Sign-ups for B8's premier Madden sim

Board 8 National Football League League (B8NFLL) just wrapped up its 20th season where the Columbus Pioneers (Texans) defeated the Las Vegas Pumpkins (Cardinals) in the Super Bowl. That means it's time for new blood or old blood returning to be able to get in on the action for Season 21. Because I got a late start in putting up the sign-up topic, I have a specific date in mind for a deadline: Sunday, March 2nd.

What is this?
B8NFLL is a simulation league using Madden 06s franchise mode where users build rosters while managing the salary cap to have fun and/or accomplish something over the course of multiple seasons (no hard figure, but the game can't exceed around 30 seasons)

What do we do in a season?
Here is an oversimplified breakdown of what we do each season in order:
1. Offseason
- Ownership changes <---- We are here
- Player retirements
- Restricted free agents
- Unrestricted free agents
- NFL Draft + signing draft picks
- Free agency
2. Preseason
3. Regular Season
4. Postseason

The beginning of the offseason is the only time that I can change ownership of teams, and I personally think that it makes most sense to end the season with the playoffs, so this is where we begin. The majority of your work in this league will be in the offseason. The pre, regular, and postseason are basically seeing the fruits of your labor and making any adjustments that you see fit. You can ask questions now if you have any about the offseason events, but I go over them in full detail when the time comes.

This is the kind of project where you can be as active or inactive as you want. I of course like to see it when people put in a lot of effort, but I totally understand that people have different lives and schedules that might affect the amount of time they are able to put into this. We've had a wide variety of successful levels for those active and inactive. We've even had users who literally did nothing all season who went on to win Super Bowls or make it far into the playoffs. If you are interested in joining this but are hesitant based on your availability, let me assuage some possible concerns. I end up doing like 95% of the work on this project, and I give users plenty of time to do their tasks. A large number of offseason segments I give users at least a week to complete. Should you idle during any of those segments, I have very forgiving rules in place, and you even have the option of letting me temporarily take over your team and act on your behalf. Your team will not be screwed over if you ever forget to do something.

1. Hub Spreadsheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10gIP0JkVqOaoUc4aQX_NyDM8dB31FOPm_dUx6DVTWPk/edit?usp=sharing

This is where you will find all pertinent information on the current state of the league. In it you will find several sheets, most of which should be self-explanatory if you understand the NFL. You might want to look at to get familiar with it and if your choice of team depends on its roster and not fandom. If your choice of team does depend on the roster it unfortunately is not fully accurate.

Due to the amount of time it would take to update each time players' ratings change, ratings for all teams are reflected based on what they were entering the preseason unless a player was signed or traded after it. Also, the team financial sheet which gives you contract info and ages for all your players are only shown for user teams based on how much time and effort it takes to work on it. Do not hesitate to ask me any questions regarding any teams you might be interested in taking over.

2. Word Doc
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RVeEIyjqIiEkS0VYvbsI02dWMDXyOgdVQAgThNJyIfc/edit?usp=sharing

This was re-worked, but not for many years. It still has plenty of info that should be helpful to understand how B8NFLL works within Madden 06. I wouldn't say it is essential and it doesn't cover everything (some info might be outdated too), but I think it covers most of the important stuff and might answer many of the questions you have.

3. Wiki Pages
https://board8.fandom.com/wiki/Board_8_National_Football_League_League_(B8NFLL):_Seasons_1-5
https://board8.fandom.com/wiki/Board_8_National_Football_League_League_(B8NFLL):_Seasons_6-10
https://board8.fandom.com/wiki/Board_8_National_Football_League_League_(B8NFLL):_Seasons_11-15
https://board8.fandom.com/wiki/Board_8_National_Football_League_League_(B8NFLL):_Seasons_16-20
https://board8.fandom.com/wiki/Board_8_National_Football_League_League_(B8NFLL)_Hall_of_Champions
https://board8.fandom.com/wiki/Board_8_National_Football_League_League_(B8NFLL)_Hall_of_Fame

I broke down what was a large wiki page into more bite-sized ones encompassing five seasons, but the basic history (such as who was in charge of what team each season, final regular season records, playoff results, award winners, and end-of-season stat leaders) of every season of B8NFLL is on record here with the exception of Season 20 that I need to add in. A new article will be created for Seasons 21-25 in the future.

