Battlepros Blog

Maurice Jones-Drew is your 2010 Madden Bowl Champion

battlepros — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:30:19 +0000

Patrick Willis of the 49ers defeats Chad Ochocinco in the semifinals of the 2010 Madden Bowl.

It was a long night in South Beach Miami with lots of close games and in the end Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars emerged as 2010 Madden Bowl champion. Jones-Drew playing as the New York Jets defeated Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers 16-0. Willis, playing as the 49ers, had moments of dominance, but could never get the Alex Smith led offense on track.

Check out our photo album from the event.

Trey Wingo from ESPN emceed the event and took notice of “virtual” Willis’ dominance on the field. BattlePros member Manny Lawson was also called out by Wingo, who at one point said, “is that Manny Lawson covering way down field (breaking up a pass), now that’s impressive.”

The night started with four quarterfinal matches. In the first, Willis dominated Jared Allen of the Vikings 35-0. Eventual champ, Maurice Jones-Drew took out fellow running back Chris Johnson of the Titans and Chad Ochocinco took down all-purpose threat Percy Harvin of the Vikings. In the oddest match of the night, Santonio Holmes of the Steelers moved on to the semifinals after defeating Miles Austin of the Cowboys in a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors. A power outage with an Xbox system caused the shift in competition (a camera man kicked out the cord while filming the match. No, it wasn’t me). With Austin winning at the time of the accident, a quick thinking Wingo challenged both players to decide the outcome by facing off in the popular kids’ hand game. Holmes won 2 out of 3 games and moved on to face Jones-Drew, where the Jaguar’s running back won fairly comfortably.

Willis on the otherhand was locked in a close battle with Ochocinco in the other semifinal match. Willis played as the Steelers (after playing as the Eagles in his first match) and Ochocinco donned the uniform of the hometown Dolphins. Willis jumped out to a two score lead, but had to convert a late first down to hold onto a close 3 point victory.

In the finals, Jones-Drew used a ball control offense to eat up the clock and yards. Willis couldn’t mount any serious drives and turned the ball over a couple of times. For his victory, Jones-Drew received a giant Stanely Cup-like trophy and a diamond-encrusted Xbox 360 console. The champ also received a congratulatory call from John Madden himself. Jones-Drew asked the coach/commentator if he remembered that Jones-Drew used to mow his lawn as a kid. He seemed excited that Madded did indeed remember it.

Other players in attendance included Ravens OT Michael Oher, Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware, Jets QB Mark Sanchez, Bengals LB Keith Rivers, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley, Steelers LB James Farrior, Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez, Broncos WR Brandon Marshall, Browns WR Josh Cribbs, Cardinals DT Darnell Dockett, retired Rams RB Marshall Faulk, Jets CB Darrelle Revis, retired RB Eddie George, and 49ers TE Vernon Davis.

For your chance to play Madden or other games against pro athletes, make sure to join BattlePros. It’s free.

You can also check out a video from the event from EA Sports.

Our own BattlePros video is coming soon.

BattlePros is in Miami for Super Bowl Week!

battlepros — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:39:51 +0000

The girls of the LFL hit the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for a week of fun and games.

We’re here and have already attended the Pro Bowl. Overall a good time, even if the players hold back on the field. Hey, I don’t blame them. No one wants to get hurt and have to rehab all off-season because of an exhibition game.

As for the overall vibe, lots of passionate fans from all over the world have descended on Miami and South Beach and we’ll be attending as many parties and events as possible and will report back to our BattlePros members.

Today we’re off to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel for Media Day for the Lingerie Football League. Hoping we can get a player or two to sign up to face off against you the members. These women look hardcore and I don’t think I would mess with them. We’ll be posting some videos from the event soon.

Tonight we’re off to the Xbox Party at the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale and tomorrow is the Madden Bowl at the Clevelander Hotel in South Beach. Typically 30-50 NFL players attend that event so we’ll be looking for “fresh blood” to join the site.

Stay tuned for updates …. and if you haven’t joined BattlePros, do it now (it’s FREE!).

NFL Players and Fans to Face Off in Madden 10 Tournament

battlepros — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:30:45 +0000

Online Tournament Hosted by BattlePros.com to be Held on Xbox LIVE; Fans at All Levels Welcome to Join for Chance to Battle a Pro

Ever wonder what it would be like to run a slant over the middle with an NFL safety lining you up in his sight? Think you can chase down a pro running back at full speed? You may not have the chance on the playing field, but the next best thing is coming. The BattlePros Madden NFL 10 Xbox Challenge is a free tournament that will allow video gamers to see how their skills stack up against NFL players on the virtual playing field. The online tournament will have fan vs. fan and pro vs. pro brackets. The top players to emerge from the fan bracket will have the opportunity to battle a pro on Xbox LIVE where they can chat with the player and talk some trash. In the end, the top pro and top fan will face off to be crowned BattlePros Madden NFL 10 champion.

