Madden NFL Simulation Franchise (Take 2)

[kblu54]

This thread will discuss my new Madden NFL simulation on Madden 08 for the PS2. This thread will run alongside my NCAA simulation, where I will import draft classes and such.

I will only be controlling one team - the 49ers - just to stay involved somehow. Otherwise, I will let the CPU play the games, and run the offseason stuff including free agency and the draft. I will only perform roster moves or draft players for the 49ers.

Few new wrinkles in this:

1) More in-depth coverage

I didn't start the "storylines" till late in the 1st season the first time around, but this time I will be more detailed. Also when the draft rolls around, I will provide more information for the players and also have a 1st round mock draft.

2) HTML

I already started it in the NCAA dynasty, but I will also include some here. It will be a nice way to make things more readable.

Thanks for your patience! I will get started with the preseason shortly!

Note to moderators: Please DO NOT delete my old thread. I need to copy a lot of information. Thanks!

[kblu54]

1) Injuries

The preseason really doesn't represent any bearing on the regular season, but things from the preseason that could affect the regular season is injuries. If key players go down for possible contenders, it could be bad news all around.

2) Rookies

Plenty of rookies, drafted and undrafted, will enter the preseason looking to shine just enough to earn anywhere from a starting job to a simple roster spot. Key positions like QB, RB or any spot on the defense should be interesting with a rookie in place.

3) Position Battles

One of the great things about the NFL and its preseason is the fierce competition amongst teammates. Players battling for one single starting job could mean the difference between earning your paycheck on the field or collecting it on the sidelines.

4) Preview?

Like already stated, the preseason usually doesn't provide a good outlook for the regular season. But it does allow us to glimpse into what could be, mainly from an individual point of view. If Tom Brady lights up every team he faces in only a few minutes of gametime, just imagine what he could do over the course of a full regular season contest!

5) NFL football at its best

The 2007-2008 season is finally here!

[kblu54]

Preseason Week 1 Results

Detroit 31, Cincinnati 20
Dallas 28, Indianapolis 6
New York Jets 21, Atlanta 16
New England 44, Tampa Bay 17
St. Louis 19, Minnesota 17
Buffalo 24, New Orleans 19
Green Bay 24, Pittsburgh 14
Miami 24, Jacksonville 21 (OT)
Kansas City 34, Cleveland 20
Carolina 17, New York Giants 16
Tennessee 36, Washington 13
Chicago 33, Houston 17
Oakland 48, Arizona 0
San Diego 42, Seattle 9
Baltimore 16, Philadelphia 9
San Francisco 23, Denver 20

Benson out with ankle injury while several teams lose key o-linemen
NFL News

The Chicago Bears got dealt a huge blow to their chances right away, as RB Cedric Benson will miss the next 8 weeks due to a broken ankle. Benson will miss the remainder of the preseason and should miss the first 5 weeks of the regular season.

In other injury news, several teams lost starting offensive linemen to injuries. Indianapolis lost OG Ryan Lilja, Philadelphia lost OT Jon Runyan, New England lost OT Nick Kaczur and Baltimore lost OG Keydrick Vincent. The longest injury time out of that group is Runyan and Vincent, who will each miss 9 weeks.

The laundry list of Week 1 injuries is below.

Week 1 Major Injuries

Player	Team	Injury	Length
Cedric Benson, RB	Chicago	Broken ankle	Out 8 weeks
Ryan Lilja, OG	Indianapolis	Strained back	Out 7 weeks
Jon Runyan, OT	Philadelphia	Broken ribs	Out 9 weeks
Dennis Northcutt, WR	Jacksonville	Broken tailbone	Out 6 weeks
Nick Kaczur, OT	New England	Broken hand	Out 9 weeks
Junior Seau, MLB	New England	Strained Achilles	Out 3 weeks
Keydrick Vincent, OG	Baltimore	Foot fracture	Out 9 weeks
Mike Green, FS	Seattle	Sprained ankle	Out 3 weeks
Zac Diles, OLB	Houston	Broken collarbone	Out for season
Gilbert Gardner, OLB	Tennessee	Partially torn PCL	Out 5 weeks
Steve Breaston, WR	Arizona	Sprained wrist	Out 3 weeks

