Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

[thebizarrojerry]

The game is ruined the more you play ccm because you cannot negotiate any contracts until a player is in the last year of their contract. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. There is absolutely no reason why I cannot negotiate a new contract with any player I want to approach. This ruins the game and makes any quality team go over the salary cap in a few years, leaving star players to switch teams much faster than real life.

[Jimi XIII]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

It's really silly. One of many frustrating things about this new mode that just wasn't worth the switch over imo. I thought I'd grow into it, but no, I just find more wrong about it.

It would've been worth it if they added things like;

- Having an Active/Inactive player system.
- Practice squads for cut players with the ability to possibly sign them on the official team roster when needed.
- Better universal XP/progression system.
- Custom playbooks.
- Custom plays.
- Formation Subs (at the CCM menu, not in-game).
- Better/more practical practices

...and a slew of other things that really make a career mode. I really like the game, but the CCM just hasn't really done anything that great (not to mention all the subtractions that took place).

[BTownSlinger]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

Yeah I hate the contract system too.

[thebizarrojerry]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

It's really silly. One of many frustrating things about this new mode that just wasn't worth the switch over imo. I thought I'd grow into it, but no, I just find more wrong about it.

It would've been worth it if they added things like;

- Having an Active/Inactive player system.
- Practice squads for cut players with the ability to possibly sign them on the official team roster when needed.
- Better universal XP/progression system.
- Custom playbooks.
- Custom plays.
- Formation Subs (at the CCM menu, not in-game).
- Better/more practical practices

...and a slew of other things that really make a career mode. I really like the game, but the CCM just hasn't really done anything that great (not to mention all the subtractions that took place).

1. agreed. With all the injuries you need depth
2. same as above. 53 only roster is ridiculous
3. I'm liking the xp system, but am not sure the cpu uses it right for all the other teams
4. agreed
5. agreed
6. agreed
7. apparently they are going to add xp boosts for players in practice mode when you do well with them. That's a good start

But to me, I can look past all those other things, but the aggravation of not being able to sign top players to new contracts to stay under the salary cap ruins what fun was left in the "new" connected careers.

I have to dump a star player every other year as the Lions just to keep Stafford and Johnson signed. Instead of if I'm 10 million over the cap, I can re-negotiate a new contract for those guys leaving me 10 million or more available for the next few years.

I'm in 2018 with the Lions and cannot afford any stars anymore except one. I had to trade everyone else away just to keep Calvin Johnson.

If I have cheap players around the core, I should be able to keep Stafford, Johnson, Suh, and Tullock

[Adamsin]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

I'm in 2018 with the Lions and cannot afford any stars anymore except one. I had to trade everyone else away just to keep Calvin Johnson.

If I have cheap players around the core, I should be able to keep Stafford, Johnson, Suh, and Tullock

That is sort of the point of a salary cap isn't it, you're not really supposed to have a probowler at every position...

[thebizarrojerry]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

That is sort of the point of a salary cap isn't it, you're not really supposed to have a probowler at every position...

I don't have one at every position

I have Stafford, Johnson, Suh, Tulloch. That's it.

This is in 2018, I cannot afford even 2 of them anymore. I had to sell everyone just to keep Calvin Johnson and a roster with low 80's draftees and very cheap 600k a year free agents.

I can't even afford them when they get 3-4 years into a long big contract. In real life I should be able to sign them to another long term contract pushing the balloon payments farther down the future.

Also does the salary cap even rise every year? In 2018 does it stay the same as the 2012 season? I bet it does.

[uly27]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

The cap should raise every year I'm in year 2 online ccm using the colts and the cap is 130mil so just off the top of my head in 2018 it should be around 155mil ? But yea it will be tight having 3 players taking up 60 mil of your cap... But I love the salary cap as it brings more to the game.. Just gotta plan on who to resign n who you can let go..

[BTownSlinger]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

What's your cap penalty for next year trading all those players?

[Sturzinator]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

1. agreed. With all the injuries you need depth
2. same as above. 53 only roster is ridiculous
3. I'm liking the xp system, but am not sure the cpu uses it right for all the other teams
4. agreed
5. agreed
6. agreed
7. apparently they are going to add xp boosts for players in practice mode when you do well with them. That's a good start

But to me, I can look past all those other things, but the aggravation of not being able to sign top players to new contracts to stay under the salary cap ruins what fun was left in the "new" connected careers.

I have to dump a star player every other year as the Lions just to keep Stafford and Johnson signed. Instead of if I'm 10 million over the cap, I can re-negotiate a new contract for those guys leaving me 10 million or more available for the next few years.

I'm in 2018 with the Lions and cannot afford any stars anymore except one. I had to trade everyone else away just to keep Calvin Johnson.

If I have cheap players around the core, I should be able to keep Stafford, Johnson, Suh, and Tullock

In reference to point number 2:

You do realize the real NFL has a 45 man active roster, with an 8 man practice squad, totaling 53 players - right?

In this regard, Madden actually gives you more roster flexibility and ease of use, as players on your roster are all able to dress for game day, vice selecting only 45 as occurs in "the league". This precludes you having to sign someone from the practice squad to the active roster to fill positional needs on game day.

