Whats wrong with this league?

This topic comes up all the time in the blast (amongst the same 8 guys who are on everyday, lol). So i'm sure there is a grand consensus that activity is blatantly dipped since halfway through season 2. But personally, I think its a lack of effort from everyone as a whole that is to blame. Not just DK. Sure, DK hasn't been as active of a commish as he's been in seasons past...but things happen...such as what most of us call "Life". I'm sure he, just like many others just haven't had time at certain points, to put effort into content and activity on a constant basis.

Regardless of that though, that should mean we help each other out in bringing life and activity to the league. Especially those of us who have been here from the start back in Madden 10 and 11. We know what this league once was...but what are we doing to make it anything like that? At this point...nothing but complaining and making backhanded comments about how the league is dying, yet you've been on auto pilot since week 6 (im talkin about you FILI...).

I think the number 1 thing that starts with is recruiting. There should be little to no reason why this league isn't at 30 to 32 members at all times. Most of these teams are pretty good teams. Recruiting shouldn't just be on the commish, we all gotta spread word of mouth, and get people from other leagues you guys are in to join or from other message boards.

User content would be nice, but there seems to be less motivation to do content of that sort because the CCM is much deeper than its been in years past, therefore, a lot of that content is kind of kept track on the game itself. But user content is still possible.

I'm sure things are gonna kickstart again with the off-season looming. So we gotta start bringing folks over here to take over some of these teams with high first rounders. That should be an automatic selling point for just about all of the cpu teams that are available. I like my team way too much for this league to die. So I'm not trying to let it happen.

My top suggestion...I think it's time for a co-commish. Somebody who is much more available for those times when DK isn't and can't be around. I think having a co-commish can only enhance the league for the better.

150% agree with you, also why not try groupme? many of us XMLs are in several leagues and this is great tool to get hold of each others....i know hass, nytitan, yourself, bigmic, are really active when it comes to groupme and setting things up, lets try to help dk in every shape or form and make this league what it once was, there are plenty of good sim players out there, lets trim the fat and get us some good owners.

I agree with most of what is said here. The only thing I would like to add is that something needs to be done about the guys that make absolutely no effort to schedule games. There needs to be some punishment for that

i agree i know i haven't been available myself as much as before and i will step it up and hopefully ill get a new laptop soon and will help with as much content as i can i want the xml glory days back

I think it was John Kennedy that once said "Ask not what your online madden franchise can do for you, but what you can do for your online madden franchise." It was something like that. Complaining is the easiest thing in the world. The guys who posted above? They're trying to make things better. Being negative in the blast? That's not helping anything. If there's something you don't like, try to help fix it. We've got a lot of good guys in here who've been here for years, who always play their games, and i think everyone appreciates that. DK does a great job. Hell, just advancing the league and running the offseason is a lot of work. That doesn't mean we couldn't help him with some of this stuff. Maybe put someone in charge of recruiting, or to evaluate trades, etc. I'm just echoing what Game said, but if we spread out some of the responsibility, things would probably be smoother.

Not much else to say aside from what is already posted. Last couple weeks, I've only been on AIM sparingly. I check the boards every other day, but not much else. However, been here since Madden 10, and I, like Game, enjoy my team too much, as well as this league too much, to close up shop. Life has been bananas, but I'm def committed.

Imma throw it out there right now, I'm more than happy to help the league in anyway I can. Radio shorts, reports for divisions at different points in the season, co-commish, whatever. I'm in. DK, this is for you. I am here and willing to help I just want to help. Period.

Additionally, and not to make excuses, but AIM has been acting up on my iPod and working verrrrryyyyy slowly. Makes it difficult since my laptop went down, and my wife's laptop is old as dirt. However, I'm down for this lg and echo the sentiments of my peers.

I can try to help recruit this offseason, maybe help bring some of the owners from my other leagues over. The only thing is.. interest ALWAYS picks up in the offseason because there's the draft/FA and then week 3 comes around and suddenly everyones ghost. I understand you like the joy of drafting and testing out new players but you need to at least try to reach out to your opponents to schedule games.

