The problem is simple yet there is no solution in sight and the user guide says nothing about it...

I played Madden 04' and had no problems creating a team of my own and using them in a franchise..all I had to do was not play in owner mode. However, no matter what I have tried, releasing players till I reached regulation requirments...yada yada, my created team isn't in the bracket when I attempt to switch them with Arizona, or any other team for that matter.
Please don't tell me that they removed this feature from the game to make room for the new features...I mean, what is the point in creating your own team if you can't play them in normal season settings.=s

Maybe I must beat the game a few times to unlock it...but I seriously doubt it..I would really appreciate if someone, anyone , could help me with this..I am extremely frustrated.

I have tried the same thing and of course got the same problem, it looks like they took it out because you can't have a created team in the owner mode and that is apparently the only mode you can choose in 05.

I noticed the same thing -- can't believe they dropped that feature. Maybe they'll remedy this with some kind of patch? (I hope....)