This year the league will have two commissioners, myself and brettthancock. If you have any questions, feel free to PM either one of us.

Tentative Start Date: September 11, 2011 12 PST

1. this is a sim league. no going for it every 4th down, no running the no-huddle all game, no abuse of whatever exploit this years game has. just be cool man
2. we play 2 games a week. we advance every wednesday @ 9pm pst and every saturday at 9pm pst. if the games finish before then, we advance when the last game is finish. if you don't have the time to play 2 games a week, don't join. you'll just have people mad at you that are waiting to advance.
3. if you are easily angered and feel that losing may cause you to quit, then don't bother joining. we all lose. we all get screwed out of a win we deserved somehow. a guy gets lucky, your guy gets hurt, the madden AI gods decide to make your guys fumble or blow coverages or whatever. dealwithit.gif. venting is fine, but if you're going to throw a fit and quit every other week it's just not worth it to put yourself through that kind of situation!
4. the online franchise offseason will take a bit of your time. why? because we have the draft, we have free agency, we have a cap, we have all that stuff and it does take time. it's not a great amount of time but if you can't fit it in then don't play.
5. Don't go for 2 every time because you can't kick. Everyone has to deal with the kicking problems, so you do too.
6. Regarding 4th downs, just be realistic guys. Don't make me spell out every possible situation, but use these as guidelines:
a. do not go for it on 4th down if you are winning.
b. do not go for it in 4th down in your own territory unless it is the 4th quarter and you are down by 2 scores or more OR it is your "final" drive
c. if you have a 4th down and you are on the cusp of FG range, it is ok to go for it so long as it's a 4th and 5 or less. example: 4th and 3 at your opponents 39 yard line. unless you have the raiders or packers this is a difficult FG and probably not going to go through. i have no problem with a 4th down in this scenario.
d. NO GOING FOR IT ON 4TH DOWN OF A GAME THAT YOU ARE WINNING OR TIED AND YOU ARE IN YOUR OWN TERRITORY
just use common sense and try to be realistic.

Firstly I want to say that I wish everyone here the best of luck and it truly isn't my intention to poo-poo this thread. A Madden online franchise of Giant Bomb people SHOULD be awesome and I like seeing a few names here from the Madden 11 franchise. I'm amazed that you've stuck with it.

I played in Giant Bomb's Madden 10 league as the Colts and 11's league as the Eagles, but I'm refraining this year. Call it taking your third piece of advice. It's just too much dealing with people who don't have open NATs on their router so you can't start the match, or maybe they have an otherwise laggy connection, or can't play certain weeks so the game gets simmed, or just lag out halfway through a game. It's no wonder people abandon these leagues. I understand the desire to take in whoever will join and actually attempt playing sim ball, but the quality control has historically been way too low here.

It's fine for random exhibition matches, but for a cohesive league it doesn't work. EA needs to make things more convenient/reliable on their end too, but it comes down to user responsibility.

I'll be updating everyone in the other thread to send you a PM or post in this thread for their team request. Of course if you could refer to that one and transfer them in that works too, we will straighten everything out!

Stoked to be a part of this, get ready for Charlie Whitehurst to dominate the pathetic NFC West.

My gamertag is Durt Nazty

@Turtlemayor333 said:

Firstly I want to say that I wish everyone here the best of luck and it truly isn't my intention to poo-poo this thread. A Madden online franchise of Giant Bomb people SHOULD be awesome and I like seeing a few names here from the Madden 11 franchise. I'm amazed that you've stuck with it.

I played in Giant Bomb's Madden 10 league as the Colts and 11's league as the Eagles, but I'm refraining this year. Call it taking your third piece of advice. It's just too much dealing with people who don't have open NATs on their router so you can't start the match, or maybe they have an otherwise laggy connection, or can't play certain weeks so the game gets simmed, or just lag out halfway through a game. It's no wonder people abandon these leagues. I understand the desire to take in whoever will join and actually attempt playing sim ball, but the quality control has historically been way too low here.

It's fine for random exhibition matches, but for a cohesive league it doesn't work. EA needs to make things more convenient/reliable on their end too, but it comes down to user responsibility.

I totally agree. I think this year specifically we are going to try to get a head of all of these issues before hand - especially the router stuff because that was a huge issue in the league last year. I think we are probably going to host a couple preseason games and try to iron out the kinks before hand. I'm thinking we are going to require that each person play in two non-ranked games against another GB user.

As for EA they've pretty much dropped the ball with the online franchise stuff completely. Honestly, if it wasn't for this league I wouldn't even be picking up Madden this year.

At least they fixed offline franchise and superstar mode, that should give the game some legs in case this falls through.

Since my beloved New York Giants are already taken, I will take the New Orleans Saints. My GT is Rare Bishop.

I'll be playing online in Madden 12 starting Friday because I purchased the EA Sports Season Ticket. If anybody wants to have some friendly games before the franchise starts, let me know.

Oakland Raiders Gamertag: ZeroRaiders7

Im back, and Im winning it all this year :P

@Troispoint said:

Im back, and Im winning it all this year :P

Going to be a tough NFC North this year. Can't wait

feels like I am cheating on my boy Brady with Matt Ryan...oh well GO PATS!! (and falcons in madden)

I'd love to play. I don't have a favorite team, so I'd be happy to take any teams that are left if you don't get the full 32. Forced to pick, I'd take the Browns or the Redskins, but again, totally happy to let a hardcore fan have them.

Are there any restrictions regarding scoring? In my game against you last year, you were angered about my 42-21 win when I was only solidifying my win because I know how skilled you are and that anything can happen in madden.

@Joker369 said:

Are there any restrictions regarding scoring? In my game against you last year, you were angered about my 42-21 win when I was only solidifying my win because I know how skilled you are and that anything can happen in madden.