As a while my interest in Madden is dying, which is crappy because I just joined another league that I just so happen to run.. but I still find the time to reach out and schedule and eventually get the game in when we're both free. It's about that time when Madden's on the back burner and everyone's over it. I only joined the league late last year so I'm not sure how it was before during this time.. but I'm sure we can get a solid 30 owners, as long as they make sure they'll play a whole season instead of just draft then lose interest because the seasons too long.

I personally think the bigger issue is some of the game play that has gone on recently. The last two or three guys to quit didn't quit because they weren't interested. They quit because they felt their opponent's game play was questionable.

I know I haven't been around as much as in the past as of late. My interest in this Madden game has really taken a hit over time. However, there ARE multiple factors to the league not being more than what it is. I am all for more content and more activity. It gets to a point where the value of me putting out web site updates, twitter updates, etc. doesn't mean as much if no one else pitches in any content or if I feel like it's for nothing.

I have been very busy the past couple months at work, working a ton of hours which is why you haven't seen me in AIM all the time like in the past; but I do still have my phone to text. If someone needs booted, or if something needs brought to my attention I've been doing my best to respond to these texts. For the most part those of you who have contacted me have gotten a result from it. I don't always have the time (especially as of late) to check the forum and read the AIM blast all day to know what's going on there. I can drop in from time to time and for the most part again we have advanced when we've needed to advance.

A lot of guys aren't scheduling their games, which is why before each season I ask who is in and who is out. Sure I can boot people for not scheduling but we'd be out of owners pretty fast. Moving forward, we can certainly look into adjustments there as anything. I will listen to anything. And again, I am all for user content. I've never once turned someone down who was willing to add to the league in some way. Even if it's just recruiting (which as many of you have said oh we don't have any people, it's easy to say we need more people...), then do something about it! Have your friends sign up, have your co-league owners join up. This is a league not a one man show for sure.

As far as gameplay goes, I can totally agree with that. I think that may be why my interest has been shot. I think before we go to another season with the help of some others we can officially but a rules sheet together (which should have been done before, but up until the last season or two we have had no issue with).

SO... those who are interested in taking up a bigger role in this league need to contact me (text, email). I am all for having help with the league moving forward I just gotta have it from you guys.

If the league does decide to continue for another season, me and Kap plan on adding to the league content.

I have enjoyed my time in XML over the last 2-3 years. DK has done an amazing job but we need to do more, something has to change. Adding more user content is great and all but that wont make the league successful. What makes a league successful is structure, consistency and communication. Structure- there has to be rules in place and a means for enforcing them. Consistency- scheduling and advancement has to be consistent. It cant be wednesday night and guys are still asking have we advanced yet. Thats when owners get frustrated and say screw it i'll play if I feel like it. Theres no accountability when the schedule keeps changing. COMMUNICATION- Just to be real, this forum stuff is old school. We can add all the user content in the world and it won't matter if its only the same 10 people frequenting the page. We need to make email or text the primary means of communication. Not only to schedule games but more importantly to let everyone know when the league has advanced and how long they have to get their game in. Posting in AIM or on the forum is only going to notify the same ten people. Communication has to be done in a way to catch the die hards and the casual owner who doesnt spend time on the forum but always has their iphone or blackberry at the ready.

Ask Betta or Idallas fellow owners from E32 and XDL how important those advancement emails are. These leagues stay at 32 and run like clockwork. Yes guys get booted for breaking the rules but theres always someone there to take their place.

Its time we evolve fellas. I dont mind sending out advancement emails and other league news as long as advancement is consistent. I am all for playing another season but if nothing changes, whats the point?

This Madden release I personally used the CCM game text notification as a form of communication. It sends out a text after each game was played. I would pay attention to certain XML members who would play their games the night a week would open and that was my indicator that we ha advanced. I was finally able to play the majority of my games with this method. In the past using anything else left me with a day or less to get games in. Just a thought for you guys that don't visit the boards or aim often.

Never Been here...don't know what is wrong lol. But I will tell you all leagues go thru the same shit in some shape or form. I like what I read about the same people knowing about things and it not getting out as quIck. If you got a league that uses mostly text, u might as well incorporate that as much as possible....try sending a text to everyone when The league has advanced. But people should at times be required to come to the site.......Overall depending on if this is someone's main league, or they just a casual player that wants to get their games in.....but shit idk lol