All of Tampa was confused as punter Pat McAfee decided to do double duty and kick for the Bucs AND the visiting Vikings.

Our guess is that he had a premonition that the Bucs' offense would have issues decoding the "Shopmaster" defense which has just recently arrived in Minnesota.

He turned out to be correct.

The Bucs were able to move the ball, but gave it up in critical moments as they fell to the Vikings 24-6.

McAfee noted after the game, "Well, it's nice to get a bit of work in. I appreciate everyone being cool with me doing whatever they h-e-double hockeysticks I want. And hey, I love the Twin Cities. Did you guys know I'm a free agent next season?"

He may be a free agent sooner than he thinks.

Christine Michael Scores from 1 yard out

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went to Green Bay with the intention of showing that they have not quit on the season. The Bucs defeated the Packers 24-10 to keep themselves from being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

Christine Michael proved to be too much for the Packers to handle on the goal line, scoring two TDs from less than 2 yards out.

Next up for the Buccaneers are the division and league leading New Orleans Saints.

Although Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans were stand-out teammates in college, they haven't found their groove in the Pewter and Red. Rather -- it is Austin Sefarian-Jenkins who has built a solid bond with the former Texas A&M QB and fabled party animal.

ASJ leads the 3-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in yardage and receptions through 9 games.

When the 2020 Draft re-caps are written the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would humbly like to submit for the judges approval the following numbers:

1 & 3.

Those two picks were traded to New York for the expertise of one Sheldon Richardson. So what did they receive? 5 sacks, 18 tackles and 1 fumble recovery. Nothing amazing there.

But look beyond the his numbers and you will see a secondary that has 26 interceptions, a defensive line that holds offenses to under 100ypg rushing (all XM bests for Tampa) 20 sacks and for the first time, looks to be on the brink of a paloff birth.

By pairing Richardson with free agent signee Barwin, young defenive linemen McNeil, Sutton and Grey and incumbent star DT Gerald McCoy, the Bucs have put together consistent pressure at the line of scrimmage that has forced disruption, leading to two stunning upset victories against the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If the Dreadnoughts defeat the Lions in week 16, the celebration in Tampa will begin and it will be in no small part because of one number:

91.

After Jameis Winston went down with a fibula injury, ending his season, the Bucs picked up veteran signal caller Alex Smith. However, it was incumbent backup Ryan Nassib who won the starting job as Winston's replacement. Ryan Nassib was selected with the 110th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He was signed in XM Free Agency in 2016 as the primary backup to Jameis Winston, seeing significant playing time in 2017.

Although his time in Tampa got off to a rough start (5 games played in 2017 for a QBR of 48.2), The Bucs have been rewarded this season by more consistent play. Nassib has posted a respectable 78.2 QBR and has thrown 13TDs through 8 games.

However, the Hawaiian-shirt loving Nassib can't seem to avoid controversy.

During the annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest in Tampa, a man who could not be positively identified as Nassib was implicated in a horse punching. That's right, a police horse punching.

As far as Gasparilla goes, most of the arrests made by Tampa police are unsurprising, especially to those familiar with the debauchery historically associated with the city's century-old house party. But this was something different.

According to arrest records, a chocolate brown thoroughbred police horse, "Chad", was minding his own business when a guy in a red Hawaiian shirt sidled on by and clocked him in the schnoz. No explanation for the attack was given in the arrest report.

"He was drinking," a Tampa police spokeswoman said of the Hawaiian shirt-clad man. "So that likely played a role."

No word if the quarterback and the incident are related.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/hopefully-this-wont-become-a-gasparilla-tradition-man-accused-of-punching/2263786

Jameis Winston has resigned for a whole lot of money.

I mean a whole lot.

We backed the truck up. For a guy with a 67.5 career rating.

Carry on.

Statement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

"The who Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization is proud to have acquired the rights to this fine player and we look forward to his contribution. In his first game, his team-leading 9 tackles provides a glimpse of his franchise-changing potential."

Led by Marlon Brown, (5 receptions, 94 yards and 2 TDs), the Bucs put last week's drubbing in Oakland behind them -- for now -- by defeating the Vikings 28-7 in Minnesota.

