In all honesty it shouldnt take long at all. APF did it in 1 year. To me that is the best game play football game ever created. I am talking in terms of when you kick the ball off to the time the clock reads :00 at the end of the 4th quarter.
I just dont know why its taken EA so long. Maybe one day it will be a pretty good game, but i do know that there is no way on this earth i am buying next years Madden. I spent 60 bucks to play 09 for about 10 days total.