4. Previous Topic
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/80864016

That topic covers the entirety of the regular and postseason, so you can check it out at your convenience to see how everything during that span is presented. We are also part of the B8 Discord and can be found in the B8NFLL sub-channel under Sports.

Here are the 32 teams in the league by division. I have made notes for any team that has relocated since this started. A team in bold is one that is occupied by a user who will be coming back in season 19. A team in italics is one that is currently occupied by a user who has yet to inform me of their plans for season 19. A team that is neither bolded nor italicized is open (you can also tell because there's no username to the right of them) for the taking. If an italicized team is the one you want the most, you can sign up for X open team with the stipulation that you would like to change to Y team if their incumbent user does not return.

Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs - Ranlom
Oakland Raiders
Portland Express (Washington Hawks and San Diego Chargers)

Buffalo Bills - stevr
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots (Birmingham Cougars and New England Patriots)- Jukkie
New York Jets - Abacus

Baltimore Ravens - BlueCrystal
Cincinnati Bengals - MysteriousStan
Davenport Browns (Mexico City and Cleveland) - VI
Pittsburgh Steelers - s***tered

Columbus Pioneers (Houston Texans)
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars - Sultan
Tennessee Titans - Socko

Las Vegas Pumpkins (Toronto Wildcats and Arizona Cardinals) - KCF
San Francisco 49ers - tears
Seattle Seahawks
St. Louis Rams

Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants - Eddv
Philadelphia Eagles (Las Vegas Pumpkins and Philadelphia Eagles) - Pennywise
Washington Commanders

Chicago Bears (Richmond and Los Angeles) - Emerald
Detroit Lions - Nee
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings

Atlanta Falcons - MMX
Carolina Panthers - IfGod
San Juan Orcas (Anaheim Lightning and New Orleans Saints)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I will briefly talk about the open teams later on, but feel free to claim one in the meantime if you have a favorite team that's available or you check out the roster in the spreadsheet and find a team that you like what you see.

As someone who's been participating for the past two years or so, I just wanna say - if you like football, you will like this. KCF is a great, very accessible host, and he's helped me go from someone in way over his head to someone who feels very comfortable running a team.

If you're hesitant, just sign up for one season and see what you think. You don't have to be super active if you don't want to be - some users have been successful despite not being the most active, for example. We have that channel on the B8 Discord where you can ask questions to other GMs and whatnot. We help each other as best we can, even as our guys fight on the field.

Come join us!

I guess that I need to get on those open team remarks soon

Best Project Board 8 has ever had.

You can put in as much effort as you want. KCF does an absolute crap ton of work for this, and it shows. Try it for a year and I promise you will be hooked. It's tons of fun.

KCF0107 posted...

I guess that I need to get on those open team remarks soon

Today will totally be the day

Here's a brief rundown of open teams using a pro/con system:

Denver Broncos
+ Coming off of back-to-back playoff seasons
+ Balanced team with a nice mix of youth and veterans

- Currently lacks a killer edge

Oakland Raiders
+ Coming off of back-to-back division titles
+ Massive overhaul of team last season worked out very well, and most of the core is on the young side

- They've had to overhaul their roster in consecutive offseasons due to cap reasons, and it remains to be seen if their financial situation has been stablized

Portland Express (Washington Hawks and San Diego Chargers)
+ Elite passing offense
+ Strong secondary

- Running game has been a mess for several seasons now, but they just spent the #2 overall pick on a HB, so you might just have to be patient for another season or two

Miami Dolphins
+ Elite defense
+ Elite WRs

- Offense is otherwise a mess and routinely injured. OL and HB probably need to be overhauled

Columbus Pioneers (Houston Texans)
+ Reigning SB champs who are coming off of three straight AFC #1 seeds
+ Arguably the most complete team in the league

