Eskimos Kicker At Odds With Madden 11

Or at least a statement made by Cris Collinsworth in the game.

By Gerry Moddejonge of the Edmonton Sun

The CFL has taken a virtual kick in the pants from the popular NFL video game Madden NFL 11.

A commentary track in the latest version of the EA Sports title by NBC colour guy Chris Collinsworth in reaction to an errant punt that lands out of bounds says: “Unbelievable. The field is 53-and-a-half yards wide and he still missed it. We’re going to have to send him to Canada.”

While it may just be a humorous take on the CFL’s 65-yard-wide field, the joke is being seen as a little offside by some who make their living kicking in the northern league.

“Obviously Chris has never been to Canada,” said Edmonton Eskimos kicker/punter Noel Prefontaine. “It’s interesting to have that comment on a game considering that it’s harder to kick up here. Another thing that contributes to it: you let me know any NFL guy that does all three (kickoffs, place kicking and punting).

“If you haven’t done it, then you don’t know what I’m talking about. If you have done it, then you do. It’s hard to develop all three techniques and do it at a high level. If Chris was a kicker and he had to do all three, then I’m sure he would understand where I’m coming from.”

To be fair, Prefontaine doesn’t place all the blame on Collinsworth, who likely didn’t have much say in the writing of his in-game lines.

“I’m sure he doesn’t, but still whoever is writing the game is misinformed,” said Prefontaine. “It’s all how you view it. The bottom line is this league and the history of this league has extended guys’ careers. Even guys who came up here and went back down to the NFL. You look at some of the people who are in the Hall of Fame down there, they stopped up here to play. Look at Jeff Garcia — he doesn’t do what he does if the CFL wasn’t here. Warren Moon, you talk about all these fabulous, great football players that are in the (Pro Football) Hall of Fame, without the CFL in existence I’m not so sure they move on to those Hall of Fame careers.”

As far as all-around kicking is concerned, Prefontaine said the CFL is not simply a training ground for inexperienced kickers — regardless of Collinsworth’s views.

“Obviously he doesn’t understand that kicking field goals in this league is harder than it is in the NFL because of where the hashes are set, so you deal with tougher angles. Chris probably doesn’t know that,” Prefontaine said. “But that’s fine, it doesn’t bother me any. This is the game that I’ve always played, this is the game that I love and comments like that come from ignorant people that don’t really understand what the game is up here and what kickers have to deal with up here.”

Others are happy the CFL gets a mention in the monstrously popular video game.

“I play Madden 11 all the time. I beat up on Lawrence Gordon and Chris Thompson all day so I need some competition,” Eskimos slotback Fred Stamps said of his defensive back teammates. “If the kicker kicks the out of bounds, (they say) the field isn’t wide enough, they need to send him to Canada or something. That’s pretty good.”

“It’s time for a CFL game to come out, that would be good.”