[CharioTitan]

One thing that definitely needs to go in Franchise mode is the horrendous blocking of the Right Offensive Tackle. For some reason, this guy (no matter what he's rated) gives up a ton of sacks. I've played games where my RT just does not block at all on passing plays. I will literally sit there and watch the Left defensive end run past him knowing there is nothing I can do to avoid the sack. And my RT is rated like 95 and my previous tackle was rated 99. So, it's not the player. Meanwhile the CPU's Left Tackle is like a brick wall who never EVER gives up sacks. It's just one of those stupid things in Madden that no one noticed before releasing the game, kind of like how no one blocks on punt returns.

But aside from that one glitch, I really want to see some way to differentiate players. Awareness is so unimportant at every position except QB. Yeah, physical attributes are important, but how many physically talented guys have flopped in the NFL? Ryan Leaf? He was the perfect size and had all the arm power in the world, but he was horrible in the NFL. There was even a guy who played for Dallas (I forget his name). He was an Olympic track star and played wide receiver. Obviously he was really fast, but he never turned out to be a Michael Irvin. Can anyone even name the guy who ran the best 40 time in the combine last year? I can't. I just hate playing the game and not being able to tell the difference between a player with 95 awareness and the rookie with 55 awareness and great physical attributes.

If a guy plays really well, then make his awareness go up to reflect that. I have a player on my team who puts up like 15 sacks every season and his awareness still hasn't passed 83 after like 6 seasons. While I'm on the subject, this guy still isn't an Icon. What is the deal with the Icon thing? It seems like the most insignificant players on my team become Icons while the guys who go to 4 straight Pro Bowls don't. I DO NOT get that. I can't even begin to tell you how the CPU selects ICons.

Also, the salary cap and player pay are ridiculous. For one the cap is too high. Secondly, players don't get paid enough. IF you look at the top paid players at each position, the range is like $40 million to $70 million (with the exception of Peyton Manning's $90 million contract). Ten years into franchise mode, the top paid players in the NFL are getting like $40 million. The top pick in the draft is getting the same salary as the top pick got in like 2002. Ten years from now , the top pick in the draft will probably get like $60 to $70 million. Mario Williams got $54 mil. Adjusting the cap and player salaries will keep the CPU from hoarding all the good players until they retire.

Also, let's get rid of the ridiculous animations. CBs and Safeties just don't jump and deflect the ball like they're playing basketball. It just doesn't happen in real life. I am SO SICK of seeing a CB get beat only to watch him jump 4 yards forward and 3 feet high to deflect a pass. Just because they added a feature to make defenders track the ball doesn' t make this BS any more realistic. And I've also noticed that Agility is very underrated. I have Reggie Bush on my team who has 99 agility and acceleration. I was running to the sideline and stopped and turned in the opposite direction only to watch the 250 lb. linebacker with 80 agility stop and turn just as fast as my 200 lb RB with 99 agility. That just doesn't make sense. And by the way, the thing where players run backwards and tackle you is SOOO ridiculous. I'll see a D-lineman overpursue a running play and think I'm in the clear only to watch him run backpedal or run backwards and then cut me off. That's just ridiculous. The physics of this game are still so bizarre and unrealistic. They really need to address it.