Well I suppose I should comment on this.
Here were things from my perspective:
- Viper and I have been friends this season - chatting a lot. I chat with him more than anyone in this game but Madden
- For the final ladder game - I drew a team on which he was the DC. BUMMER! I'd been hoping for an easy, inactive sophomore team to play since those are easy wins.
- We had some light banter back and forth - nothing serious
- Later in the day (after I've scouted their last 6 games!) I see that Viper is now head coach rather than just DC - so he will be changing the offense undoubtedly. All perfectly great within the scope of the game (this is a game remember) - but also annoying to me personally just because I'd wasted all that time. It wasn't anyone's fault! But it was annoying to me personally (yes, I want to say that twice)
- Viper and I have some banter back and forth - in which I jokingly threaten to get together with Alaska Assassins and share my D/O/whatever with them (this was a joke - I didn't do it).
- Here we have a big miscommunication: I thought Viper said "I'm going to run a pass first offense...so don't run middle overload" - first - that was a very gracious and kind thing of him to offer - he doesn't owe it to me to give me any tips or hints - but he did. Since this thread (and the other) - I've learned that he said "I'm going to run THE PASS FIRST offense...." - so clearly he had handed that to me on a silver platter - being even more gracious than I originally thought.
- Then the game sims and (mostly) the offense I put in sucks (and I screw myself with at least 1 horrible play on D that keeps getting killed....and I lose 17-7 or something.
- I half jokingly (because I was so pissed at myself) "unfriend" Viper in the chat thing -- thinking I might get a funny response from him -- and trying to dodge the "lol I beat you" message.
- I also had been chatting with Madden the previous few hours occasionally basically saying "That Jerk! I can't believe Viper has two games that matter in Lincoln and Nebraska and is still getting himself promoted so he can try to beat me with a sophomore team!"
- Then all hell breaks loose with Madden going Jampy on everyone.
For those who weren't in Madden's other league last season - he likes to get people all stirred up. He likes to be the villain. He wants people trying to beat him. I would honestly describe his as more of a role player type dude who wants to fire people up -- create tension in the league -- and get forums more active.
Think of him as my Jampy if it makes you feel better
(kidding Madden)
(quick side note that doesn't matter: I did absolutely nothing at Madden's team last season. We share general ideas about the game and stuff but don't help each other with tactics or playbooks or scouting. In fact - he completely ran my team for me for 6 games while I was out of town -- so he helped me a lot -- I helped him not at all)
There you have it. My apologies to all involved. Especially looking at it in the rear view mirror - wow - what a silly thing to get upset about (talking about me here) - I'm happy to answer any other questions or expand on any thoughts.
Summary: If you take madden seriously: you are making a mistake (ask the guys in his league last season)
actually if i would have went with my initial inkling of pass first against Assassins i had a chance 
