Chargers Daily Links: EA Sports, NFL to extend exclusive rights another year

For those who may have been hoping the EA Sports Madden video game franchise would get some competition in the near future, those prospects just got pushed off a bit further down the road. According to Ben Fischer of Sports Business Daily, the NFL and EA Sports have agreed to a contract extension that would keep the exclusive rights agreement in place until at least 2026.

Per Fischer, the deal hinges on EA “achieving certain revenue goals.”

Many in the sports video game crowd have long argued that the lack of competition for the Madden franchise has had a negative impact on the franchise in recent years. Without the fear of having to lose or fall second to another potential football simulation game - like a potential return of the 2K Football franchise - there are those who think EA hasn’t put enough resources in truly developing and progressing the game enough on a year-to-year basis. One of the biggest arguments has been that the game is almost never “new” enough to warrant an annual $60 purchase.

With the new generation of consoles coming out later this year, the new renditions of the popular franchise will finally have another opportunity to step into the future with all that comes with the next line of gaming platforms.

Now for some links.

Chargers News:

Daniel Popper gives us his early predictions for the Chargers’ final 53-man roster (The Athletic)

Jeff Miller discusses the expected struggles between quarterbacks and receivers due to the current pandemic (L.A. Times)

Gavino Borquez predicts what the final tight end position group will look like in 2020 (Chargers Wire)

Jason Reed highlights the best trade the Chargers ever made with the Cleveland Browns (Bolt Beat)

Gilbert Manzano reports how DE Isaac Rochell is helping those in needs (O.C. Register)

NFL News:

Todd Archer discusses all these Dak Prescott and his contract (ESPN)

How close are sports to coming back? (ESPN)

Kristopher Knox lists every NFL team’s newest weapon (Bleacher Report)

Adam Wells reports on RB Adrian Peterson and why he thinks Washington can surprise this season (Bleacher Report)

The Browns are auctioning off the chance to help script the first 15 plays of a preseason game (Pro Football Talk)