Sunday, November 16: Madden (The Guy) on Madden (The Game)

I’ll be posting pregame and in-game stuff from FedExField a bit later today. Early reports from Adam Schefter (via Michael David Smith at ProFootballTalk) have Shawn Springs and Jason Taylor ready to go, which squares with what Coach Zorn has been telling us all week. I know a lot of you are checking for Clinton Portis updates, but every indication I’ve gotten has been that he’ll be an honest-to-goodness gametime decision. As soon as I hear something, I’ll pass it along. In the meantime, here’s something to tide you over during the interminable wait for Sunday night.

The game is being called on TV by the usual NBC Sunday Night Football crew, so John Madden was at Redskins Park on Friday to watch practice and have the usual assortment of production meetings with players and coaches.

Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images

Last time Madden was here, I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to him (although I did get a tour of his famous bus), and I didn’t really expect this visit to be any different. Instead, I wound up having a long conversation with him about the Madden Football video game series, which I’ve loved since the very first Sega Genesis installment. It was really Casey Rabach‘s fault, honestly.

Rabach came to the sidelines of practice, where I was standing with Executive Director of Communications Zack Bolno, and encouraged Bolno to go ask Madden if he ever received Ethan Albright‘s letter about Albright’s legendarily atrocious ranking in Madden’s video game. Bolno shrugged and headed to where Madden was standing, and I came along.

Madden laughed when Bolno explained what was up. “I never saw the letter,” he said, “but I’ve heard all about it. Getting those ratings right can be really tough for some guys.”

At this point, Bolno got called away, but I stuck around to talk and see what else Madden had to say.

Wednesday, August 27: On the Madden Cruiser

When the Madden Cruiser pulled up outside Redskins Park yesterday, I had one immediate thought: “Wow, somebody really likes Australia-themed chain steak restaurants.”

The somebody in this case is John Madden, broadcaster, former player, Hall of Fame coach, spokesman for the eponymous Madden Football videogame (along with hundreds of other things over the years), and legendary non-flyer. The Madden Cruiser is the bus that gets him out of flying, and has for the last two-and-a-half decades. The bus itself is replaced every few years; this particular Madden Cruiser is on its third year of service.

While Madden was talking to players in preparation for Thursday Night’s Sunday Night Football game, I was able to get onto the legendary bus and take a look around.

I was expecting to be able to make some sort of obvious comparison — “The bus is nicer than my first apartment,” or something — but I was not expecting it to have more bathrooms than my current house. (Admittedly, my house only has one bathroom, but even so I didn’t really think the Madden Cruiser was going to double that.)

The front of the bus is a lounge/dining/viewing area, along with a small kitchenette.

This is where Madden eats (presumably) and reviews film to get ready for upcoming games. These, for the younger readers, are called VHS tapes. They’re like DVDs, only bulkier and less convenient. (The bus is also equipped with DVD players.)

Also up here is the first of those two bathrooms, mainly for the use of the two drivers.

(Move to the back of the bus after the jump.)