It was a coming out party of sorts for Brown, who signed a new 4 year deal to come to Tampa. Brown will be attempting to fill the very large shoes of Vincent Jackson by playing the X position opposite of Mike Evans. Lets hope his performance in Minnesota is an indicator of things to come for the young WR.

With Evans (#13) and Brown (#14), Tampa now looks to acquire a receiver who prefers to wear the number #15 to complete the sequence and unlock many future wins.

***CFM BUG — Do NOT attempt to Re-Sign players during season ***

CFM currently has a bug re-signing players. If you try to re-sign players midseason, the first few will re-sign. Then every player after will agree, TAKE YOUR MONEY, but then show up as not signed. You lose the money. It does not return.

In the OFFSEASON, re-signing players appears to work as it is supposed to.



More info:

http://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/MADDEN-16-CFM-RESIGNING-PLAYERS-ISSUE/td-p/4764892

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/easgcradio/2015/09/16/game-changers-radio--show-213-nba-live-demo-impressions-cfm-bugs-still-in
 

As a member of XM designated to review trades, I needed to find a basis for what I feel a players’ value to be. So I began with the RFD Trade Value Chart.

The RFD Trade Value chart considers 4 basic traits and grades them into a tier system. These traits are:
OVR, DEV Trait, Age, Physical Attributes

The system I’m developing considers those traits, and adds the following considerations:
Position, Awareness

Rather than a tier system, I decided to modify each player’s overall value to create a TRADE OVR value for each player. This value has a few advantages. First, it is similar to the OVR. This helps it to be familiar. Next, You can add values together, making it easier to evaluate a multi-player, multi-pick deal. Third, you can monkey with the valuation modifiers as needed. Let’s say your league REALLY values fullbacks. The trade value model for your league can account for that.

At the end, each team participating in the trade is considered "ok" to give up or receive only a certain amount of value (+/- 10pts at the moment — an 80 for a 90 TRADE OVR is Ok, but 79 for 90 is not).

How are the modification values determined?

First, I created a set of baseline values that simulated the RFD chart, considering “average” values for position and awareness. Next I created modifiers for those two positions and ran a number of historical and example trades through. Finally, I translated the NFL Trade value chart into TRADE OVR values that made sense based on historical draft talent levels and past trades (in multiple leagues). The values I arrived at are not perfect, but they are a starting point.


Last, I give the trade a “smell test”. Does it LOOK and feel fair? If I can use the numbers, get an answer then hash out how those numbers could be justified in words, it’s probably a fair trade.




Shortcomings:

• Draft Picks - Using the NFL trade chart is a good starting point. However each version of Madden has different characteristics of draft classes and development models. These affect the “real world” value of picks vs. player deals. Madden 16 values will need to be adjusted.

• Players like Dri Archer, who have VERY low OVR and VERY high physical ability. This system still undervalues such players. http://www.daddyleagues.com/xm16/player/5187924/attributes More work is needed to adjust these in a way that passes the “smell-test”.

• It’s not possible in real life to trade 5 bums in real life for a valuable asset, but by the numbers, you could do it, technically speaking.

• Bias. My numbers are biased by what I feel are good data points for the 6 measured attributes. I’m sure other users would have different opinions.


My hope is to shed some insight into how trades will be looked at by myself and as an offering to have others look at the chart and comment. Please PM if you’d be interested in going into further details!

One of the hardest things to do in Madden Connected Franchise is to evaluate the relative value of players for trades. Madden handles this by assigning an OVR rating to each player based on position-specific attributes. But OVR ratings have serious shortcomings, which are easily exploited, allowing teams to trade bums for superstars.


The situation gets more complex when draft picks are considered. “Use the NFL chart” is a typical response. (http://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart.asp). BUT, A first round pick in season one is certainly more valuable than a 1st round pick in season 5. But how much more? Also, NFL drafts and talent in Madden drafts differ by nature.


To account for all of this, CFM Commissioners often use a “Trade Committee” to keep deals “fair”. But this approach has it’s own shortcomings. Particularly if the commissioners of the league sit on the trade committee. There are often difficulties figuring out how to assign value to players in a trade, and disagreements are common. At best there are hard feelings, and at worst - accusations of improper trade valuation for personal gain.