[kblu54]

Preseason Week 2 Results

Miami 33, Kansas City 6
Atlanta 27, Buffalo 20
Carolina 23, Philadelphia 20
New England 35, Tennessee 14
Minnesota 32, New York Jets 17
Arizona 31, Houston 14
Detroit 27, Cleveland 6
New Orleans 30, Cincinnati 7
Tampa Bay 17, Jacksonville 13
St. Louis 26, San Diego 24
Pittsburgh 17, Washington 16
Dallas 24, Denver 21
Seattle 24, Green Bay 13
San Francisco 20, Oakland 0
New York Giants 27, Baltimore 6
Chicago 21, Indianapolis 7

Cowboys lose both MLBs, Jaguars lose Naeole for year
NFL News

The Dallas defense got hit hard by injury this week, but Jacksonville's o-line took an even bigger hit.

Cowboy MLBs Bradie James and Akin Ayodele will miss the next 3 weeks, including the regular season opener, after both went down this week in Dallas' 24-21 preseason victory over Denver. James broke a finger while Ayodele strained his Achilles tendon.

The Jaguars took a bad injury toll this week, as starting OG Chris Naeole will miss the remainder of the season after he broke his tailbone this week. Jacksonville, who prides themselves on the run game, will have to make due without their best run blocker.

Week 2 Major Injuries

Player	Team	Injury	Length
Bradie James, MLB	Dallas	Broken finger	Out 3 weeks
Akin Ayodele, MLB	Dallas	Strained Achilles	Out 3 weeks
Chris Naeole, OG	Jacksonville	Broken tailbone	Out for season

[kblu54]

Preseason Week 3 Results

Green Bay 17, Jacksonville 6
New Orleans 33, Kansas City 14
Buffalo 13, Tennessee 3
New England 31, Carolina 10
St. Louis 13, Oakland 7
Indianapolis 31, Detroit 17
Miami 23, Tampa Bay 13
Washington 36, Baltimore 17
Dallas 31, Houston 24
New York Jets 33, New York Giants 17
San Francisco 17, Chicago 6
Seattle 30, Minnesota 10
Denver 24, Cleveland 7
San Diego 33, Arizona 7
Pittsburgh 17, Philadelphia 10
Cincinnati 34, Atlanta 28

Lions lose OL starter
NFL News

The 3rd week of the preseason seemed relatively injury-free, but the Detroit Lions lost a starter on their o-line.

Guard Edwin Mulitalo will miss the next 8 weeks due to an abdominal tear. The Lions will have to scramble to make changes for the 1st half of the season.

Week 3 Major Injuries

Player	Team	Injury	Length
Kenny Watson, RB	Cincinnati	Sprained ankle	Out 3 weeks
Edwin Mulitalo, OG	Detroit	Abdominal tear	Out 8 weeks
Chris Davis, WR	Tennessee	Torn tricep	Out 10 weeks

[kblu54]

Preseason Week 4 Results

Detroit 17, Buffalo 13
New England 24, New York Giants 15
Philadelphia 27, New York Jets 7
Jacksonville 21, Washington 20
Chicago 20, Cleveland 18
Minnesota 17, Dallas 10
Green Bay 27, Tennessee 24 (OT)
Tampa Bay 23, Houston 16
Kansas City 20, St. Louis 9
Miami 16, New Orleans 13
Carolina 24, Pittsburgh 17
Denver 27, Arizona 13
Seattle 41, Oakland 24
San Diego 31, San Francisco 3
Atlanta 37, Baltimore 24
Cincinnati 16, Indianapolis 13 (OT)

Rookies, o-lineman hit badly by injuries in final week
NFL News

A few rookies and two key o-linemen went down to injury in the final week of the preseason.

