I am a Roookie Whore

[Coach Stag]

I have to admit I have a problem. I can't help trying to get as many draft picks as possible so I can draft lots of stud rookies onto my 'chise. Anyone else have this problem?

I end up starting over often as I realize that I have made some silly and unrealistic moves (like letting Brian Westbrook go and trading Tra Thomas to get Reggie Bush). The only thing that outweighs my strive for hot rookie picks is my desire to "keep it real".

I felt I better talk out my problem with the gang in order to begin my road to realism and recovery.... :(

[realhawker]

The love for young men is a problem we all have .....j/k

Watching players grow is one of the best parts of madden.

That is why games like, "the sims" are so popular, it is a part of human nature to enjoy it.

[Coach Stag]

Yeah, Hawk I agree. I usually sim most of the 1st season so I can get a couple rookies to develop.

In my excitement though, I sometimes make some real unrealistic moves.

I almost ALWAYS have 10 picks and 2 first rounders and end up swinging a trade into the top 5 every year. :D

I have to watch myself because if I feel like I "cheated" I have to start over.

[FatesBlade]

every rookie whore needs a pimp, i don't see why you should let those computer bastards take all your products.

[realhawker]

Yeah, Hawk I agree. I usually sim most of the 1st season so I can get a couple rookies to develop.

In my excitement though, I sometimes make some real unrealistic moves.

I almost ALWAYS have 10 picks and 2 first rounders and end up swinging a trade into the top 5 every year. :D

I have to watch myself because if I feel like I "cheated" I have to start over.

you dont have problems with Morale?

[Dumb Daddy]

I like to fantasy draft and it always seems that I end up with a huge number of rookies, particularly 1st rounders. I just got the game yesterday and drafted a team that ended up with at least 15 1st year players. I didn't draft them all, I simulated the last ~ 10 picks.

I used a strategy in 2005 that served me well -- I almost always have 10 picks and I will trade as many "last year of contract" players as I can (without killing my team) to have a healthy group of draft picks. I rarely sign free agents and I often don't resign my own. I let Michael Vick walk on one team that I had when the whole reason for making the team was to have Michael Vick!

[TheMeat]

Me and a friend have just completed yr 4 of a franchise where the only rule we have is that we can only draft, or trade for rookies. This is an excellent way to enjoy the game, let the computer have their free agents.

I've found progression to be slow everywhere except O-Line, so every year I trade off my oldest/unhappiest 1 or 2 lineman (their too damn expensive anyway) for a couple picks, usually ending up with 2 or 3 in the first round (after trading my pick early in the year to whichever divisional rival I think will do the worst (Titans are 10-54 in 4 yrs :)).

I've also been sure to trade any 80ish players when I don't have any room on the depth chart for em, because the 3rd round picks ye can pile up turn into some very nice 75-80 OVR rookies.

With the changes to the madden-generated drafts this year, it's a rookie whore's dream come true. My fave real-life rookie thus far = Derrick Johnson, he's actually progressed to an 88 OVR (the most improvement of any non-OL on my team) and has made a Pro Bowl or two.

[C-Mart]

i am also a rookie whore i will trade away almost anyone for a high draft pick.

[Clumzie]

I am a rookie whore too. I trade away old people though!

[BuckeyesTHEGAME]

I end up starting over often as I realize that I have made some silly and unrealistic moves (like letting Brian Westbrook go and trading Tra Thomas to get Reggie Bush). The only thing that outweighs my strive for hot rookie picks is my desire to "keep it real".



You just described the exact way I am with the game, only instead of Philly I use Cincy. I also get rid of all the low rated players and replace them with players in the 70s.

Here's an example of what I do:

I traded Peter Warrick in the offseason to Seattle for a second round pick, then traded Kim Herring and my 7th for another third rounder.

My draft went like this:

1. Jimmy Williams - CB - VT
2. Darnell Bing - SS - USC
2. Max Jean-Giles - G - UGA
3. Gabe Watson - DT - Michigan
3. Martin Nance - WR - Miami, OH
4. A TE from USC with 84 speed
5. Greg Eslinger - C - Minnesota
6. Will Derting - MLB - Wash. St.

After the draft, I signed Coutney Brown and a white DE from BYU as my backup DEs, Cie Grant as a backup OLB, and Danny Kanell as a third string QB.

After one preseason game, I quit the franchise. Argh!

[realhawker]

I am not a rookie whore, I like to get let my guys develop, and even help them when they are getting older with mini camps.....I like to see my guys end up in the hall of fame with my teams jersy on, and even come back as a coach one day to help my new guys.

I usually trade my 1st pick away since you can really get so much for it from the CPU.

I like mid level guys better anyway with maybe one really good attib.

[Rathelon]

I guess I just like my team too much, because I dont trade away guys that are Steelers very often. I only trade players away if they get unhappy because they're not starting, and sometimes I'll let them go into free agency when their contract expires if they're not somebody I like or feel I cant replace in the draft.

You just cant trade away hall of famers, so I kept Jerome until he retired (stupid game didnt put him in the 'Greatest Players' though - morons). I did trade Staley though, because he got pissed off that Bettis won the starting job in preseason. So in the second year I ended up going into the season with Willie Parker, Johnathon Wells (FA), and a 1st round pick halfback as my running game. The rookie had nice size, carrying, breaktackles, awareness, etc...but his speed sucked (80). I played him as the starter through preseason, but he didnt do it for me so I started Willie Parker when the regular season came around.

Chucki Okobi was another player that got upset that he wasnt starting (83 overall behind a 97 overall - duh, dude). I couldnt get even a 3rd round pick for him, so I just kept him and gave him a chance with preseason progression. I made him the starter for preseason, and even subbed him in during the second half so he played the full games. I told myself if he progressed even to 85 during the preseason, I'd start him and use Hartings as a veteran backup. But he didnt gain a single point, so back on the bench he went - unhappy or not.

Other than those situations, and retirements, my roster pretty much stayed the same through the three years of the franchise (had to start over because I screwed up the Jets logos when I moved them to a new stadium in Manhattan). Willie Williams retired - replaced him with Joseph Jefferson in free agency. I let Tyrone Carter (back up FS) go, and replaced him in the draft. I let my 3rd string DT go, and replaced him in the draft - then replaced that guy in the next draft. I picked up Courtney Anderson at TE in free agency to go with Heath Miller and Jerame Tuman. Let Brett Keisel go in free agency, and replaced him with Travis Hall. That's about it - otherwise, I kept everyone else that was on my roster for the duration.

Had a lot of happy campers too, because there wasnt a lot of movement. Okobi was still yellow, but everyone else was full bar dark green on morale.

[Dumb Daddy]

If your team is successful, you will eventually end up with salary cap problems if you keep resigning most of your players. It might take a few seasons but you will feel it eventually.

I usually replace based on how difficult it is to find adequate replacements. On first glance, it would seem that a QB with a large cone might be near the top of the list. In M2005, for me it was TE's and O-linemen.

[Brutal Attack]

I usually replace based on how difficult it is to find adequate replacements. On first glance, it would seem that a QB with a large cone might be near the top of the list. In M2005, for me it was TE's and O-linemen.

No way man in 05 it was DEs they were SO hard to get, good ones anyway.