Are you referring to the game where you kicked an onside kick after going up 35-21? Yeah, don't do that.

There is a difference between 'solidifying a win' by doing something that is completely unlikely in a real football game (like going for an onside kick when you're up by two scores) as opposed to scoring naturally.

I posted it in the other thread, but I guess you didn't see

Gamertag: fazzle1

Bills are gonna SHAKE UP THE WORLD this year. (in Madden at least)

@fazzle said:

I posted it in the other thread, but I guess you didn't see

Gamertag: fazzle1

Bills are gonna SHAKE UP THE WORLD this year. (in Madden at least)

Done.

I'm curious, how many of you are doing the EA Sports Season Pass to get your hands on Madden a few days early?

Helllll no. Biggest damn ripoff

@fazzle said:

Helllll no. Biggest damn ripoff

From the outset I can certainly see why some would think this is a ripoff, it looks like it's merely an 8 dollar 3 day game rental. But for some who are really into the game, I'm sure they'll find value in it. Imagine if they did this for something like the next World of Warcraft expansion pack or even Battlefield 3 - it would probably do very well. At the end of the day, there are a lot of folks trying to get their hands on early copies of EA Sports games, this seems like a very easy way to satisfy both retailers and EA Sports from getting bamboozled by cunning customers.

Can I get the Colts? GamerTag is Louis0nFire. If they're taken by the time I post this then I'll take the Chargers!

I should clarify - GT and Username here both Asmo917.

Still happy to take the Browns or Redskins if no one else is dying to play them.

I am really excited to get this game. Let us make sure we give it a couple weeks so everyone can get the game. I am ordering from Amazon, because I want the twenty dollar credit, and I don't have time this year to just go get the game, as I am teaching and coaching football. Really excited to get back into Madden, and I really enjoyed the demo.

Also, @dexterslu thanks for the touch on the name's list. I love having the target on my back. Let's roll!!!

@lmenzol said:

@bretthancock: xx MENZO xx niners, panthers, or whoever if those are already taken please

fixed.

@Asmo917 said:

I should clarify - GT and Username here both Asmo917.

Still happy to take the Browns or Redskins if no one else is dying to play them.

Pick a team already!

@Louis0nFire said:

Can I get the Colts? GamerTag is Louis0nFire. If they're taken by the time I post this then I'll take the Chargers!

Done.

@tracerace11 said:

I am really excited to get this game. Let us make sure we give it a couple weeks so everyone can get the game. I am ordering from Amazon, because I want the twenty dollar credit, and I don't have time this year to just go get the game, as I am teaching and coaching football. Really excited to get back into Madden, and I really enjoyed the demo.

Also, @dexterslu thanks for the touch on the name's list. I love having the target on my back. Let's roll!!!

Sorry, this a no 'roll tide league' and there will be no mentioning of bowl games.

As far as the time frame, I'm thinking we will start the league on September 11. That gives everyone sometime to get the game, and get adjusted.

As far as Free Agency drafts go, I'm thinking we either are going to do one by team ratings OR not do one at all and adhere to the rules we established (only take what you need, if a player on your team becomes injured).

@dexterslu: Okay, give me the Browns. I suck, they suck, it'll be a perfect match.

I'll play friendly online games tomorrow with anybody who did the Season Pass thing.

GT: Turtlemayor

I'll take the chargers if no one is opposed to it. The GT is redsoxguy87. I just hope this is better than 2 years ago madden franchise, cause no one played it.

@dexterslu: I would like the Tennessee Titans if that's cool. My gamertag is Professor Reid

NO lie my head hurts now.

can you sign me up for Arizona Cardinals my tag is kinggudda3000

Sign me up. I'll take Kansas City. GT SI2121ON.

This is filling up fast, I love it!

I'll take the CARDS (despite being a Titans fan) Gamertag is NerdxBomb

cant wait to start playing

I'll take the Dolphins
gt is Turbopenguinman

@NerdxBomb said:

I'll take the CARDS (despite being a Titans fan) Gamertag is NerdxBomb

Sorry man, Cards were already claimed before you posted! we've got four teams left!

Guys, I created a GiantBomb community group - feel free to join and get some friendlies in before the league starts!

Name: GiantBomb

Password: duders

Ill Take ST. Louis if they are still available! Gamertag is Dirtysponge

I'm super excited to get going. Good luck to everyone.

ohh god we start around the 11th i have time to get some cash together pax raped my wallet

i want to no can i change my team from Arizona cardinals to the cincinnati bengals

@KINGGUDDA3000 said:

i want to no can i change my team from Arizona cardinals to the cincinnati bengals

Sure!

@NerdxBomb said:

I'll take the CARDS (despite being a Titans fan) Gamertag is NerdxBomb

Cards now fall to you sir.

Only two teams left now!

Ok, so I think this question should seriously be considered. Are we going to wait til the roster update, or going off what the rosters are on Madden now? Let me say this, what Madden has right now is NOT accurate. So, saying that, I think we should wait for the first roster update, then start the franchise.

@tracerace11 We're going to wait until the first week of the NFL season

Really stoaked about this. I think it will keep me playing Madden longer. Hope we get a few seasons going.

@dexterslu: Why wait? And by that do you mean Thursday next week? Because thats whwn the first game is being played.

Damnit, Giants are taken... I'll be the jags. GT - Xtrminatr

@Troispoint said:

@dexterslu: Why wait? And by that do you mean Thursday next week? Because thats whwn the first game is being played.

Well, it gives people time to get the game. Everyone can't pick it up day one, plus this allows for EA Sports to get a few roster up dates pushed through so are rosters are as accurate as possible going into the season. @Xtrminatr said:

Damnit, Giants are taken... I'll be the jags. GT - Xtrminatr

done!