It really isn't much more complicated than any video game currently on the market. In fact, it's a lot easier to learn a few simple tables, and much more rewarding, than it is to try and master the timing necessary to hit the right button on your 23 button control pad to pass the ball, find the right button to catch it, and then learn the correct series of buttons you must push to pull a stiff arm, or a power spin, or whatever. Don't be put off by the cautious tone of the instructions, either. Just read them through and try to play a few games. The rules may seem complex at first, but in practice they work exceedingly smoothly.
Cards are the soul of the game.
The special teams card is used to determine the result of kickoffs, punts, returns, and field goals. The offensive-defensive players card has numerical ratings evaluating the abilities of a team's defensive players and its offensive line. The defensive team cards and the player cards are organized similarly. The player on offense chooses from these six options, specifies which player is executing them on which side of the field, and rolls four six sided dice to determine the outcome of the play. The cards are computed to produce the statistical average performance of the given player, with allowances made for their individual playing styles.