SIGN UP FOR THE TOURNAMENT HERE

Players of all levels are welcome to join the tournament and four random fans (even first round losers) will be selected to battle against a pro – giving everyone who enters a chance to spend time online with a pro.

Players already signed up for the tournament include Pittsburgh Steelers running back Mewelde Moore, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Manny Lawson, and Atlanta Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud. More pros will be announced soon.

“Everyone knows NFL players are highly competitive and it’s no different when they’re playing Madden,” stated BattlePros.com founder Dean Fisk. “We’re expecting some hard fought matches with lots of good old fashion trash talking. We also want fans of all playing levels to sign up. Even if you lose in the first round, you’ll have a chance to battle against a pro player. It’s a lot of fun to get online with these guys and just talk football and play the game, win or lose.”

The battles will take place on Xbox LIVE, allowing fans and pros to chat and talk trash while playing. To sign up for the tournament, fans must go to www.battlepros.com and RSVP for the event under the “Events” tab. If not already a member, participants must join BattlePros for free. The site is open to everyone age 13 and over.

Sign-ups will close at the end of December and brackets will be released shortly thereafter. The tournament is scheduled to conclude in January 2010. Details, including the tournament rules, will be available on the BattlePros site and fans can follow the results of the pro vs. pro battles on Twitter.

Player Background

Mewelde Moore, Pittsburgh Steelers – Moore is a multi-purpose back who’s equally dangerous as a runner, receiver and kick returner. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tulane and is only the 2nd player in NCAA history to rush for 4,000 yards and have 2,000 yards receiving in a career. In 2008, Moore signed a three year contract to join the Pittsburgh Steelers. Moore was given the opportunity to start after Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall were injured. Although he was a backup for most of the year, he racked up 588 yards rushing and 5 TDs on the ground. He also had 320 yards receiving and one receiving touchdown, as well as one passing touchdown.

Manny Lawson, San Francisco 49ers – Lawson is on pace to have career highs in tackles and sacks this season. He was drafted by the 49ers in the 1st round (22nd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He quickly contributed to the 49ers defense and was named Rookie of the Week in his second game, recording three tackles, two sacks and two quarterback pressures in a win over the rival St. Louis Rams. He finished his first year with 57 tackles. After a fast start to the 2007 season (11 tackles in the first two games), Manny suffered a season-ending knee injury. He returned in 2008 and again made his presence known on a 49ers defense that ranked in the top half of the league.

Thomas DeCoud, Atlanta Falcons – DeCoud is a starting safety for the Atlanta Falcons. DeCoud was selected in the third round (98th pick overall) of the 2008 NFL draft and has made the most of his opportunity to start this season. In a Sunday Night Football win over the Chicago Bears, DeCoud recorded the first two interceptions of his young career off Pro Bowl QB Jay Cutler. In a Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints, DeCoud helped his team jump out to an early lead with a punishing hit on Saints QB Drew Brees, causing a fumble that was picked up by the Falcons for a defensive score.

Links

Sign-up here
BattlePros Madden 10 Xbox Challenge video
Facebook Fan’s Page – BattlePros
Follow BattlePros on Twitter

About BattlePros.com
BattlePros.com is a Web destination hosted by professional athletes that love video games and the competition that goes with it. Video gamers can join the site for free and take part in a variety of contests and tournaments to win a chance to battle a pro online. Members can also sign-up to receive Twitter alerts when the pros are heading to Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network or a PC gaming community looking for playing partners.

All registered trademarks or trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Falcons Fans – Thomas DeCoud Wants to Battle You!

battlepros — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:25:05 +0000

Avid Gamer Thomas DeCoud Wants to Battle Fans

A new Website for video gamers, www.battlepros.com, is looking to bring together Falcons fans and starting Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud for online battles on Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. When not studying game film, Thomas can often be found in his basement “man cave” playing Halo, Guitar Hero, Call of Duty: World at War or another of his favorite games. He spends about half his gaming time playing online and looks forward to meeting up with fans to talk trash and catch up on the latest Falcons happenings.

“I probably play 2-3 hours a day,” said DeCoud. “I’m often playing with teammate Brent Grimes and we talk a lot of trash. Have to play the mind games.”

To win a chance to face off against Thomas, fans must become a member of www.battlepros.com. It’s free to join and is open to anyone aged 13 and over. Once a member, fans need to join the Falcons Fanatics group – featured on the BattlePros main page. Once a month, a member of this group will be randomly selected to face off against Thomas for an hour on Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. The winner will be given the option of picking the game to be played from Thomas’ list of favorites.

