Season 5 Offseason

Here is the schedule I plan to follow. After 7 hours, I got 3 responses tonights. It's hard enough to run this league as it is, but when you don't fucking respond, people have no room to bitch when they're not around for advances. I pm'ed everyone via the forum and PSN. Let's get a move-on.


Re-sign Players
Runs until 03/06/15 - 11:00 pm EST 1:00 am EST

Free Agency Wave 1
Runs from 03/06/15 - 1:00 am EST to 03/06/15 - 8 pm EST

Free Agency Wave 2
Runs from 03/06/15 - 8:00 pm EST to 03/07/15 - 12:00 pm EST

Free Agency Wave 3
Runs from 03/07/15 - 12:00 pm EST to 03/07/15 - 11:00 pm EST

Draft Prep
Runs from 03/07/15 - 11:00 pm EST to Draft

Draft
Sunday: 03/08/15 - 4:30 pm EST.

Open Free Agency
Due to Filirican missing the draft, free agency won't be open until 03/08/15 at 9 pm EST. No player signings after the draft until then.

Pre-Season: 24 hour advances

The Chicago Bears would like to announce their intentions to unveil a 3-4 defense for the following season.  This will be the first time in team history that the Bears employ a 3-4 look, as opposed to the staple 4-3 and the historic 4-6.

The personnel is currently under intense scrutiny. But if all goes well, a defensive unit that ranked in the top 10 this season (8th) will look wildly different. Expected Depth Chart

New Pos		Name		Old Pos		Other Notes
LDE		N. Suh		DT		A pass rushing DT in a 4-3, he's similar to JJ Watt at 3-4 DE.
DT		S. Paea		DT		A 4-3 NT, he fits right at home at 3-4 NT. Might be considered a bit undersized for 3-4 NT. But is strong enough to man the position.
RDE		E. Ferguson		DT		Can sit inside or out. Likely a position to fill later.
LOLB		F. Kearse		LOLB		Also fits inside at MLB. But is a big hitter coming off the edge once his pass rush develops.
MLB1		D. Stumph		ROLB		Weakside 4-3 LBs are prime candidates to slide inside on a 3-4 defense.
MLB2		J. Bostic		MLB
ROLB		S. Harrison		DE		The rookie DE is too undersized to remain at DE in a 3-4. He'll have to move outside.
CB1		K. Fuller		CB
CB2		C. Culliver		CB
CB3		P. Hood		CB
FS		B. Vereen		FS
SS		K. Gooden		SS
-----		Bench --------
DE/DT		W Sutton		DT		Same type of player as Ferguson. Both players are really interchangeable.
OLB		J Lamb		DE		If he sticks on the roster, he moves outside. Likely cut.
OLB		C Washington		DE		If he sticks on the roster, he moves to OLB. Played 3-4 OLB in college.
OLB		J Peters		OLB		Another big hitter on the outside. Can play either OLB or MLB.
MLB		H McGrath		MLB
DE		L Houston		DE		Houston fits either DE spot regardless of scheme. Can even play DT in a 4-3 since he's 300 lbs. Likely hitting FA market due to contract being up.
SS		C Tillman		SS		The 37 year old needs to retire. He's costing me too much money!

I don't know if I'll be moving actual player positions, like DE to OLB. Or just set them that way in my depth chart to preserve their ratings. If I don't move them, they'd still be decent players for other teams at their original positions.

Player Re-signings are live.
REMINDER 1: Franchise Tag --- 1/2 the tag hit comes from funds, other half from cap space. Spend wisely. Low 80 rated players are rarely worth the tag...

REMINDER 2: Contracts --- Signing Bonuses get paid up front from your funds. The cap hit is then spread out with the salary over the years of the deal. Again, spend wisely. Especially if you're in a small market, or have a less than great fanbase supporting the team. New York and Chicago have it easy. Jacksonville and Minnesota do not.

The first wave of player retirements has come across the wire. Keep in mind that players can retire at a moments notice any time between now and the preseason. In Madden 25 or 13, Lance Briggs retired after the draft, completely screwing me over.

