Authentic football!!
Seriously though, I think it is all a by product of the age we live in and how old we are. When I was 9, Madden 94 was played all the time. And we never once said "this isn't authentic enough." We had fun, we ran a sick sweep play, and loved football. Hell we played this bad boy
On PS in 99, and again, no issues what so ever with how the game was played, or complaining about broken this and that, or lack of this and that. Then 2000's hit, and everything changed.
I miss the days of 99. Even more so when on loading screens you got pictures of cheerleaders.