It's not just the 32 team/2 Conference/8 division setup using all 32 NFL cities that mimics the NFL.
It's also the playoff structure that went from 6 teams to 7 teams when the NFL changed despite remaining a 16 game schedule instead of 17 because that meant a ton of coding to rewrite the automatic schedule maker. JDB has admitted to using the NFL tiebreakers system up to a certain step before settling on net points as the last tiebreaker and he plans on fixing that eventually.
The actual dates for preseason, regular season and postseason mimics the NFL.
It's also the 7 round draft structure based on worst to best record draft order where the draft eligible players come from NCAA colleges.
It's also the 53 man roster with 46 allowed active during a game using a growing salary cap with free agency where only bonus money is guaranteed.
Much to mention we use NFL standards for down, distance, field size etc instead of Canadian rules which rules out the CFL as a template.
So yeah, MFN was designed to mimic the NFL even if JDB cant/won't say so for obvious legal reasons. It's not designed after the CFL, XFL, USFL or a European football league for many reasons even if you can customize team names and locations because the basic structure of the NFL always remains.
However, this statement in no way implies that MFN is an accurate simulation of the NFL when it comes to stats or game play but I would argue that is the ultimate goal for JDB in the end.
If you don't believe MFN was designed to emulate the NFL then you are entitled to that opinion but I will always judge MFN based on how closely it simulates plays, games, seasons and careers in comparison to the NFL and that's my opinion.
Thanks,
CJ