*User teams in Bold.

Pos	Name	Team	Event
QB	Ben Roethlisber	Chargers	Retired
QB	Drew Brees	Eagles	Retired
QB	Jay Cutler	Lions	Retired
RB	Ahmad Bradshaw	Bills	Retired
RB	Daniel Thomas	Broncos	Retired
RB	Jonathan Stewart	Panthers	Retired
RB	Demarco Murray	Titans	Retired
FB	Will Tukuafu	Buccaneers	Retired
WR	Roddy White	Ravens	Retired
TE	Benjamin Watson	Jaguars	Retired
LG	Richie Incognito	Bills	Retired
LG	Rob Sims	Chargers	Retired
C	Kyle Cook	Jaguars	Retired
LE	Red Bryant	Jaguars	Retired
RE	Justin Smith	Raiders	Retired
SS	Adrian Wilson	Colts	Retired
QB	Carson Palmer	FA	Retired
QB	Tarvaris Jackson	FA	Retired
RB	Antone Smith	FA	Retired
RB	Boobie Dixon	FA	Retired
RB	Delone Carter	FA	Retired
RB	Joique Bell	FA	Retired
RB	Legarrette Blount	FA	Retired
RB	Mike Goodson	FA	Retired
RB	Rashad Jennings	FA	Retired
RB	Toby Gerhart	FA	Retired
RB	William Powell	FA	Retired
FB	Jackie Battle	FA	Retired
WR	Jason Avant	FA	Retired
WR	Josh Cribbs	FA	Retired
WR	Nate Washington	FA	Retired
TE	Jacob Tamme	FA	Retired
TE	John Carlson	FA	Retired
TE	Kellen Winslow	FA	Retired
LT	Sam Baker	FA	Retired
LG	Oniel Cousins	FA	Retired
C	Joe Berger	FA	Retired
C	Manny Ramirez	FA	Retired
C	Scott Wells	FA	Retired
RG	Dan Connolly	FA	Retired
RG	Jermoey Clary	FA	Retired
RG	Mike Brisiel	FA	Retired
RG	Philip Blake	FA	Retired
RT	David Stewart	FA	Retired
CB	Asante Samuel	FA	Retired
CB	Deangelo Hall	FA	Retired
CB	Terence Newman	FA	Retired
LE	Adam Carriker	FA	Retired
LE	Corey Wootton	FA	Retired
LE	Rob Ninkovich	FA	Retired
RE	Anthony Spencer	FA	Retired
RE	Stephen Bowen	FA	Retired
ROLB	Chad Greenway	FA	Retired
ROLB	Marvin Mitchell	FA	Retired
ROLB	Quentin Groves	FA	Retired
FS	Michael Huff	FA	Retired
K	Billy Cundiff	FA	Retired
K	Josh Brown	FA	Retired
K	Nick Novak	FA	Retired

Ken is asking for a 2 hour extension to the resigning period. If the league is ok with it, it's granted. But if it impacts multiple people being unable to put a bid in tonight, I can't hold up advance. Please let me know if you're ok with it.

I have a ton of important players leaving and I don't have the funds to resign them. I need this to at least tag one of my stars. If I can't at least do that then I'm truly lost. Please find it in your hearts to grant this extension.

I'm fine with it. I still think the team funds system is flawed and heavily favors big market teams this year. Franchise tag is the only way to get a FA pickup in the off-season. I sympathize with Ken.

Are you in the same situation? It's like this for me every year. One year I got free agents was cause the sim got be $17 mil in funds. It's kind of taken the fun out of it for me, but I'll keep plugging along.

Yes. While some on here may disagree with me, the only people who DON'T think the current team funds system is broken (or imbalanced, in the least strict sense of the word, for that matter) are people who've played connected franchise on big market teams. I've looked through MANY threads, and currently the best way to reach POSITIVE funds for small market teams is to cut almost everyone on your team with no penalty. As a result, that makes winning games even tougher, resulting in lower ticket sales. And forget playoffs, you only get 50% of the profits made from each playoff game (the opposing team gets 50% of the rest).