Tools
One tool that can be used is a Trade Value Chart, as used by Hard At Work (https://traditionsportsonline.com/forums/hard-at-work.899/) or the version adapted for use by RFD (https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=84B708D5F80C4C49!22880&ithint=file%2cxlsx&app=Excel&authkey=!AIW_gJym0q-mJAk).

In my next post, I’ll describe how I’ve chosen to approach the valuation of players for trades as part of the team who will review trades for XM.

Now that XM16 has gotten under way, we're ready to introduce you to Florida's own XM16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Having left the 7 seas to search for gold on land in San Francisco, Pirate Oz has abandoned the ship to the here-to-fore completely suspect bandit wrattboy.

Raised from his youth on Oranges, grog, piss and vinegar, bandit wrat has assembled the necessary crew to NOT go winless in 2016.

Let's break down the shipmates:

QB - Jameis "shoulda drafted Mariota" Winston. Interception machine but mobile. Could be entertaining to watch

RB - With the bobble-head known as Jeff Demps (seriously, his head is rendered way too big. It's not like that in real life), and jack of all trades, master of none Doug Martin this crew looks to be productive but inconsistent

FB - Human FB-Dive Jorvorskie Lane is tough to tackle.

WRs - Obviously not here of their own volition. What would Doom with do with this group? I shudder to think...

TEs - ASJ is solid, if unspectacular. This group won't be rolling in the loot but they won't be swabbing the decks, either.

DL - Led by Matey McCoy, they are fast and disruptive. If they could shed blocks, they'd be amazing.

LBs - Corsair Lavonte David strikes fear into opponents' hearts. The rest of the group has improved by leaving whatever respective navy they were a part of (via Free Agency). The hope is that they go rogue on the whole NFC South.

DBs - CBs Verner and Banks are solid and new arrival, "Great Lakes" Pirate Tim Jennings is mighty. Tiny, but mighty. The safeties are average at best. Cannon fodder after the draft the captain openly expresses (he's not a nice man).

So there you have it. Guaranteed not to go winless because they've already won one. How quickly they run aground remains to be seen. If you're not careful, they just might steal a game or two.

***NOTES FROM THE NEAR FUTURE - Grab your Terrible Towel***

"People of XM15, your attention please," a voice said, and it was wonderful. "This is Prostetnic Vogon PeteMoore of the Galactic EA Sports Planning Council," the voice continued.
"As you will no doubt be aware, the plans for development of the outlying regions of the Galaxy require the building of a hyperspatial express route to Madden 16 through your star system, and regrettably your planet is one of those scheduled for demolition. The process will take slightly less that two of your Earth minutes. Thank you."

The PA died away.

Uncomprehending terror settled on the coaches of XM.

By this time somebody somewhere must have manned a radio transmitter, located a wavelength and broadcasted a message back to the Vogon ships, to plead on behalf of the planet. Nobody ever heard what they said, they only heard the reply. The PA slammed back into life again. The voice was annoyed. It said:

"What do you mean you've never been to Alpha Centauri? For heaven's sake mankind, it's only four light years away you know. I'm sorry, but if you can't be bothered to take an interest in local affairs that's your own lookout.

"Energize the demolition beams."

Light poured out into the hatchways.

"I don't know," said the voice on the PA, "apathetic bloody planet, I've no sympathy at all." It cut off.
There was a terrible ghastly silence.
There was a terrible ghastly noise.
There was a terrible ghastly silence.
We’ll never know how many 6’6’ receivers were in the 2022 draft class.
No more Gooden Cheese. R. Kelly, Silenced too soon. The Ogbonna brothers and Adinijis… gone.

The Vogon Constructor fleet coasted away into the inky starry void.

The Tennessee Titans 2021 draft class is here! The entire town is super excited about the possible upcoming injury to starting QB Joe Lockett.

Thanks to the draft, that possibility is double-covered. CPU GM Michael Hunt went for the best available player, ROLB Phillip Marshall.  Following that successful pick, ignored obvious needs at Left Defensive End, Tackle, Corner, Wide Receiver and Running Back to draft not one, but TWO backup quarterbacks. Pretty amazing.

Yet, bolstered by Free Agency and Coach Timmy Tytan's obvious charisma (who wouldn't want to play for Coach Ti-Tty?), the Titans are ready to compete, boasting a division leading 91 overall rating.

I think you can see the fire in Phillip Marshall's eyes... "Bruuuh"...