- Likely looming cap woes and possibly retirements to some of their best players (if not this off-season then next)

Indianapolis Colts
+ Intriguing mix of offensive and defensive playmakers
+ Non-losing seasons in three of the past four seasons (outlier was 7-9)

- Perennially one of the best defenses for long stretch, the unit has overall struggled the past few seasons and might need more reinforcements for an aging front seven

Seattle Seahawks
+ Very talented on both sides of the ball
+ Four straight non-losing seasons

- Running game has routinely struggled

St. Louis Rams
+ Elite defense
+ Excellent offensive playmakers

- Rams saw their 11 season playoff streak snap due to the offense not playing up to snuff, and the OL might need some work to reverse that

Dallas Cowboys
+ Snapped their playoff drought last season
+ OL and running game were wildly successful

- Passing game needs work, though they did spend a 1st round pick on a QB waiting for Andy Dalton to retire

Washington Commanders
+ Started off 0-6 but rebounded to finish 7-9 (yes I know this isn't much of a positive)
+ Serious efforts to improve the OL paid off (injuries to the team contributed to their poor start)

- Team probably needs a strategy overhaul while continuing to add talent to "lesser" areas of the team (HB and OL)

Green Bay Packers
+ Huge bounceback seasons offensively, especially in the passing game
+ One of the more winnable divisions

- Aging defense is set to lose some starters over the next few offseasons

Minnesota Vikings
+ Very talented on both sides of the ball
+ Three playoff appearances in the past four seasons

- Running game continues to hold the team back

San Juan Orcas (Anaheim Lightning and New Orleans Saints)
+ Made playoffs in four of the past five seasons
+ They appear to have hit on their past two first round picks (QB Tua Tagovailoa and HB Devin Singletary)

- Aging OL needs to be addressed as to not hamper with their offensive duo's rising development

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
+ Continued their upward trajectory and finished 9-7
+ OL and front seven look great

- Team finished in the bottom 10 on offense and defense suggesting that they were lucky and work still needs to be done

Bump

Bump

I remember when I was in this I made a bad trade that got blocked, but was it as bad as the Luka trade?

When we had peer review trades, I vetoed at least one and possibly two trades you made with the Bucs (I can't recall you making any trades with the Pats), but they passed peer review.

Bump

I know VI said he'd return. What's the status of the others? I ask only out of curiosity.

MZero posted...

I remember when I was in this I made a bad trade that got blocked, but was it as bad as the Luka trade?

Sounds like you want to come back to redeem yourself!

Nee is coming back.

Abacus, MMX, and penny are unknown

bump

Morning east coast bump

bump

Already closing in on the deadline!

bump

I'll be back, though I feel bad last time I got super busy and forgot entirely about the project.

Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs - Ranlom
Oakland Raiders
Portland Express (Washington Hawks and San Diego Chargers)

Buffalo Bills - stevr
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots (Birmingham Cougars and New England Patriots)- Jukkie
New York Jets - Abacus

Baltimore Ravens - BlueCrystal
Cincinnati Bengals - MysteriousStan
Davenport Browns (Mexico City and Cleveland) - VI
Pittsburgh Steelers - s***tered

Columbus Pioneers (Houston Texans)
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars - Sultan
Tennessee Titans - Socko

Las Vegas Pumpkins (Toronto Wildcats and Arizona Cardinals) - KCF
San Francisco 49ers - tears
Seattle Seahawks
St. Louis Rams

Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants - Eddv
Philadelphia Eagles (Las Vegas Pumpkins and Philadelphia Eagles) - Pennywise
Washington Commanders

Chicago Bears (Richmond and Los Angeles) - Emerald
Detroit Lions - Nee
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings

Atlanta Falcons - MMX
Carolina Panthers - IfGod
San Juan Orcas (Anaheim Lightning and New Orleans Saints)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

in the closing days of the sign-up period

We are in the final 24 hours to sign up! I will probably bump this once more.

Another bump

this will be my final reminder bump