Eliminating these options is pointless. Purists can play without them, but we fans of gridiron chaos enjoy something unpredictable on the grass. Franchise mode allows you to assemble a team, play multiple seasons, and jockey with an uncooperative salary cap. There are plenty of positive holdover features from the previous year's version. Franchise mode is a breeze, and games can be simulated easily and quickly.
Instant replay is smooth and flexible as ever.
Player rosters are frighteningly complete, and if EA Sports follows last year's example, roster updates will be available periodically online. The game isn't without its annoyances. The manual is thinner than some e-mails I've received and leaves plenty of features undiscovered and unmentioned. Uh, I don't think so, John. I paid for it.