Anyone can debate as much as they'd like, but if you have 97 pages on a forum dedicated to an "alleged imbalance" it's probably imbalanced: http://www.operationsports.com/forums/madden-nfl-football/758243-cant-resign-players-due-lack-available-funds-11.html

I'd recommend coach mode, because at the very least, you still have cap space involved, but don't need to worry about the broken revenue system. Of course that isn't my call to make and I'm fine working with the pieces I have. /rant over

I think winning is the biggest factor. I probably have the smallest market. I went 4-12 Season 1 & had negative money and couldnt make any moves. Playoffs 2 of the next 3 years & now I have 30+M. And I wasted probably $50-75M on stadium upgrades

GrimmAtLaw wrote:I'm fine with it. I still think the team funds system is flawed and heavily favors big market teams this year. Franchise tag is the only way to get a FA pickup in the off-season. I sympathize with Ken.

Ken wrote:Are you in the same situation? It's like this for me every year. One year I got free agents was cause the sim got be $17 mil in funds. It's kind of taken the fun out of it for me, but I'll keep plugging along.

GrimmAtLaw wrote:Anyone can debate as much as they'd like, but if you have 97 pages on a forum dedicated to an "alleged imbalance" it's probably imbalanced: http://www.operationsports.com/forums/madden-nfl-football/758243-cant-resign-players-due-lack-available-funds-11.html

We do go through this every season.  97 pages from an internet forum where positivity is hardly seen and all people do is bitch because things aren't handed to them.  If I was a betting man, most of those whiners are kiddos who don't understand handling money.  The system is less flawed then you make it out to be. It could definitely be documented better and offer more contract types.  Losing to the CPU is rough and doesn't do your fan support any favors. Spamming the same plays and only targeting one player over and over (Sammy Watkins) isn't going to help you win any games either thanks to the games adaptive AI that learns your trends. As we've advised in the past, run those tutorial sessions to master reading a defense quicker.

The current cap system punishes bad behaviors, and rewards careful fiscal management. Draft picks are golden to keep salary cap numbers down. Franchise tagging a 83 overall player is foolish (Ladarius Green comes to mind Ken) when a late draft pick with 6 weeks of minor gameplan development makes them just as serviceable.  Ken, if I were you, I'd strongly consider not giving players like Hyde a tag unless they're 90+ overall.

You say small market teams can't sign players Grimm, but the CPU Bills signed at least 4 stud players in the past few seasons before you took over. Through 5 seasons, my big market team has signed 4 major deals.

Also, building a stadium your first year in the league with no money built up was poorly thought out Grimm. You shot yourself in the foot right out of the gate. Nike seems to do fine in a terrible Tampa market. Posky does fine in Detroit. Green Bay has hardcore fans, but their market is tiny. Yet they make due.

I'm not here to argue, but to join in solidarity with the funds problem both Ken and I are facing. Whether we agree that it's an unfair system, I just want the ability to fairly sign players like any real-life NFL team. This is a SIM league, after all. Cap space is almost an afterthought now.

This issue has made the game less fun, yet Ken and I are still in the league, so I don't believe criticizing us is the best way to handle our frustrations. We're just venting, it's not an attack on anyone else on the board. If you have a problem with that, let me know, and I'll refrain from making comments about the game in the future.

I should shut up now cause the Green tagging was pretty stupid in hindsight lol.

GrimmAtLaw wrote:I'm not here to argue, but to join in solidarity with the funds problem both Ken and I are facing. Whether we agree that it's an unfair system, I just want the ability to fairly sign players like any real-life NFL team. This is a SIM league, after all. Cap space is almost an afterthought now.

This issue has made the game less fun, yet Ken and I are still in the league, so I don't believe criticizing us is the best way to handle our frustrations. We're just venting, it's not an attack on anyone else on the board. If you have a problem with that, let me know, and I'll refrain from making comments about the game in the future.

