I am going to run a 32 team CFM this year with Madden 16. Why you may ask? Well first off don't get me wrong, playing a solo CFM is great and I played through 6 full seasons on Madden 15 simply controlling one team. But this year I love the game even more. And I want the most robust CFM I can get and by doing 32 team control I can add layers of story lines by using some creative methods and at the same time not really having to control every aspect of every team. So here is what I will be doing in the 32 team version of A Dolphins Tale on Madden 16.

1. I will control all aspects of the Miami Dolphins.

2. For the other 31 teams I will set everything to CPU except "In-Season Resign" Below is a link to a spread sheet TDawg created that you can use to handle every teams in season resigning of pending free agents. So why are we doing this? Simply put....story lines. I find it far more immersive to have some surprise players test free agency. By doing this method of resigning for each team you can create some crazy story lines and make the off season free agency market really cool. It can change yours and CPU's team's approach to the draft. So how does it work? Well you can use the spreadsheet and it is self explanatory. Every team has a group of players that need to be resigned. If you look at the spread sheet it will have slots for each player on your list from top to bottom. If it is green you resign them. If red...you let them test free agency. If you run out of slots because you have more players than the spread sheet has numbers generated for just simply start back at the top of that particulars team list and apply the green or red to the next player on your team resign list. Pretty simple. Or if you rather generate your own numbers for each team I will provide a link to Random.org to use the number generator.

What happens if you can't resign someone that on the spreadsheet that is green? Let them walk. It happens. They will sometimes refuse to take any deal you offer them. Contract guidelines are simple. Give them at a minimum what they ask for. If they turn it down increase it by 15%. Also never give more or less year than they desire. Always use the number of years they want. No exceptions!!!


3. Trading

The workaround to igniting trade activity is two fold. And here are the two methods I will employ to see trading (which is to often in the NFL but it's fun to have to spice up your CFM).

Taking ownership of trade activity for each team method:

1. For each team I will generate a random number between 0-100 at this site https://www.random.org

0-33 I can scan each team to find any combination of the following:

Player and Pick
Pick
Player & Player
Player

Look at the team needs list in the trade block screen and look for a player on the top or right next to the top of their list to trade for.

If trading for a player rated 85 or above - must send 1st round pick or player of same rating or above or 1st rounder and player rated 75 or above.

Player rated below 85 higher than 75 - 1st rounder or player rated within 5 points of player asking for.

No trading for rookies or trading of your own rookies or any 2nd year players. Period.

No trading for starting QB's rated 80 or above period.

If trading for a CB you must send back a CB of no lesser value than +/- 10 rating points plus a 2nd round pick. Or you must send at least a 1st and 3rd rounder for any CB rated above 83.

Basically don't rape the CPU what's the fun in that? Use your good GM common sense and ask yourself....would you make this trade if you were the other team?

Once you find a trade partner and put a package that benefits both teams generate another random number.

0-50 the trade is executed

51-100 - talks fell apart and no trade for the initiating team the rest of the season.


As a bonus to each season you can also pick one team (and one team only) and generate a random number for a blockbuster trade opportunity.

0-15 - blockbuster trade attempt

16-100 - no trade for the season

If you are so lucky to land a blockbuster trade opportunity then use it wisely. Scan each team and you can trade for any player you want for that team.

So for example....let's say I do this for the Cowboys and they have a blockbuster chance. Romo retired in the off-season. Jerry is QB hunting. He attempts to trade for a star QB on a team that finished under .500 that would be a possible scenario. Let's say for example it is Andrew Luck. The Colts struggled to a 6-10 finish and he is to happy.

Any blockbuster must include a 1st this year a 1st next year, and either a 2nd this year or a really solid young 3rd year or higher player rated 80 or above at either tackle position, DE, DT CB, WR, RB etc. Impact player back as well.

The point is you can make this as immersive as you want and create some fun story lines.


The "minimal work" trade method.

1. Generate a random number for each team like above


0-33 - put any player except a starting QB, rookie or 2nd year player on their trade block 34-100 no trade block.


