Cato June is one of eight NFL stars participating in NFL PLAYERS Fantasy '08, a one-of-a-kind fantasy football league that allows fans to see how real NFL players handle the role of general manager. June, who has plenty of fantasy football experience, will lay it all on the line this week when he faces Maurice Jones-Drew’s unpredictable squad for the right to own the league championship trophy. In this exclusive interview with NFLPLAYERS.COM, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker talks about the path he took to get to the finals and predicts what will happen in his matchup with Jones-Drew.
Q: You came into the playoffs needing a lot to go your way after finishing the regular season at .500 with a 6-6 record. So how did you end up in the finals?
A: If you look at the standings, my team scored a lot of points all year and it just so happened that the teams I was playing earlier in the year were having their best games. I knew I had a strong team and all I had to do was get in the playoffs and then I would be in the running. I definitely hit a hot streak in the end and I’m on my way to the top now and will get that trophy.
Q: As a veteran of fantasy football, how has this players-only league measured up to your other fantasy leagues that you’ve played in?
A: This is a pretty competitive league. I came into the playoffs at .500 and now I have a chance to win a championship. So it’s competitive and you’ve only got a few slots. It’s different from an IDP (individual defensive player) league where you can make up some ground somewhere else. In our league, you only have a few slots and one bad decision can put you in a hole for that week and ultimately for the year.
Q: Do you think the other guys in this league could compete in a league comprised of NFL fans who have played fantasy football for years?
A: I think so. The problem is that as an NFL player you would have to put your own loyalty to your own team and friends around the league to the side for the sake of the fantasy business and coming out as a winner.
Q: Last week, Juneimus the Great beat Larry Fitzgerald’s team by a score of 108-67. Your big performers were Peyton Manning and Michael Turner, who had a stellar performance against your own Buccaneers. Was that tough to swallow?
A: The reason why Turner did that against us is because I accidentally left him in my starting lineup. So that’s probably my fault that we (the Buccaneers) lost because I did that. I thought I put him on my bench, but I would’ve won anyway with one of my other running backs in there. When it comes down to it, the team is first and the fantasy world is second. That’s why you have to have depth and that’s what has kept me in this. I can’t miss with a couple of my players. Right now, everybody is looking at Peyton and I knew he was going to bounce back at some point. It’s better that he came on strong late than early.
Q: Why do you think it took Peyton this long in the season to reach top form?
A: Well you know, it’s been a tough situation for him. He wasn’t there for training camp or preseason and that’s tough for a quarterback, especially for one who had never really missed practice before. But he has too many weapons not to do well. His supporting cast does a very good job and I knew those guys were going to get rolling.
Q: Let’s look ahead to the championship matchup between yourself and Jones-Drew. Looking at his roster, do any of his players scare you?
A: Not really. [Donovan] McNabb has been playing well as of late and I expect him to do well this week, but I’m sure Peyton will at least cancel him out. Jones-Drew has himself going up against Indy’s defense and with Indy playing for the playoffs, hopefully they’ll handle him. His other back is [Matt] Forte, and I’m not too concerned about him. Really though, I don’t fear his team. I don’t want to say it’s a lock, but it looks good for me.
Q: Right now, the projection gives Jones-Drew the slight edge. Do you ever pay attention to those previews and possibly change your starting roster because of it?
A: No, none of that. Sometimes a guy may not even have his correct lineup in place so it’s all projections. But also what makes it all so much fun is the speculation and guessing who will do what against what team. It’s really about what happens on Sunday, which is more exciting.
Q: Since this is the championship game, will you take an extra hard look at your starting lineup and possibly make some changes?
A: I’ll probably keep my starting lineup the same. I’m solid at receiver and running back so I feel like I’m in a can’t-lose situation. If all my guys do well I have so much talent across the board that it will be just like the past few weeks.
Q: You at least must be tempted to make a change considering the strength of your bench. Do you think it would make sense to bench someone like Santana Moss whose team is out of the playoff hunt in order to put in Roddy White?
A: I’m actually putting that into consideration. Atlanta is playing well right now and they’re trying to get into the playoffs so they’ll probably be a little hungrier than the Redskins. Fantasy-wise when you look at it, you think that might be a situation where you put a guy like Roddy White in the [starting] lineup. But a guy who has been consistent all year is more valuable to me than the latest variable that might look enticing. Then again, I can’t give you too much of a preview because I want to keep Jones-Drew guessing.
Q: Do you plan on making a phone call or shooting a text message to Jones-Drew to get in his head?
A: I think I will. With the Jaguars being out of the playoffs, he’ll probably be a little upset anyway so I’m sure he’s looking for something to hang his hat on.