Mr.MeatLoaf's NFL Tips...

[motordavid]

For all the NFL Fantasy League Fans warming up, out there in XVille...
Speaking of Meatloaf, we enjoyed TheCEO's homemade ML on the grill this eve...she makes, imo, the best I've ever had. Washed it down with a 1988 Clos du Lambrays Premier Cru Red Burgundy: great nose still, but it has faded.
Like me and the CEO are: faded, lol! BR,md



August 21, 2005
Show Time for Meat Loaf: Fantasy Sports Draft Days

By JAMES DIAMOS
The entertainer Meat Loaf, whose intense style manifested itself in his 1977 debut album, "Bat Out of Hell," is a passionate sports fan. Meat Loaf, who was born Marvin Lee Aday, has thanked Yogi Berra and Don Mattingly in the liner notes of recent albums, and he has more than a passing interest in fantasy sports. The following are excerpts from a telephone interview Tuesday with the 57-year-old Meat Loaf. Jason Diamos

Q. When did you start playing fantasy football?

A. It had to be eight or nine years ago. I like all the fantasy sports. I started doing baseball in the mid-80's. I do baseball, basketball, football, Nascar, everything. It's my escape. I get so many phone calls. There are so many decisions I have to make. It gets me thinking about something else other than what's going on in my life.

Q. How many leagues are you in?

A. At this point, 18, but there will be more. I've had as many as 60. Last year, I was in 33 and I won 9.

Q. How do you prepare for a draft, and how much time do you spend on your leagues during the season?

A. Because it's so deep, and there are usually 15 teams in a league, you really have to research to death. You're like a G.M. at that point. When I'm not working, I have N.F.L. Sunday Ticket and I watch all the games. At the same time, I have my computer on, so I can monitor everything in real-time scoring. On Monday, I don't do anything. Tuesday is the day you normally pick up free agents, and I spend several hours working on that. I listen to N.F.L. radio on Sirius. Sometimes I even do call-ins on N.F.L. radio with their fantasy football guru. Unless there is a Thursday game, by Friday, I have to set my lineups. Then you have to watch the injury reports on Saturday.

And on Sunday, I joined this Web site, where it's nothing but injury reports, which they update every 15 minutes.

Q. Which player is ready to break out this season?

A. Cadillac Williams down in Tampa Bay looks pretty good. And Dennis Green down in Arizona loves J. J. Arrington. I've been looking at Jerry Porter a lot, because he's over there in Oakland with Randy Moss. Jerry Porter could do something. Nate Burleson from the Vikings, with Moss gone. And that little speedster they got, Troy Williamson. And then there's Roy Williams in Detroit. If Joey Harrington can't get it done for Detroit this year with all the receivers they've got, he'll never get it done.

Q. I'm going to give you four pairs of players. Tell me who you'd take. Tom Brady or Peyton Manning?

A. Peyton Manning. There's no doubt. Brady's a great quarterback. He doesn't make mistakes. But Peyton Manning, if you're drafting and he's available, you've got to take him.

Q. LaDainian Tomlinson or Shaun Alexander?

A. That's a tough one; a coin toss. With (San Diego tight end Antonio) Gates in camp, I would take Tomlinson. But Shaun Alexander is a great running back.

Q. Randy Moss or Terrell Owens?

A. You'd take Moss. Moss is a top 10 draft pick. Owens is in the second round now.

Q. Ron Dayne or Maurice Clarett?

A. I would take Maurice Clarett. I think there's more upside. Ron Dayne you've seen play. Maurice Clarett, you haven't seen him yet.

Q. Who was you best player ever? Biggest surprise? Biggest bust?

A. I've drafted every player known to man. I think the biggest bust in fantasy football is Aaron Brooks, the New Orleans quarterback, because there's no consistency. One week, he'd score 40 points; then the next week, he'll score 6. Watching him, he'll make you insane.

The biggest surprise was Steve Smith, the wide receiver, a couple of years ago from Carolina.

And I think Priest Holmes, before he got hurt, was the best fantasy football player ever. Every week, he was going to get you at least 17 points. But Brett Favre has been consistently really good, and people ignore him. You can always get him late.

Q. Is drafting two good players out of three good enough in fantasy football?

A. Well, two out of three ain't bad. (He laughs.) No. In fantasy football, you need depth. And you really need depth at running back, with weeks off and things like that. I would avoid quarterbacks, unless you can get Peyton Manning. And people are always picking kickers in the early rounds and they should be kicked.