In franchise mode, before you play your last game of the regular season in week 17 look at the standings (records) of the other teams. Find the team with the worst record. The team with the worst losing record has the first pick in the upcoming draft. Go to the trade player screen. At this time propose a trade for your first round pick for their first round pick. The CPU always accepts the trade. You can do this for your other picks as well. When you reach the NFL draft in the upcoming off season, you will have the first pick even if you won the Super Bowl in the prior season. In order for this trick to work you must turn off the trade deadline at the beginning of the season.
Pookie33navy.
Do your normal drill in the Performance Institute before your game (assuming your agent lets you use the Performance Institute already). Then, go to your schedule and open the window that asks if you want to begin your game. Do not accept. Instead, go back to the Performance Institute. You should be able to visit it again before your game. Do this as many times as desired. To keep most of the points you obtain from the Performance Institute, try to get gold as much as possible. Note: This was done with a HB.
Jose Brito.
If you choose a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense against any team, select a play in which you blitz all your linebackers and have your defensive backs cover the receivers. This works about 90% of the time. You will average at least five sacks per game.
k. dutt..
This works best when playing against the CPU and works well in two player mode. Use a 4-3 defense and use engage eight. Make the safety that blitzes into yellow coverage and the linebacker to the left in yellow coverage too. Next, make the line come in and have the linebackers spread out. Put the MLB that is blitzing between the end and the tackle on the left side. Put the other line backer that is blitzing in between the other tackle and end. For some flare, pump up the crowd at the snap. It should be easy to predict if it is a pass or run because QB vision will appear if it is a pass. On third down it is most likely going to be pass; just predict pass and they should be used to rushing their throws. You may be able to get an easy interception.
LVFootball73.
Use the following choices with a base 4-3 defense. This defense covers basically all holes that most defenses have and will normally prevent any long runs or long pass plays against you.
Chris Amidon.
SS: Ed Reed (Reed is better at the SS position than FS)
FS: Brain Dawkins (another great FS option is Sean Taylor if you want a younger player)
CB1: Champ Bailey (another great CB1 option is Deangelo Hall if you want a younger player)
CB2: Marcus Trufant
MLB: Brian Urlacher
LOLB: Shawne Merriman (he is the youngest and the highest rated player)
ROLB: Lance Briggs (Joey Porter is another good choice but Lance Briggs is younger)
DT1: Casey Hampton (great strength and run stopping ability)
DT2: Tommie Harris (pass rushing and tackling ability)
RE: Dwight Freeney (only disadvantage is his size but his skills match up to that of Julius Peppers)
LE: Julius Peppers
Use the following team for Franchise mode.
QB: V. Young
HB: L. Johnson
FB: M. Alsott
WR: T. Owens, K. Curtis
TE: J. Witten
LB: B. Urlacher, A.J. Hawk
CB: D. Hall, I. Taylor, T. Hill
DT: T. Washington
FS, SS: R. Williams
DE: W. Smith
Switch Jon Alston from ROLB to DT. He has 85 Strength and gets 7 points on trench fight. You will have a 87 Speed, 92 Strength DT.
Matthew Vang.