Defiant Michael Clayton Vows He “Will” Start
May 17th, 2010
After OTA practices were finished today at a soggy One Buc Palace, the player who many Bucs fans are bewildered as to why he is even on the roster vowed 2010 will be different.
Per Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, blocking icon Michael Clayton, after acknowledging his numbers suffered last year, boldly predicted he “will” start when the 2010 debuts in September.
Clayton, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2004, caught just 16 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown last year. The low production came after Clayton signed a five-year, $24 million contract to remain with the Bucs.
Clayton attributed those low numbers, in part, to the constant changes the Bucs went through on offense, where they changed coordinators at the start of the season and quarterbacks three times during the season.
“There were a lot of things going on last year, and I’d just like to let last year be last year,” Clayton said. “We had a young quarterback (Josh Freeman) come in (halfway through) the season (who) didn’t get any reps (in training camp). We had an offensive coordinator get fired. We were going week by week.”
The Bucs blocking icon noted this very well could be his last year with the Bucs. But Clayton confidently told Cummings he will be in an NFL uniform next season somewhere.
That is, if there is a season next year.
May 17th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Neither the coordinator or QB have anything to do with dropping the ball when it hits you in the hands.
CharlieB:
Joe accidently edited your story. Joe apologizes. Joe’s fault. You did nothing wrong. Please feel free to post it again. đ
May 17th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Let the excuses and broken promises begin
May 17th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Itâs always some excuse with this guy. I couldnât even take these quotes seriously. Are some of these valid points? Yes, but its always something with this guy. Gruden, Injuries, Quarterback. Hey Clayton, youâre not the only player in the league that has to deal with these kinds of things and others still produce.
May 17th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
What about Chucky? đ
May 17th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Even though it was a bad call in the dolphins game if he did not fumble the ball we would have won that game 16 catches are you serious . Stroughter had a better year and he was a rookie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bryant had 600 yards had knee surgey my point is are they making any excses no only Clayton !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
nice to see Clayton “owning” it…this guy is a piece of work!
May 17th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Mike who? Whatever.
Next article.
May 17th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
After reading Clayton’s complete refusal to except any accountability, and seeing he has the nerve to make excuses and blame the QB change….I not only hate him as a football player, I don’t like him as a person. He needs to get out of my town and get the F*** OFF MY TEAM!
May 17th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Just when the man had picked up a little goodwill from Stroughter, he blows it.
May 17th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Defiant Michael Clayton Vows He âWillâ Start…..
….putting his belongings in boxes to move before training camp.
May 17th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I am not sure that Clayton could start for UF, FSU or the U next year. They all have players who can actually catch the ball…………..
May 17th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Like the Rays did with Burrell, why can’t the Bucs just dump this asshole and fill the roster spot with someone productive.
May 17th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I’m done with this guy…I had his back even after he talked smack and it was all Gru’s fault…But, seriuosly!!! shut your mouth and be the “veteran” presence that that YOUNG, IMPRESIONABLE WR group needs and don’t be a total waste…!
May 17th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I still think if there is a miracle this year it will have to start with Clayton. Of course I was that fan sitting there when Ray Perkins was our coach expecting to win. If I remember right there were a couple of other fans there to. Three or four at least.
May 17th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Why doesn’t he give us a money back gaurantee? Produce or don’t get paid.
May 17th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Just listened to Morris’s press conferance and he is said it is a valid excuse that Clayton did not have a good year cause of the 3 QB’s when is the escuses going to stop for Clayton !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
The comments on Clayton were a disappointment, and looks like they are on full court press power move with Penn, with the “i only coach the guys that are here” stuff.
Playing with fire IMO.
May 17th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Why would anyone care what Clayton has to say?
May 17th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
@jimbuc
I dunno Jimbuc, I suppose that question would best be asked of the Glazers.
May 17th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
blaming the “young quarterback”? Is that really any different from what ab said?
May 17th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Or Morris and/or Dominik
May 17th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
With the Buccaneers, you know you have job security when you’re bad, but when you’re good you get treated like dog shit. (See Ruud, Bryant, Penn)
May 17th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Defiant Michael Clayton Vows He âWillâ Start—-Showing the other receivers how to block so his services are no longer needed.
May 17th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
Patrick, most of league have no job security due to the CBA.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Clanghands always blames someone or something else. This guy is a cancer on the team. Cut him out.
May 17th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Isn’t this the same damn thing we hear every year from him? It’s pointless to cut him right now, but I don’t see too many scenarios where he makes the 53 man roster. The only way would be if we have some injuries at WR.
He’ll most likely get banged up at some point in OTA’s or during camp and they’ll have a good excuse to try and reach an injury settlement and release his sorry ass.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:16 am
K2 managed over 70 receptions.
May 18th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
2 WRs had three times as many catches and 1 TE had four times as many catches with the same 3 QBs and dealt with the same offensive coordinator fiasco! Hey Clayton, “Speech is silver and silence is golden!” Just shut up and CATCH THE F’ING BALL!!!!!
May 18th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
keep him on contract but make him play nothing but special teams…