I have a strange feeling about Madden 13 that I haven't had reference an EA football game in a LONG time. Really think this years game is going to be great.
I work in film, so I understand what you mean about having an editor's eye...but, I also remember mentions of EA applying motion blur of sorts to this year. I think what we may be seeing in the picture is this code's attempt at depth-of-field. Payton is rather leaned forward (towards us) in the original pic, or at least that is the look it it trying to present..? It's almost got a fish-eye-lens effect...not fully...just a hint.
Yeah, look at the ball, and then look at his helmet. Those are the closest things to us in the original pic. The depth-of-field aspects of what is behind those two areas is what does seem to be off just a little bit.
Oh, and looking even closer, now, everything "past" the ball and helmet do have some blur on them, with the background sideline and crowd being out of focus like real cameras.