Start a franchise with the trade deadline off. Sim or play the season to Week 17. Find out which team has the worst record. Trade your first draft pick for their first pick, and they will always accept. Note: You can also do this with second through seventh draft picks.
Avoiding drills in Superstar mode
If you choose to create a Superstar, you will have to do drills after you create him. To avoid having to do drills, choose "Create A Player" (above "Create A Team" in the Features menu). Set the year he is born to1987. It should say at the bottom of the info menu that he is zero years pro. Put him on the team you want to use. After you customize his appearance, make his stats 99 overall. Then, go into the depth charts in the Features menu, and put him at the top of the depth chart at his position. Go back into Superstar mode, choose to play as a rookie, and your created superstar should be there with all the other rookies from the 2008 draft. Choose the superstar you created. You should now not have to do any drills and will go into the pre-season with the team you put your rookie on. If you put him at the top of the depth chart at his position before you went into Superstar mode, he should be a starter.
Easy touchdowns
Off the line, without speed burst, instantly juke right then left. The CB will be fooled. Speed burst, run a 45 degree angle to the center of the field, and call for the ball. The CB should either be far away or behind you, and you will usually catch it for an easy touchdown. The following also works for large gains. Instead of right then left, do left then right, and catch the ball running up the line.
Fantasy Challenge mode tip
Make sure you have all the desired players from your current league on your team before the last game (championship). You will not be able to get those players if you win the championship because you will move on to the next league.
Getting drafted by desired team in Superstar mode
When you make your profile at the main menu, select the team that you want to be drafted by as your favorite team. When you start your Superstar Hall of Fame career and get to the draft, a message will appear stating "Would you be interested in being drafted by your favorite team?". Select "Yes", and you will be on that team.
Recommended players in Franchise mode
Go the Free Agent screen in Franchise mode. Sign a free agent named Jordan Beck. He is a middle linebacker that is 71 overall. Change his position to defensive end, and he will be 90 overall. The same thing works for many other linebackers when changed to defensive end. You can also change Ladainian Tomlinson's position to linebacker. Do this, then trade for him. He will have an F trade rating, and his team will accept almost any player in a trade. Once signed, release him, then resign him to save cap room. Then, change his position back to running back. He will be 99 again. This can be done for lots of other players.
Staying under the salary cap
Use the following trick to keep a good player under the salary cap for a long time. When signing players, sign them for seven years. Give them nothing for a signing bonus. Give them the minimum they will accept for the seven year contract. Your player will then have a seven year contract with the same salary for those seven years. The salary cap will go up every year but their salary will remain the same, so you will actually have more room under the cap for your other players over the following years. When drafting a rookie, also sign him for seven years. Give him $70,000 for bonus and give him the minimum for the contract. By doing this, you will also save on the rookies for a long time. Once in a while your players will holdout but it is worth it in the long run. If you get fed up with your higly paid player or get a better one cheaper, you will be charged nothing in penalty the following season.
