1999 NFL season, CAR). Mike Rucker Madden NFL 2002 rating: 68 OVR (2001 NFL season, CAR). Mike Rucker Madden NFL 2003 rating: 73 OVR (2002 NFL season, CAR). Mike Rucker Madden NFL 2004 rating: 88 OVR (2003 NFL season, CAR). Mike Rucker Madden NFL 2005 rating: 93 OVR (2004 NFL season, CAR). Mike Rucker Madden NFL 2006 rating: 91 OVR (2005 NFL season, CAR). Mike Rucker Madden NFL 2007 rating: 91 OVR (2006 NFL season, CAR). Mike Rucker Madden NFL 2008 rating: 88 OVR (2007 NFL season, CAR).