Random Fake UNFA's invading Franchise

[LivingLegend]

Quote: Originally Posted by MidnightPyro

So to verify... Even with Madden generated rosters, after pre-season, a majority of CPU teams will have 15-20+ 50 and 60 OVR type players on their 53 man roster when there are lots of 80+ veterans available? Are the teams under the salary cap still? Can you actually disable UDFA's like LivingLegend recommended? Sounds like they managed to bork yet another version of Madden...

I meant we should have the option to disable them until year 2 of franchise, that way the UDFA's that show up are actual players from the Draft Classes that weren't drafted.

[kpkpkp]

Quote: Originally Posted by debauchlord

Really? I've gone through the beginning of a season three times and the only "weirdness" as far as "A" potential releases was Lee from the Cowboys and this guy Sash from the Giants (if you consider a 56 rated overall being released weird). In years 2, sure, more are released (ones I noticed were Wilkinson (JETS), Cameron, Julius Thomas (DEN)..all rated in the low 60s), but if you take into consideration a good draft it makes some sense...the Giants released Austin after week 1 in year 2. Heyward, Paea, etc. are all still with their teams. Hell the Raiders still have Moore even though he is lowest rated WR on their roster. The only bizarre thing I have noticed are the QBs...teams seem to be keeping too many UFDA QBs on their teams, some in the 30s and 40s, but only as third stringers. In the game's defense, there are no FAs left in the pool that are rated over a 75, and most of those guys are journeymen. And the best of the bunch are all over 30. With just the Madden drafts, I have also seen the AI draft intelligently, if not expertly. JAGs have first pick, what do they do? First round CB, second round WR. Totally addresses need. I liked that. Cam Newton does not get replaced and no one drafts kickers or punters. So yes, I am actually impressed by this system so far. Can it break down? Yep. Can my opinion change? Of course.

I too am seeing some of what Debauchlord is saying here. I don't think this UNFA issue of fake players being kept as backup players is as bad as it seems.

But I still feel as though this is still an issue... as we have said all along... with backups that should be fixed. The CPU simply ends up with too many guys in 40's-50'sOVR that are fake-UNFA's in backup roles while talented (real) players are cut or sitting in FA. Whats worse is the CPU seems to feel no need to improve these backup positions. It also serves to dilute CPU team overall ratings which possibly affects sim results.

I have noticed the CPU will sign a decent starter if their starter becomes injured an suddenly they have to use one of these lousy/fake backups. But not always.. I guess due cap?

In any case I certainly do not think this is a game ruining issue worth not opening the package over. But an issue worth noting and EA should acknowledge.

They could fix it by forcing the AI to only cut guys who were created/faked in the first place every pre-season. Even if it saves cap, or the fake player performed well.

Has EA acknowledged this in any way? Have they been given links to this thread?

[LionsFanNJ]

I think the problem is that there's no point before the start of preseason to sign some of those guys sitting in FA. So to get the preseason max of 75 they make up these undrafted guys.

But after looking around the league at some of the teams, I can live with the players. I'll edit up a few to be spot service backups if necessary and that's that. Though some people have said its better when you turn the cap off. I plan on messing around with another team in a second franchise without the cap on and see what goes down

[LivingLegend]

Has anyone actually tried to go through all 32 teams and delete their UDFA's and see if it fixes itself year two?

[Manning2Harrison]

Quote: Originally Posted by Armor & Sword

This is a very encouraging post!

Don't be too encouraged. I decided to do my own test with a single-team franchise, with the cap on (because if the AI really is doing its job as alleged, it shouldn't have to be turned off). And with an imported NCAA draft class, because those who do years of dynasty and want to link it with Madden try to draft players they recruited shouldn't be penalized.

Used the updated roster, which may have helped with the cut days. The only cut of a real life rookie that I felt was unjustified was Colts DT Drake Nevis, a third round pick. OK so far. As the Seahawks, I signed Nevis, plus linebackers Bruce Carter and Lawrence Wilson, and SS Jaiquawn Jarrett, all B potential players who progressed nicely in the offseason, so you might say it was at least a little off-kilter that they were available.

Proceed to the beginning of the regular season. Total no. of fake UDFA's on all teams: 60.

As I simmed the season, I could see "(Team) improvong roster". This was separate from "filling rosters". I took that as an encouraging sign, hoping that teams were dumping fakes in favor of real free agents with better ratings. Alas, after week 17, there were 59 fakes in the league.

On side note, in FA I got all the players I bid on, so that feature is worthless.

At the beginning of the 2012 season, all but four teams had at least one fake rookie UDFA QB. Some had 2. Of the four teams that had 0, 2 had a fake that was a carryover from 2011.

Each team had between 8 (just one team) and 14 (two teams) fakes, 10 or 11 being the most common. If a team kept all of its draft picks, that means there could be up to 21 rookies on it. Say on average there were 11 fakes, with 5 draft picks kept. 16 out of 53 players makes 30% the roster rookies.

QB's in the FA pool ranged from 69 (Leftwich) to 77 (Henne). Of the whole pool, only 7 players were <60 and all of those were in the 50's, which is still better than many of the fakes.

Still encouraged?

[debauchlord]

Quote: Originally Posted by kpkpkp

They could fix it by forcing the AI to only cut guys who were created/faked in the first place every pre-season. Even if it saves cap, or the fake player performed well. Has EA acknowledged this in any way? Have they been given links to this thread?

I wouldn't go too far...in three seasons out of how many UDFA's I still have three on my team (2CBS and 1 FB), all of which are B potentials. Which helped out at the time since I stunk at those two positions. I actually think that is a highly realistic number, and probably too low to be honest.

[LionsFanNJ]

Quote: Originally Posted by LivingLegend

Has anyone actually tried to go through all 32 teams and delete their UDFA's and see if it fixes itself year two?

If you're using the last roster update all the players are real players year one preseason. So most teams have 60 - 75 players. They don't add any year 1 of franchise.

[Manning2Harrison]

Quote: Originally Posted by LionsFanNJ

If you're using the last roster update all the players are real players year one preseason. So most teams have 60 - 75 players. They don't add any year 1 of franchise.

Wasn't that way for me. Some teams had only 1 or 2, but I had to cut some from every team.