Retirement franchise?

[outlawz1979]

I never like how at the end of the season there a list of players who retire. I think you should at the very least get a heads up so if you know a player heading in that direction you play a younger guy. More important it be nice to offer him a contract and maybe have home decline it or maybe sign a 2 year deal and play. It be nice for at least the team your running but other teams players that are free agents to contact them offer a contract.

[stp2081]

Re: Retirement franchise?

I never like how at the end of the season there a list of players who retire. I think you should at the very least get a heads up so if you know a player heading in that direction you play a younger guy. More important it be nice to offer him a contract and maybe have home decline it or maybe sign a 2 year deal and play. It be nice for at least the team your running but other teams players that are free agents to contact them offer a contract.

I like the list, but I agree that in most cases you should get a heads-up. Retirements that seem kind of out-of-the-blue are not unheard of (e.g., Aaron Schobel, Glen Coffee), but as it currently stands in Madden, you have to guess at likely retirements based on either (1) age or (2) career-ending injury.

[football5680]

Re: Retirement franchise?

well when they get up in age you should know that their is that chance.

[GlennN]

Re: Retirement franchise?

That would be a nice addition. Like in 2k5 when you could offer a guy money to go another year or two.

[stlstudios189]

Re: Retirement franchise?

I agree an email or something showing you that a player is thinking of retirement. I would assume most NFL players at least talk to their coach about it.

[Watcher_Don]

Re: Retirement franchise?

You could even have a Favre thing where a player might retire or might hold out, then unretire depending on how you react. I guess that ties in with the player personality element, which I think would be a neat feature but I don't think would ever be put in because of the backlash from the NFLPA. The players wouldn't want to see themselves represented as troublemakers.

[Franchise408]

Re: Retirement franchise?

You could even have a Favre thing where a player might retire or might hold out, then unretire depending on how you react. I guess that ties in with the player personality element, which I think would be a neat feature but I don't think would ever be put in because of the backlash from the NFLPA. The players wouldn't want to see themselves represented as troublemakers.

They do it in NBA2K.

I liked NFL2K5 and the "1 year / high $$$" option. Sometimes they'd take it, sometimes not.

But as others have said, just prepare for it ahead of time. I always keep tabs on my older players, and begin drafting those positions to prepare for the future. For instance, I know that Takeo Spikes will be retiring in my franchise soon, so I am looking at ways to replace his MLB spot. I am lucky that I have a young up and comer in Navorro Bowman. But yea, still.

[outlawz1979]

Re: Retirement franchise?

Should at least know that a guy is thinking of retirement at the end of the year. I do go off age like what you guys said but some play ahwile and I'm replacing him guessing every year I can't count on him. Like a offensive lineman I develop one some play till 35 some retire at 32. So 3 seasons I cut the veteran or don't play him to develop the other guy. When I could have got 3 good years out of him?

[Gordy748]

Re: Retirement franchise?

No way you should be able to coax them out of retirement, how else could EA persuade you to pay for a "one more year" accelerator?!

Kidding, kidding. I try to avoid resigning older players. Avoids the whole problem.

[RJTurneR]

Re: Retirement franchise?

I only ever sign older guys as back-ups or temporary replacements. In any franchise I re-build while still staying strong (Kind of like the Pats are doing). My last Franchise I did was with Detroit, I only had one guy over 5 years pro and that was Julian Peterson. I was quite proud of it.

[JBH3]

Re: Retirement franchise?

I notification of a player's contemplation of retirement would be nice.

Perhaps some kind of system like how EA's NCAA identifies players trying to leave early for the draft?

[Meast21Forever]

Re: Retirement franchise?

I only ever sign older guys as back-ups or temporary replacements. In any franchise I re-build while still staying strong (Kind of like the Pats are doing). My last Franchise I did was with Detroit, I only had one guy over 5 years pro and that was Julian Peterson. I was quite proud of it.

So you have zero loyalty to the older players on your roster? When I play with the Skins, I try to keep guys on the team who're on the team in real life. Chris Samuels retired as a Skin. Casey Rabach should. I try to keep it like that in Madden. I don't cut ties with players. I just let the older guys play until the younger ones surpass them in ability, then use the vets as backups. I'm all for youth and rebuilding and whatnot, but I also like to keep things realistic while being loyal to the guys who've helped the franchise in real life.

[stp2081]

Re: Retirement franchise?

So you have zero loyalty to the older players on your roster? When I play with the Skins, I try to keep guys on the team who're on the team in real life. Chris Samuels retired as a Skin. Casey Rabach should. I try to keep it like that in Madden. I don't cut ties with players. I just let the older guys play until the younger ones surpass them in ability, then use the vets as backups. I'm all for youth and rebuilding and whatnot, but I also like to keep things realistic while being loyal to the guys who've helped the franchise in real life.

I do the same. I used to be ruthless, but upon reflection I don't think that makes for good storylines and a sim/realistic franchise. Sure, some Hall of Fame guys don't end their career with their trademark teams (e.g., Joe Montana, Emmit Smith, Jerry Rice) unless they sign that "one-day contract" right before retiring. But there are some players on my team whom I'll keep no matter how low their stats regress, because loyalty and having them stay and retire with the team should mean something.

[Franchise408]

Re: Retirement franchise?

I do the same. I used to be ruthless, but upon reflection I don't think that makes for good storylines and a sim/realistic franchise. Sure, some Hall of Fame guys don't end their career with their trademark teams (e.g., Joe Montana, Emmit Smith, Jerry Rice) unless they sign that "one-day contract" right before retiring. But there are some players on my team whom I'll keep no matter how low their stats regress, because loyalty and having them stay and retire with the team should mean something.

I tend to do this as well. When in my franchise Frank Gore came up for an extension, I actually gave him a LONGER extension than he asked for, because I wanted to make sure he retired with the 49ers.

I'm also doing the same with Takeo Spikes. I know he doesn't have long ties to the 49ers' organization in reality, but I also know that he is considered a very valued vet in that locker room.

In my Madden franchise last year, I also went out and signed Jeff Garcia so he could retire with San Francisco.