With 32 team control you do give up the chance of in draft trades initiated by the CPU. A small price to pay for:

No drive goals
No hyper confidence increases
A robust off-season in free agency if you decide to use my random number in-season resign method
Ability to play any game each week and as many games as you want besides your main teams game
Far more immersive knowledge of what's going on around the league

4. Depth Charts - I will go through every teams depth chart before the season starts to make sure they are sound and realistic. I will check them every 4 weeks there after.

5. Injuries - I will check injuries around the league each week and make sure the CPU IR's players who will not be back during the season or potential post season which will then allow them to sign a free agent.

When I do sign a free agent off the waiver wire for any team (including my main team) I will generate a random number:

1-50 - he signs

51-100 - Move to next choice and generate another random number

How to set up your 32 team franchise:

Simply create a coach (or owner whichever you want) and pick your main team first and set everything to off as far as resign, fill roster, game prep etc. Then once in the main CFM hub click down on your RS (R3) and create a new character but for all the rest of the 31 one coaches or owners you create make sure you set everything like this:

Player Progression - Weekly or Every 4 Weeks (never end of the year)

Coach Firing - On (off if you don't want to deal with creating new coaches but you must replace retired coaches so remember to check transactions every week starting after week 17)

Fill Roster - Auto
Resign Free Agents - Off (If using resign spreadsheet set to auto if you don't want to handle resigns)
Free Agents - Auto
Game Prep - Simulate



1. After the conclusion of week 17 go to the CFM transactions log and check for firing of coaches. Write down who and what team fired their HC.

2. You will then advance to stage 1 of the off-season where you can resign any player you did not get to in the regular season as well as the free agents who signed to one year deals off the waiver wire. But again remember if your coach get's fired you will not be able to do this for their respective teams. So if there were some players picked up off of waivers in season and that team fires their coach your SOL and will have to try and sign them in the free agency sweepstakes.

3. When you advance to stage 2 go to each team that fired their coach...go to the CFM settings menu and scroll to the retire tab. Create a new character (coach) and passing him to that team. Do this for all the teams that fired their coaches. Then you will be able to participate in the free agency market, scout again for college players, and have the draft run smoothly.

If you want to avoid this then simply turn coach firing off when you set up each coach in the initial set up of your CFM.

UPDATE on how to keep fired coaches in the game!!!!


So here is my latest process if coaches are fired.


1) Retire the coach (for example Rex Ryan get's fired from Buffalo)

2) Create a new owner character and use the real life owner of the Bills

3) Set that team to Auto Pilot and add 20MM in new funds if they start with 10MM and add 30MM if they start with 0 otherwise they will have only 10MM or 0 in funds and cannot resign and go after free agents in the off season.

When you do this Rex Ryan will again be available to hire in the coaching pool and when you set a team up with owner mode and auto pilot they will hire a new staff automatically.

Right now in year three 65% of my league is owners and the other 35% are coaches who still have their original out of the box job. I actually find 32 team owner mode to be much more user friendly. And here is why.

1) You get full control over any team. And can relocate teams and create even deeper story-lines if like me you go at least 5-6 years deep in your CFM.

2) You can do everything a coach can plus set prices, upgrade or build a new stadium etc.

3) You will get a real coaching carousel and see how things shake out by letting the CPU for the other 31 teams do their thing.

4) You can still step in and set depth charts, cut players, resign, etc etc for any or all teams.

You basically have total control and get the entire Madden 16 CFM experience with the ability to change whatever you want or do nothing at all.


UPDATE - I turned off coach firing. I ran into a corrupt file issue and lost my very first franchise. So I do not recommend to have firings on.

On another note to setting up the 32 team CFM. I set every teams auto subs. Why? To eliminate any possibility of placebo. LOL. Once you set up your 32 team franchise before you play one down in pre-season week one save this and name it 32TeamMasterFile.

Then you will never have to do this 45 minute set-up again.

I hope you enjoy Madden 16's CFM mode to the fullest this year. I know I will!!