The Mystery Of Michael Clayton
April 22nd, 2010
Though some will suggest otherwise, Joe does not bash blocking icon Michael Clayton as much as some Bucs fans and local radio hosts. But even those from the ivory towers of the fourth estate are befuddled as to how Clayton has kept his job.
In a recent question-and-answer session on TBO.com. Tampa Tribune Bucs beat writer Anwar Richardson confesses that the job security of Clayton is a puzzle that perhaps Steven Hawking would be hard-pressed to solve.
Q: The Bucs require obvious assistance at many positions. DT, OT, CB, S and WR. Maybe you can tell me and the rest of the free world why are they holding onto a reciever that can’t and doesn’t catch the ball, and has been injured 98 percent of his career? Clayton needs to be shown the door now, and maybe we can recoup a draft pick even in the 6th round for a perennial subpar player who is taking up an exorbitant amount of money.
Chuck King, Palm Beach County
A: The answer to your question is more confusing than “The Da Vinci Code.” After Clayton had five catches for 93 yards in Week 1, Raheem Morris challenged the media to question why his favorite receiver was still on the team. Clayton finished the season with 16 catches for 230 yards and one touchdown and, needless to say, Morris never challenged the media on that point again.
— Anwar Richardson
You know what puzzles Joe more than Clayton keeping his job?
That Bucs management has done so little to beef up the wide receivers to help out their franchise quarterback, who on paper looks like he is being hung out to dry. Not even a throwaway fifth round pick for an elite receiver like Santonio Holmes moved the Bucs to help out Freeman.
Is Reggie Brown really the next coming of Cris Carter?
To solve the riddle of Clayton’s job security, Joe can sum it up in one word:
Cash.
April 22nd, 2010 at 2:07 pm
If Clayton’s so good at blocking, why don’t we just play him at tight end? Psychologically, he could be a pass-catching THREAT to opposing coaches if not necessarily a weapon, and he could throw those sweet blocks in the running game all day.
April 22nd, 2010 at 2:18 pm
To solve the riddle of Clayton’s job security, I can sum it up in one word:
Pictures – Clayton MUST have pictures of the Glazers.
April 22nd, 2010 at 2:33 pm
I don’t know about anyone else but I would say that they expect freemen to turn clayton in to a probowler and if he can’t then its on freemen and not on clayton! I don’t see them drafting a wideout I hope I’m wrong !
April 22nd, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Does anyone know if Raheem and Clayton room together when on the road?
April 22nd, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Well like Robert Langdon said, “So dark the con of man”
April 22nd, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Joe your a baseball fan. That might answer why Clayton is still here. If base ball season was 16 games long a lot of the players in the hall of fame would never have been heard of and players never heard of would be in the hall of fame. My point is either Clayton’s rookie year was a fluke of statistical clustering or he can catch the ball like he did all through collage and his rookie year. Football coaches have to go by practice because there are too few plays to be had in the brutal limited play short season NFL.
You get lucky with a couple miracle catches you are a hero. You have a couple drops your are now the villain.
April 22nd, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Based on Morris’s praise ealry in the season, Clayton must have had them snowed. I am guessing he convinced them that he was “in Gruden’s doghouse” and that the new coach would be the change he needed.
Clayton is the worst type of player. LIke Fat Albert he only plays in contract years. However, unlike Fat Albert, he is not that great even in contract years. He may be a better con man than player because he duped Allen and Gruden and then Dominik and Morris.
April 22nd, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Right now he’s on the team for depth. If somebody offered a 5th or 6th round pick for him – I’d have to jump on it.
I’m placing my order for a WR with one of our 2 2nd round picks.
April 22nd, 2010 at 3:59 pm
He has pictures of Duemig and Dominik in compromising positions. Thats the only logical explanation.
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Come on Joe ,
Why would you ruin the excitement of draft day with a Micheal Clayton story ??
Talk about a buzz kill !!
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:05 pm
One word Lazy. That Dallas game was not a fluke he needs someone to motivate him and Morris is not the answer he wants to be the players friend.
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Ours is not to reason why Ours is but to do and die
we all love to watch our bucs
but we know that clayton sucks…………………….
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:34 pm
I definitely think its a mental(and I got the money) issue with Clayton. He has some talent, obviously look at his rookie year with
Griese and Simms throwing to him, but he came to camp over weight after that first year. A sign to show he lacks the desire and/or the passion to return to that rookie form. I personally think a change of place(different team), would do him wonders, too bad it hasn’t occured.
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Oar you are far to optimistic. If you recall he was a rookie what, 5 years ago?!? I mean 1 good year out of 5 doesnt mean he’s “talented” as you so put it. Get this BUM off this team already!
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Today is the big day and no one should give a shit about Michael Clayhands today. So Michael, Bubbye.
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Duemig buys into that stupid thinking that because he did it in his rookie year that he has talent. (Finerdetailz: One of these days Joe’s just going to get fed up and begin deleting your entire posts. Frankly, that day is close. In short, if you have to use a label when referring to someone at Clear Channel, if you have to use an insult aimed at someone at Clear Channel, if you have to call someone at Clear Channel a name, don’t type it. Joe’s warned you enough. If you cannot figure this out, then you’ll likely be typing posts that will vanish. Think before you type, please. — Joe). Go Draft.
April 22nd, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Bucsfan1, Don’t get me wrong, I have dogged Clayton ever since that rookie year. And dogged Dominik for his re-signing and huge contract. I just think a change of place would be good for him, afterall isn’t that what were hoping happens with his twin Reggie Brown from the Eagles? BTW If I say change of place doesn’t that mean the same as “Get this BUM off this team already!”
April 22nd, 2010 at 5:35 pm
My name is Clayton
I was a rookie all-star
but now I drop balls
April 22nd, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Clayton should have been traded 3 years ago when he still had some trade value. It’d be a miracle if we could get even a 7th round pick for him now.
What pisses me off is that Clayton fooled everyone by making people think that Gruden was the reason for his problems. But since everyone hated Gruden so much, they bought into his complaining. Raheem agreed because he’s an idiot, and that’s why he made the bonehead move of giving him a waste of a contract!
It’s clear why Gruden had him on the bench. He’s no good! Gruden was just being a coach.
Not only that, but he’s a big whiney baby. The way he treated Gruden while he was still here was completely unacceptable. I remember after Gruden got fired how Clayton bashed him to pieces and was completely disrespectful to him. I lost a lot of respect for him after that.
Everyone says that AB “complained too much.” Is anyone smart enough to remember all the whining and crying that Clayton did? The one “comment” that Bryant made last year was not even that big of a deal!
Yeah Gruden treated poor little Clayton so bad.
April 22nd, 2010 at 8:21 pm
The answer is very simple. Joe’s favorite blocking icon has a photo of Raheem, the Glazer Boys, Dominik and a Goat in flagrante delicto.