One Compliment - Salary Cap

[mvandor]

I will say I've NEVER before had salary cap handicap my ability to re-sign everyone. In real life the Chargers won't be able to re-sign all their stars coming up, and lo and behold, I wasn't able to either.

Rivers broke the bank and was a tough re-sign, Merriman and Vincent Jackson took my first offer which was still alot. After re-signing everyone I needed to I got to Cromartie and couldn't afford him, particularly because his demands were insane.

He hit free agency and even though I had cut players and restructured contracts to make more room, and he was asking less in FA than he had during re-signing, I couldn't get him, he went to the Ravens for less.

Not being able to keep the team together was realistic, first time that's ever happened to me.

[N51_rob]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

Carlos Rodgers wanted 75 Million with 24 guaranteed. THe problem was that when I went to offer him, his default contract request was 54 million with 20 guaranteed. I couldn't increase the bonus at all. So I franchised him for 10.14 million, then went into the season to sign him long term and the real number showed up. But you are right, this year for the first time I was in cap hell with the skins. I had to rework a lot of deals to find room for the first 3 draft picks. It was fun, but uncomfortable.

[jeremym480]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

I will say I've NEVER before had salary cap handicap my ability to re-sign everyone. In real life the Chargers won't be able to re-sign all their stars coming up, and lo and behold, I wasn't able to either.

Rivers broke the bank and was a tough re-sign, Merriman and Vincent Jackson took my first offer which was still alot. After re-signing everyone I needed to I got to Cromartie and couldn't afford him, particularly because his demands were insane.

He hit free agency and even though I had cut players and restructured contracts to make more room, and he was asking less in FA than he had during re-signing, I couldn't get him, he went to the Ravens for less.

Not being able to keep the team together was realistic, first time that's ever happened to me.

Yeah, it's great isn't it?

I love having to make tough decisions. Having to decide to let your top rated players leave via free agency is tough. But, very realistic. Plus, it gives your lower rated player's (who would've only seen time in the case of an injury or in mop up minutes) their time to shine.

No more signing all the 90+ rated players and stock piling 75+ rated players on you bench. You actually have to "manage" your team and I love it!

[NoleFan]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

This is one major reason why I've always stuck with NCAA because I generally stick at working all this contract stuff. Do coaches actually handle contracts or is that generally handled by the front office?

[mvandor]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

This is one major reason why I've always stuck with NCAA because I generally stick at working all this contract stuff. Do coaches actually handle contracts or is that generally handled by the front office?

Front office.

[JayInSaratoga]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

It's definitely added a fun challenge. I always try to stay a year ahead of my players contracts, meaning if I cant get an impact player extended reasonably in his contract year, I try to trade him for draft picks or young players with a few years left on their rookie deals.

I'm in year 3 with my Giants franchise and I just had to trade away Osi and Ross because I couldn't get them signed without killing my cap. Traded Osi for a 1st, 3rd and a rookie MLB with B potential. I converted the MLB to LOLB since he was large and could blitz well and moved Sintim to RE (something the Giants have done with him at times during the preseason already) where he is rated a 92, to replace Osi. I traded Ross and the 3rd rounder form the Osi deal for a Nasty rookie CB that will eventually replace Webster when/if I have to trade him away.

[Potatoes002]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

I had to give Chris Spencer my Franchise Tag. The other free agent centers sucked and I really didnt want him for 5 years like he wanted and he wanted a lot of money so I have him for another year. It was fun to do this too.

[MaxB]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

Yeah for everyone's bitching and whining, if you get a good pair of sliders franchise mode is really fun. Progression is good, as is free agency, as is the trade logic of the AI and the draft is awesome this year.

I actually bothered to work out who had the first few picks, who needed the first QB and then traded up to get ahead of them. It cost me a bunch and is a risky strategy but long term it may pay off. An actual element of risk/reward. Before I would trade all my picks or just select the best player available. I now way accuracy vs throw power in my decisions.

In previous years I remember having AP backed up by Steven Jackson, both on 7 year contracts and 90+ studs everywhere else. The average age of that team was 26 or something ridiculous and I still had a bunch of cap room left. There was no point to continuing and it felt so cheap.

[JayD]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

Yeah it is really hard to re sign the young up and coming players. After year one of my Falcons franchise Tyson Clabo & Harvey Dahl wanted a crap tone of money and I had to decide who to keep and who to release or trade.

[mavfan21]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

It is pretty great this year.

I love it. No more stockpiling guys or signing guys to low money long term deals while they are still young. My 12th overall pick QB wouldn't sign until I forked over 99 million over 7 years!!!!!!!!

It is about time that we have to make hard decisions in Franchise Mode.

[marktg30]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

Just in case anyone is having MAJOR issues. There is still the Edit Player Position work around. (Unless they are superstars making tons of money already)

[tylerd02]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

I'm glad you guys are seeing these results. I haven't made it to the offseason yet but this was something that always bothered me in the past. I usually resign guys in the last year of there contacts but in my packer chise i'm already seeing a bunch of guys i'm not going to be able to afford and am scouting accordingly. Good to see scouting actually mattering too.

[JohnnyLamb]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

Ha! Its great to play with the Bills. I resigned Owens to a 3 year contract (mid-way through the season) and Evans to a 5 year deal (not sure if it was his last year or just an extension). But I let a lot of guys go, so I had enough cap room to sign all 7 draft picks without all the hassel.

[deadlyCane]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

JohnyLamb, I just started a franchise with Buffalo as well. I'm planning to sign TO to a 3 year deal as well. I think Josh Reed is the other WR that is in his contract year. Did you re-sign him?

I think I'm going to let LOLB Ellison go and look for a LOLB in the draft. The Bills also could use a 3rd CB to groom in preparation of when McGee starts his decline. Mcklevin will be a stud but they could still use another CB now. I picked up Sam Madison in FA, signed him to a 1-year deal. I wanted Chris McCallister but dude wanted the whole Federal Reserve and the Bank of England.

[mvandor]

Re: One Compliment - Salary Cap

Well, system isn't perfect, my pass D was suffering so I traded a 1st and a 70 CB to get Cromartie back, barely under the cap because he'd signed with the Ravens for much less than he was working me for.

Cost me the pick, but got my guy.