San Diego WR Craig Davis, Baltimore FB Le'Ron McClain and New Orleans RB Pierre Thomas will all miss the first part of the year after suffering injuries. Davis will miss 4 weeks with a partially torn ACL, while undrafted rookie Thomas will only miss 2 weeks with a pulled groin. McClain suffered the biggest knock, rupturing a disk in his back and will miss the entire 2007-2008 campaign.

In other injury news, Kansas City lost starting OT Chris Terry to a 7-week injury. Jacksonville, which was still trying to get over the Chris Naeole injury, lost another starting lineman when OT Tony Pashos left the game with hip bursitis. He will miss the next 3 weeks.

Week 4 Major Injuries

Player	Team	Injury	Length
Antonio Chatman, WR	Cincinnati	Broken Collarbone	Out 8 weeks
Craig Davis, WR	San Diego	Partially torn ACL	Out 4 weeks
Chris Terry, OT	Kansas City	Torn pectoral	Out 7 weeks
Tony Pashos, OT	Jacksonville	Hip bursitis	Out 3 weeks
Le'Ron McClain, FB	Baltimore	Ruptured disk	Out for season
Pierre Thomas, RB	New Orleans	Pulled groin	Out 2 weeks
Calvin Lowry, SS	Tennessee	High ankle sprain	Out 6 weeks

[kblu54]

Dolphins, Patriots lone unbeaten teams while NFC very even
NFL News

As the NFL wraps up the preseason and teams make their final cuts, let's take a look at the final preseason standings.

Miami and New England were the only teams to finish the preseason with an unblemished 4-0 mark, while 8 teams finished 3-1 in a very jumbled NFC. The Patriots were particularly dominant, averaging over 30 points per game in each of their victories.

In the NFC, there were 8 teams - Carolina, St. Louis, Green Bay, Dallas, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and Detroit - that finished with impressive 3-1 marks. The NFC was very even across the board, with no team finishing 0-4 and only 4 teams finishing 1-3.

In the AFC, the closest competitor to Miami and New England's dominance was San Diego's 3-1 record. Otherwise, the AFC looked pretty disappointing as 7 teams finished worse than .500. The Browns and the Texans both went winless at 0-4.

Final AFC Preseason Standings

Team	Record
Miami	4-0
New England	4-0
San Diego	3-1
Cincinnati	2-2
Kansas City	2-2
Denver	2-2
Pittsburgh	2-2
New York Jets	2-2
Buffalo	2-2
Indianapolis	1-3
Oakland	1-3
Jacksonville	1-3
Tennessee	1-3
Baltimore	1-3
Cleveland	0-4
Houston	0-4

Final NFC Preseason Standings

Team	Record
Carolina	3-1
St. Louis	3-1
Green Bay	3-1
Dallas	3-1
Seattle	3-1
San Francisco	3-1
Chicago	3-1
Detroit	3-1
Minnesota	2-2
New Orleans	2-2
Atlanta	2-2
Tampa Bay	2-2
New York Giants	1-3
Washington	1-3
Philadelphia	1-3
Arizona	1-3

[kblu54]

Rookie starters, down-to-the-wire QB battles highlight AFC position battles
NFL News

The surprising results in the AFC, following the preseason and the final cut stage, featured several rookies starting all over the conference and a few notable QB battles that raised some eyebrows.

Teams like Buffalo, Cleveland, Jacksonville, New York and Oakland will take a flyer on several rookies as starters, on both sides of the ball. In Buffalo, their main backfield will be fresh faces with QB Trent Edwards and RB Marshawn Lynch winning their respective battles. Head coach Romeo Crennel and the Browns decided the future is now in Cleveland, as 1st Round selections OT Joe Thomas and QB Brady Quinn will earn their paychecks early. Jacksonville and the Jets will both each start 2 rookies on defense, while the Raiders will have rookies DE Jay Richardson and TE Zach Miller on the field right away.