Fans can also sign up the upcoming BattlePros Madden 10 Xbox Challenge, which will pit fans against a number of NFL players from across the league. Click on the Events tab at BattlePros.com to join the action.

About BattlePros.com

BattlePros.com is a Web destination hosted by professional athletes that love video games and the competition that goes with it. Video gamers can join the site for free and take part in a variety of contests and tournaments to win a chance to battle a pro online. Members can also sign-up to receive Twitter alerts when the pros are heading to Xbox Live, PlayStation Network or a PC gaming community looking for playing partners. The site will also offer the best trash-talking videos the Web has to offer. Pros and members alike will be challenged to show off their smack-talking skills, with the most creative videos featured on the main page of the site.

The site is geared for online gamers looking for new friends to team up with or battle online for the hottest games, including: sports games such as Madden 10 and NBA Live; action strategy games like Halo 3 and Call of Duty: World at War; and music simulation games including Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

The site’s member search function and live chat capabilities make it easy for gamers to find playing partners of all skill levels. BattlePros allows members to create profiles with their own photos, videos and blog posts; form groups; take part in forum discussions; and download dozens of free games and other cool applications for their personal page.

BattlePros Member Takes Down 49ers Linebacker in Madden 10

battlepros — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:47:55 +0000

In our first battle between pro athlete and fan, the result never seemed in doubt. When I asked 49ers linebacker Manny Lawson about his pending Madden 10 battle against BattlePros member David, his response was, “I can tell you right now … I’m gonna lose, but still talk trash.” Well the prediction came true. Despite some connection issues with Xbox Live, Manny and David were able to get almost two full games in, with David winning both contests, 24-7 and 49-15.

Manny admits he doesn’t play as much Madden as he used to. When you live and breathe football all day long, it makes sense that you’d want to unwind with a little Guitar Hero, Halo or something else to clear your mind.

In fact Manny has had some epic Halo battles with teammates Ray McDonald, Patrick Willis, Mark Roman and Marcus Hudson, with the trash talking spilling over to the locker room the following morning. But that’s for another blog post.

According to David, the trash talking was actually kept to a minimum. “Manny is a funny guy, so I was laughing most of the time,” he said. The conversation focused on Manny’s bye week, what games the guys play and what was going on in the game. David says Manny was better on O, throwing some nice passes, but his defense didn’t help him much with a lot of broken tackles. “He has some room to improve, but showed some promise,” stated David.

As a Niners fan, David played both games as the 49ers and Manny played as the Saints. The Saints? Will have to ask Manny what that’s all about. At least they’re not a division rival anymore.

“It was a great experience,” exclaimed David. “Manny is a cool guy, very funny and I am a 49ers fan so it was great to go against a player. It was everything I was hoping for.”

David wants to see a Madden 10 tournament on BattlePros and the good news is it’s coming. Fans and NFL players will soon face off against each other for the Madden BattlePros crown. Details coming soon.

If you haven’t joined BattlePros yet for your chance to battle Manny and other Pro Athletes, go to http://www.battlepros.com. It’s free to join.

Members that join the 49ers Webzone group on BattlePros are automatically entered into a monthly drawing to win a battle against Manny. The next winner will be selected at the end of the month.

49erswebzone.com Gamers – Manny Lawson Wants to Battle You!

battlepros — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:50:01 +0000

49ers linebacker Manny Lawson wants to battle you!

A new Website for video gamers, www.battlepros.com, has a special offer for 49ers fans. Manny Lawson, 49ers linebacker and avid gamer, wants to battle Niners fans on Xbox Live. In his free time, Manny unwinds by playing Halo, Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, Madden, you name it. Now he wants to share the experience with the fans. The beauty of Xbox Live is fans can battle with or against Manny while chatting about an upcoming game.

“Most of the time, I’m playing against teammates Michael Lewis, Patrick Willis, Mark Roman and Ray McDonald,” proclaimed Lawson. “Now, I’d like to take on some fans and see how good the competition is out there.”

To win a chance to face off against Manny, fans must become a member of www.battlepros.com. It’s free to join and is open to anyone aged 13 and over. Once a member, fans need to join the 49erswebzone group – featured on the BattlePros main page. Once a month, a member of this group will be randomly selected to face off against Manny for an hour on Xbox Live. The winner will be given the option of picking the game to be played from Manny’s list of favorites.

Fans that join BattlePros will also be kept up-to-date on the upcoming BattlePros Madden 10 Challenge, which will pit fans against a number of NFL players from across the league.

About BattlePros.com