Re-signing/free agency in Franchise mode

[CSL]

I haven't actually played franchise mode yet but I have simmed a few seasons and it basically seems to me that come re-signing/free agency that the CPU will pretty much release anybody who's contract is up who is below 80 OVR (Reggie Bush was released with a 78 OVR, another time I changed him to 82 OVR and he was re-signed), no matter how they played the year before, progressed etc. There also appear to be a shocking amount of players being released after their 3rd year (see most of the players named below)

I'm just looking for some facts/opinions/thoughts etc from people who are playing or are interested in franchise mode because I personally am not looking forward to seeing Darren McFadden, Tyvon Branch, Mario Manningham, Garrett Hartley, Dashon Goldson and more available at the end of year 1. Maybe I'm missing something here and it's 'acceptable' or realistic (I'm a big fan of realism in franchise) etc, I don't want to really boost some of them to ensure they get re-signed.

[CSL]

Also, going through the teams after teams signed draft picks, only 3 teams (DEN, MIA, NE) are now carrying 3 QB's on their roster. Everybody else has 2 :/

[Kudzilla]

Franchise mode sucks when you dont control all 32 teams, but i hate controlling all 32 teams so im screwed

[CSL]

Yeah, I've seen a bunch of people saying that controlling all 32 teams is the way to go but it seems like a ridiculous amount of work keeping all 32 teams in check.

[JalenTigh]

Probably true, I was under the impression they were only keeping the top two players at each position... but I didnt pay very close attention to the ratings so it may have been what you said.

[silence1206]

Quote: Originally Posted by CSL

Yeah, I've seen a bunch of people saying that controlling all 32 teams is the way to go but it seems like a ridiculous amount of work keeping all 32 teams in check.

It is a lot of work. But, it is unfortunately necessary. The CPU has the abliity to re-sign high rated players for less money than you do. In turn, they can hold on to everybody if you let them. And that's not very realistic. (you can still let the CPU do this while controlling all 32 if you really want to).

In turn, I've been running franchise controlling all 32 teams and without a salary cap. I basically enforce my own soft-cap where if a team goes a little over the cap, it's no big deal. But I'm not going let a team go $40mill over the cap or anything. It saves from facing the consequences of using the inflexible contract negotiations function in Madden.

[CSL]

There has to be something going on with 3 year players. Simmed a season just and just some of the players coming into their 4th years as FA's are:

Darren McFadden
Steve Slaton (despite running for 1300 yds)
Tashard Choice
Peyton Hillis
Jacob Hester
Early Doucet
Andre Caldwell
Earl Bennett
Davone Bess
Josh Morgan
Mario Manningham (6 of the top 7 WR FA's are 3 year pros)
Brandon Keith
Kevin Ellison (only his 2nd year, 82OVR, 72 tackles at SS for the season and started every game. Surely he'd be due an extension and not being allowed to walk)
Thomas Decoud
Charles Godfrey
Orlando Scandrick
Dwight Lowery
Zackery Bowman
Garret Hartley

Am I imagining things/being over-sentimental or are some of those guys being allowed to walk a bit ridiculous?

[Franchise408]

I dunno, doesn't seem all that out of line to me.

It's not like good players don't hit the market in real life.