Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of feature stories on the men who make up the Erie Fantasy Football League. In order to be featured, you must respond to the official Erie League survey.

John Thiem and the Masons made a strong Erie League debut three years ago when they finished their rookie campaign with a 9-6 mark. Despite a slump that has seen his squad win just seven of 18 games over the past two years, Thiem remains confident. 

"I like my team," Thiem said. "If I get just a little wide receiver help I will win the championship." 

A little wide receiver help? As the saying goes, you can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit. Thiem's receiving corps after TE Tony Gonzalez has consisted of Curtis Conway (41 points), Willie Jackson (28 points), Albert Connell (16 points) and Brandon Stokely (6 points). Obviously these guys are going to have to step up or Thiem will have to look to make a deal.

The 29-year-old Syracuse, NY native is no stranger to making blockbuster trades. Last season, Thiem dealt RB Jamal Lewis and WR Torry Holt to Kirk Pavelich's Midnight Vigilantes for QB Daunte Culpepper and RB Corey Dillon. Pavelich also agreed to chip in the franchise player fee for Culpepper this season.

"I may have given him what he needed to win the title but I got the rights to Culpepper and a free $20 worth of drafting," Thiem said. "I haven't done many trades so I can't say that any have been bad."

Although the Vikings are off to a slow start, Culpepper has ensured that the franchise player designation was a good move. Through five games, the Minnesota signal-caller has netted 129 points, an average of just under 26 points per contest. Marshall Faulk has been having a typical Marshall Faulk season, scoring 93 points (18.6 per game), although his recent knee injury probably has Thiem worried sick.

Currently sporting an overall record of 16-17 (.485 pct.), Thiem said his chief rival has to be Blockheads GM Jody Barth.

"I was very naive the first year and he took a shot at me out of the blue," Thiem said. "That was a lot of fun though taking shots back and forth."

Memorable smack talking between the two can be viewed by clicking on the link for the Nov. 20, 1999 Sports Page.

Thiem, who is married to Alyson and has a two-year-old son (Mason), said his family has always been supportive of his participation in various fantasy football leagues.

"My wife has my team memorized and watches for me when I can't get to the scores or I leave the room," he said. "I think she has been incredible since she has no issue with me driving to Twinsburg from Syracuse every year."