That being said, I would like to see the practice squad added to further enhance Madden realism down the road.

[Aftershock9958]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

In reference to point number 2:

You do realize the real NFL has a 45 man active roster, with an 8 man practice squad, totaling 53 players - right?

The 8 man practice squad is ineligible to play in any games and is separate from the 53 man roster.

[turfguy23]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

In reference to point number 2:

You do realize the real NFL has a 45 man active roster, with an 8 man practice squad, totaling 53 players - right?

In this regard, Madden actually gives you more roster flexibility and ease of use, as players on your roster are all able to dress for game day, vice selecting only 45 as occurs in "the league". This precludes you having to sign someone from the practice squad to the active roster to fill positional needs on game day.

That being said, I would like to see the practice squad added to further enhance Madden realism down the road.

That is incorrect. The NFL has a 53 man roster and only 45 can be active on gameday. These 8 inactive players are not the practice squad. They are still part of the 53 man roster but do not dress for the game. You are allowed to designate 1 player from the 8 inactive as your "3rd string QB". The practice squad is a completely different 8 players and has a completely different set of rules.

Gameday:
45 active players
8 inactive players (one 3rd string QB)
8 practice squad players

[Sturzinator]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

That is incorrect. The NFL has a 53 man roster and only 45 can be active on gameday. These 8 inactive players are not the practice squad. They are still part of the 53 man roster but do not dress for the game. You are allowed to designate 1 player from the 8 inactive as your "3rd string QB". The practice squad is a completely different 8 players and has a completely different set of rules.

Gameday:
45 active players
8 inactive players (one 3rd string QB)
8 practice squad players

I stand corrected.

Madden still currently allows the added ease of utilizing the full 53 on "game day". This is the point I was trying to make.

Thanks.

[splff3000]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

I don't have one at every position

I have Stafford, Johnson, Suh, Tulloch. That's it.

This is in 2018, I cannot afford even 2 of them anymore. I had to sell everyone just to keep Calvin Johnson and a roster with low 80's draftees and very cheap 600k a year free agents.

I can't even afford them when they get 3-4 years into a long big contract. In real life I should be able to sign them to another long term contract pushing the balloon payments farther down the future.

Also does the salary cap even rise every year? In 2018 does it stay the same as the 2012 season? I bet it does.

Umm what you're describing is exactly the point of a salary cap. I suggest you release one of those big name players to get room. Teams deal with this stuff everyday. Do you think they like cutting good players? Hell, the Raiders had to cut one of our best defensive players from last year(Kamerion Wimbley) for this very reason. You keep talking about just resigning guys to extend the deal, but that's not what happens in real life. Sure they may restructure a contract so it's easier on the cap, but they aren't just signing extensions like you seem to suggest. And there are no guarantees that a player will be willing to restructure which was the case with Kam Wimbley. He got cut 1 yr into a 5 year deal because of the very thing your talking about. I'm sure the Raiders would have loved to have his services this year. Lord knows we need all the help we can get.

[thebizarrojerry]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

Umm what you're describing is exactly the point of a salary cap. I suggest you release one of those big name players to get room. Teams deal with this stuff everyday. Do you think they like cutting good players? Hell, the Raiders had to cut one of our best defensive players from last year(Kamerion Wimbley) for this very reason. You keep talking about just resigning guys to extend the deal, but that's not what happens in real life. Sure they may restructure a contract so it's easier on the cap, but they aren't just signing extensions like you seem to suggest. And there are no guarantees that a player will be willing to restructure which was the case with Kam Wimbley. He got cut 1 yr into a 5 year deal because of the very thing your talking about. I'm sure the Raiders would have loved to have his services this year. Lord knows we need all the help we can get.

If a player is in his 2nd to last year, you're telling me they never would sign a new contract a year early?

Of course they do.

And I don't believe the NFL has only one way to negotiate a contract, every contract in the game is back loaded. What if I want to spread the cost over all seasons? I can't do that in this game.

Also some contracts had to be renegotiated for a few teams over the cap. Example:

http://detroit.sbnation.com/2012/9/3/3289557/detroit-lions-nfl-salary-cap-penalty

Prior to the start of the 2012 league year, the Lions restructured some contracts to make sure they were under the salary cap, and it's likely they'll be able to do something like that again. Trading or releasing a player is likely a last resort for them.

[carlrich]

Re: Only being able to negotiate contracts in last year ruins game

I don't have one at every position

I have Stafford, Johnson, Suh, Tulloch. That's it.

This is in 2018, I cannot afford even 2 of them anymore. I had to sell everyone just to keep Calvin Johnson and a roster with low 80's draftees and very cheap 600k a year free agents.

I can't even afford them when they get 3-4 years into a long big contract. In real life I should be able to sign them to another long term contract pushing the balloon payments farther down the future.

Also does the salary cap even rise every year? In 2018 does it stay the same as the 2012 season? I bet it does.

Whilst I do agree with you in that you should not have to wait until the last year to negotiate contracts I'm wondering why you did sell everyone just to keep Calvin Johnson?

As a Dolphins fan I would not sell everyone just to keep Jake Long or Cameron Wake. It's about the team not the the individual.