From Simmons mailbag today:
Q: Am I the only one who thinks there needs to be a "Replacement Referee Mode" on the next Madden? It would add such an element of randomness. Just imagine it: Your quarterback executes the perfect fade pass for a touchdown to take the lead, but right as you're turning to your buddy to give him crap, you see that the Madden Replacement Referee has flagged you for roughing the punter. You would never know what to expect.
D.R., San Antonio
SG: They already have that mode it's called "The No F---ing Way Game." Usually happens in franchise mode when you're 5-0 or 6-0, then a chip activates inside the game and kicks it into "There's No F---ing Way You're Winning This Game" mode (which I've written about a hundred times). Maybe Madden could actually brand this moment as a "Replacement Refs" game you're 6-0, and suddenly you see Replacement Don King and Lance Easley on the field and think, Oh no
oh God.