I like playing the (on the field) game more than the off the field aspects. I do however use and like the Franchise mode. I like how you can choose the personnel that ends up on your team.
I like playing my family & friends (online or off) more though. I play my franchise inbetween those games. Playing the CPU isn't as fun as playing human opponents for me because after a while you pretty much know all the CPU tendencies. Besides the CPU doesn't take the chances a human opponent does. Like throwing the bomb 5 or 10 times a game or going for it on 4th & 30 in the first or second quarter