something to check might be how familiar is the person who has the penalty called on them with the play being run, since i know irl that can have an effect on penalties

It's a good point since player exp and play knowledge has other effects in the game, but in MFN-19 this should not apply since I've run the same offense with the same players being flagged for holding penalties for two-plus seasons.

In MFN-16, it might make more sense since I took the team over with four games left to go in the year.

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I should point out that the majority of my holding penalties come on running plays, which also doesn't make sense to me. I would have to find actual stats to back this up, but it seems that the majority of holding penalties in the pros are on passing plays.

Also how long the QB is holding the ball, I know the call is almost immediate, but the 'random' factor will determine this.
If a play is long and the QB is doing anything more than say a 3 step drop, this could also factor in, all in all I think many variables go into why so many hold pens occur.

I recently traded a TE with 0 discipline that had a grand total of 12 holding calls in 5 seasons. Not sure what to tell you.

I think it's just another example showing the only ratings that actually impact on field performance in this game are speed and acceleration. And kick holding.

Coming back to this thread after my Buffalo Dumpster Fires team recorded eight offensive holding penalties in the fourth quarter, including FIVE consecutive offensive holding penalties. How do you record five consecutive offensive holding penalties you ask? Here's how:

1) https://mfn13.myfootballnow.com/gamecenter/view/2277#429519
2) https://mfn13.myfootballnow.com/gamecenter/view/2277#429520
3) https://mfn13.myfootballnow.com/gamecenter/view/2277#429521
4) https://mfn13.myfootballnow.com/gamecenter/view/2277#429522
5) https://mfn13.myfootballnow.com/gamecenter/view/2277#429523

Say what you will about my team and play knowledge. We earned the name Dumpster Fires this season for a reason, but come on. Five consecutive holding penalties? That's stupid. That's bad code somewhere -- not broken, but just a bad combination of play knowledge, discipline, fatigue and whatever else bumping up against the random number generator in a bad way.

Two more offensive holding penalties that quarter came on back-to-back plays by the same player, which at least slightly more realistic.