Speaking of Oakland, the Raiders were one of several teams to hold intense QB competitions. Head coach Lane Kiffin oversaw a tough battle between Josh McCown, free agent pickup Daunte Culpepper and #1-overall pick Jamarcus Russell during the preseason. In the end, it was McCown that beat out Culpepper for the job. Russell, a very raw prospect who missed most of training camp due to contract issues, will ride the bench for his 1st year in Oakland.

Other QB battles to note include Tennessee, where veteran Kerry Collins beat out a struggling Vince Young, Baltimore with veteran Steve McNair beating out Kyler Boller and Kansas City announcing Damon Huard the starter over young Brodie Croyle.

Detailed team-by-team capsules of notable position battle results are below.

Baltimore Ravens

McNair and Boller had a very close competition, but coach Brian Billick liked the veteran presence McNair brings to the table. On the offensive line, rookie OG Ben Grubbs grabbed a starting spot.

Buffalo Bills

The biggest news has already been touched on, with rookies Edwards and Lynch manning the offensive backfield. Edwards looked way more steady and impressive than incumbent J.P. Losman and may be a rookie to keep an eye on. As for Lynch, he managed to stand out barely past veteran Anthony Thomas and fellow rookie Fred Jackson, who was undrafted out of Division III Coe College, to win the job.

Cleveland Browns

Crennel really liked the composure Quinn showed during the preseason, announcing the former Notre Dame standout as the starter over Derek Anderson. Thomas, a very impressive athlete out of Wisconsin, will protect Quinn's blindside at the all-important left tackle spot.

Denver Broncos

On offense, a fierce TE battle ended with veteran Daniel Graham stealing the starting spot from young Tony Scheffler. On defense, rookie DT Marcus Thomas will man one of the interior spots.

Houston Texans

The Texans had a few "upsets" in their defensive backfield, as two unexpected starters emerged. At free safety, Curome Cox beat out incumbent starter C.C. Brown while Michael Boulware, who was acquired from Seattle in a trade, beat out former Giant Will Demps for the strong safety spot.

Indianapolis Colts

Ryan Lilja's preseason injury allowed OGs Rick DeMulling and Jake Scott to steal the starting interior jobs without a fight. In the linebacking corps, two surprise starters will take the field. Rookie OLB Clint Session won the job over Rocky Boiman, and veteran Rob Morris snatched the starting MLB spot from incumbent starter Gary Brackett.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars will feature two rookie starters on defense. First-round selection FS Reggie Nelson out of Florida and MLB Justin Durant will earn their stripes early in a possibly-good defense.

Kansas City Chiefs

The biggest news for KC has already been mentioned, with Huard beating out Croyle for the signal-caller spot. Helping Huard feel a little safer will be rookie WR Dwayne Bowe, who will be the Chiefs' #1 go-to guy. On defense, young FS Jarrad Page beat out veteran Greg Wesley.

New England Patriots

A tough position battle at OLB saw Rosevelt Colvin beat out Mike Vrabel for the starting job. Having Mike Vrabel as a backup is not that bad of a curse.

New York Jets

Two rookies on defense will get thrown to the wolves. OLB David Harris and 1st-round pick CB Darrelle Revis will both man starting jobs for the Jets' defense.

Oakland Raiders

McCown over Culpepper and two rookie starters aren't the only news out of Oakland. A tough RB battle saw Super Bowl MVP Dominic Rhodes winning the starting job over free agent pickup Lamont Jordan and Justin Fargas.

San Diego Chargers

In the defensive backfield, rookie FS Eric Weddle will actually start at SS, due to Marlon McCree easily reclaiming his spot at FS.

Tennessee Titans

Head coach Jeff Fisher noted that Young looked "rattled" and "confused" during the preseason, and decided that having veteran Collins running the show would be more beneficial. Apparently, the former #3-overall pick and Texas Longhorn superstar needs more time to grow after a solid rookie season. Also in the backfield, Chris Brown beat out LenDale White for the starting job.