You read my words with a tone of voice in mind that makes you believe I'm arguing and attacking you. Your pre-conceived notions make you defensive.  Read my words in a neutral tone in your mind and accept that I offered discussion points.

Cap space is not an afterthought by any stretch of the defintion in this league or in the real life NFL. The Bears have 20+ million in cap space and are still trying to shed cap hits by shopping Marshall.

Yeah you're right. Sorry for being defensive. I let down the organization and am just frustrated. Team deserves at least one playoff run before this year's league ends. Now only if my team can get a real McCoy equivalent.

I'm doing fine on funds with my Oakland Raiders.

My vote is to let him get his extension though.

The Offseason schedule above is accurate as of 11:15 PM CST. Make your plans now, I've added a restriction to the free-for-all signings after the draft.

Free agency Wave 1 is now open.

Big names in free agency (90+ Ovr):
RB Jamaal Charles
DE Greg Hardy
WR Brandon Marshall
QB Peyton Fucking Manning (out of retirement)
DT Aaron Donald (Rams moved him to 3-4 DE)
DE Cameron Wake
FS Glover Quin
SS Charles Tillman
CB Tim Jennings
LT Joe Thomas
CB Sean Smith
MLB Stephen Tulloch
FB Jerome Felton
LT Jake Matthews
CB Ladarius Webb
CB Alterraun Verner
CB Keenan Lewis
K Dan Carpenter
SS Antrel Rolle

Free Agent Signings:
Big names and user signings
Ratings are based on my scheme setup, so take those with a grain of salt.

RB	Carlos Hyde	84 Ovr	Chargers
RB	Latavius Murray	67 Ovr	Raiders
FB	Erik Lorig	88 Ovr	Cardinals
C	Alex Mack	85 Ovr	Vikings
DE	Demarcus Lawrence	77 Ovr	Raiders
DT	Ra'Shede Hageman	78 Ovr	Vikings
OLB	Thomas Davis	72 Ovr	Panthers
CB	Alterraun Verner	91 Ovr	Jets
K	Graham Gano	85 Ovr	Panthers

I just lost 750 scouting points because I was going to quick and the game had to reconnect to the Madden servers for a split second. Fuck!

Go slow when scouting. I hit X, right, X. And the game hiccupped and processed it as X, X. At least I know the exact shitty strength rating of an offense lineman now.

Wave 2 Signings

QB	Matt Barkley		Packers
QB	Kirk Cousins		Chargers
QB	Jimmy Garoppolo		Chargers
RB	De'Anthony Thomas		Raiders
FB	Henry Hynoski		Cowboys
WR	Percy Harvin		Jets
TE	Greg Olsen		Panthers
TE	Larry Donnell		Packers
TE	Gavin Escobar		Raiders
LG	Amini Silatolu		Panthers
RT	Justin Pugh		Saints
DE	Mario Williams		Panthers
DE	Stephon Tuitt		Bears
DE	Billy Winn		Panthers
LE	Joe Kruger		Chargers
LOLB	Terrell Suggs		Packers
ROLB	Jordan Tripp		Raiders
ROLB	Don’t'a Hightower		Browns
ROLB	Will Smith		Titans
ROLB	Bruce Carter		Raiders
MLB	Max Bullogh		Titans
CB	Brandon Flowers		Texans
CB	Nick Mangold		Packers
CB	Josh Norman		Panthers
SS	Aaron Williams		Vikings

Final wave of signings. I started to include big names, but gave up and only added user signings mid-way through.  Congrats to some of you. Peyton Manning to the Jags...look out AFC South.

