You'll enjoy the game much more if you try to get close to Madden sim statistics over real life statistics. I also don't care too much about realistic penalties. I have DPI almost at 0 as it causes the defense to actually play tight coverage. My only gripe is limiting TFL plays. I've been lowering the tackle slider game by game and tackling feels much more fluid instead of triggered animations it's just 80% physics engine getting pushed and off balance then hit again or something.
As far as CPU non sense, I do manual trades based off of real life trades as well as some trade rumors. In my CFM I traded Odell to the Browns for 2 1st round picks so he could play with Landry.