QB	Christian Ponder		Giants
QB	Peyton Manning		Jaguars
RB	Jonathan Dwyer		Colts
RB	CJ Spiller		Jets
FB	Jorvorskie Lane		Steelers
WR	Ferrell Cobb		Bills
WR	Brandin Cooks		49ers
WR	Brandon Marshall		Jaguars
WR	Doug Baldwin		Saints
WR	Dwayne Bowe		Texans
WR	Antonio Brown		Vikings
LT	Jermon Bushrod		Browns
LT	Jake Matthews		Cardinals
LT	Eugene Monroe		Jaguars
LT	King Dunlap		Packers
LT	Byron Bell		Panthers
LG	Andry Levitre		Giants
LG	Laurent Duvernay-Tardif		Raiders
LG	Joel Bitonio		Raiders
C	Corey Linsley		Cardinals
C	Weston Richburg		Colts
RG	Jon Asamoah		Colts
RG	Davin Joseph		Panthers
RG	Roger Saffold		Vikings
RT	Eben Britton		Cardinals
LE	Justin Tuck		Bills
LE	George Selvie		Jaguars
LE	Kareem Martin		Jaguars
RE	Vinny Curry		Jaguars
RE	Ezekiel Ansah		Vikings
DT	Brandon Mebane		Colts
DT	Kyle Williams		Jaguars
DT	Brandon Deaderick		Panthers
LOLB	Kevin Pierre-Louis		Raiders
MLB	Stephen Tulloch		Bills
ROLB	Dee Ford		Raiders
CB	Justin Gilbert		Bears
CB	Demetrius McCray		Colts
CB	Sam Shields		Giants
CB	Darqueze Dennard		Raiders
CB	Antoine Cason		Saints
FS	Andrew Sendejo		Colts
FS	Will Hill		Colts
FS	Jamarca Sanford		Jaguars
FS	Glover Quin		Saints
SS	Charles Tillman		Bears
SS	Patrick Chung		Chargers
SS	Tony Jefferson		Jaguars
SS	Calvin Pryor		Jets
K	Josh Scobee		Buccaneers
K	Mike Nugent		Patriots
K	Alex Henery		Eagles
P	Brandon Fields		Bills

Pretty happy with the results of FA. Marshall might be slow but he will make an impact on my team especially since my current WRs need work.

Also, post draft, I request permission to officially move LE D. Hester to RE.

Damn didn't get any of the CBs I wanted. I'm on the market for a stud corner. Any available ?

Nooooooooooo just dismissed scouting on accident

Ken wrote:Damn didn't get any of the CBs I wanted. I'm on the market for a stud corner. Any available ?

Not a stud, but speedy Buster Skrine can be had.
Otherwise Pappas Hood as well.

It's impossible to sign/cut 18 guys before the rest of the league starts filling their rosters at the start of free agency. Going early and going on that kind of spending spree is ridiculous. While FA is open game, it should only supplement to fill the team you built via the initial free agent waves and drafts.  In lieu of a suspension you have two choices Filirican.

Option A: You must reverse every move you've made. That means releasing/signing the guys below. You are then banned from signing any free agents until week 4 of the pre-season. If you have an empty roster and can't play a game, you can sign the worst players available at the needed position and then cut them.

	Release				Sign
WR	Jarrett Brooks			TE	Neiron Chaney
WR	Kadeem Burrel			C	Robb Redman
WR	Darius Randall			ROLB	Jordan Tripp
WR	Myles Riley			SS	Dmitri Slaughter
RE	Neiron Chaney			MLB	Keifer Hayes
DT	Donavan Riles			LOLB	Johnnie Hardy
CB	Nickell Robey
CB	Femi Lowe
FS	Laron Landry
SS	Caddarreus Wade
SS	Deone Bucannon
K	John Potter

Option B: Dismissal from the league.

Please spare me the headache of having to reverse these moves for you.

After 3 days of not reversing the moves, Filirican has been booted from the league. I'll get the moves reversed shortly.

Anyone ever use the word thrilling to describe the pre-season? I want to right now.

Two kick return TDs in the first two games got me amped to start. While Posky was at work, I had to come from behind to force overtime against his CPU Lions and ultimately get the win in game three. Finally, the Texans were giving me one of those, fuck you, you can't win type games where the CPU just goes uber on you. Yet I put in 3rd stringer, 59 overall Logan Thomas and use a 22 point 4th quarter, including an onside kick conversion, to rally and win thanks to a TD pass with 4 seconds left.