The Blocking Icon Is Spreading His Message
August 3rd, 2010
JoeBucsFan.com photo by Kyra Hallett
Blocking icon Michael Clayton has been going overboard to mentor rookie Mike Williams, so says The Mad Twitterer, of the St. Pete Times.
Despite Clayton’s surely noble intentions, Joe finds it troubling to think of Clayton mentoring a young guy for long periods of alone time given Clayton’s many public displays of bitterness and blaming.
Joe suspects that, if nothing else, Williams now will never want to play for Chucky.
Here is some of the Mad Twitterer’s detail on the Clayton-Williams tutoring session:
Sunday after practice, Michael Clayton spent three hours watching tape with Williams and showed him every game from the 2004 season, when Clayton led all rookies with 80 catches for 1,193 and seven touchdowns. But in the past five years, Clayton never has had more than 38 catches in a season and had a career-low 16 in 2009.
“His first year, he thought he was All-Everything,” Williams said. “All-Rookie, led all rookies in receiving, the fifth-best rookie receiving performance ever. He just thought he was the man. He said he came back his second year and it all went away. So he had to adjust to things like that and he just wanted me to be ready for that.”
Clayton, whose $3 million salary is guaranteed this season, isn’t sure if he will stay with the Bucs this season. But he says his role is to mentor young receivers.
“Basically, I gave him my whole life story,” Clayton said. “It was about handling the ups and downs, the mentality that every yard matters. When you catch the ball, get vertical. Take care of the football. It wasn’t about boasting on my rookie year but teaching everything matters. Whether I’m here or not, that’s a part of my title, being there for him.
No word on Clayton explaining how to secure $10 million guaranteed even if you can’t catch anymore.
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:48 am
We all get on Clayton pretty good, but this is nice of him. Lets hope Williams was listening.
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:57 am
Gary:
Michael Clayton — as a person — is very much a standup guy.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:20 am
I wonder if he tought him how to be giddy after a loss, like after last years Dallas game. Or, how to stab the headcoach who drafted you in the back. Or, maybe the “check is in the bank” mentality? Or, how to catch 16 after the huge contract?
Of course since we don’t have any veteran receivers who are worth a damn, the best we got to take this kid under his wing is Clayton?
Are you kidding me? This guy is our mentor?
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:31 am
Do we think he-who-shall-remain-nameless is teaching Williams how set the standard really high then constantly fail to achieve said standard?
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:32 am
Clayton will make a better coach than Raheem.
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:34 am
I can just see that now; “Look, kid, Don’t worry about the Team or the fans, this is all that matters”, as Clayton let Williams ride to the bank with him to make the deposit!
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:41 am
I agree Clayton is a nice guy, but the guy has proven over and over that he can’t even catch the clap in a Thailand soapy house!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:53 am
As long as he’s not working on the catching technique or coaching him on PR, where is the issue? Going over game film and teaching him about how to handle adversity is something Clayton can handle fine.
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:00 am
Hopefully williams now understand what not to do thank u clayton
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:10 am
Nice words Clayton. Now catch the damn ball for once.
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:26 am
Would Parcells/Belichick/Cowher have a guy like Clayton mentoring his new receiver? Probably wouldn’t let him in the same buidling with the guy.
This is just an extension of the Rah/Clayton favoritism lovefest.
It’s pitiful. One of the more sickening things I have read.
What a bunch of freakin losers.
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:37 am
I think they would have the vet on the team talking to their rookies Eric, read the article! He is telling him how he had such a great year and than it fell apart. He is talking to him about not assuming that you are the net best thing.
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:56 am
I don’t wanna read the article again, I already threw up the first time I read it.
Who is coaching this team, Opray Winfrey?
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:58 am
OMG!!! I can belive this guy, talking about every yard matters, how about catch the damn ball thats what he should be talking to the new guys CATCH THE BALL.
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:59 am
Eric, how do you know what those guys would do? Have you asked them? Thats a big assumption otherwise. There is almost no correlation between actually doing something and being able to teach it. Even then, its not like Clayton would be teaching catching mechanics. I’m pretty sure you have no idea about Clayton’s ability to break down a game film, and by all accounts he’s an intelligent and nice guy. He might be a much better mentor/coach than player. We don’t know.
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:30 pm
No offense meant to Clayton, but why is he offering advice to our WR we have recently drafted? Clayton again had how many yards after his 16 catches in 2009?
Good guy Clayton appears to be and all.
August 3rd, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Clayton talking to a new WR rookie? All I want to know then is, did he teach him how to block? That is his only attribute!
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:43 pm
I think this is a great thing… Clayton talking to Williams. I wonder how much Clayton got out of talking to Williams and if it will help him catch the ball this year? Maybe Williams taught him how to get back to his rookie “roots” and how to go out and try to be rookie of the year. Maybe he offered up how to play like a first round draft choice that dropped to the 4th instead of someone that was picked in the 1st round that should have been picked in the 4th.
Oh wait… who was mentoring who?
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:16 pm
@BamBam…LOL, that is kind of funny, but to be fair Clayton was drafted in the right spot for his talent and potential, he just has not lived up to it after his first year. It is really odd too, maybe a change in WR coaching will help him, but he may not even make the cut.
August 3rd, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Meybe if our former coach knew how to coach young players, Clayton wouldn’t have ended up in the scrap heap , like all the other young players he drafted! Clayton came in here with obvious talent and tore up the league. Then with great coaching and proper guidance , regressed every year. This despite his working hard. Proper coaching is the key to developing young talent! This team hasn’t developed a young WR in 10 years! Stroughter was the first one in ages! we all say Clayton can’t catch. He could catch when he got here!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Everyones talking about this “mentoring” program. Are you guys nuts? The vets know these guys are here to replace them! How much would you help the guy your company hired to take your Job?!? The NFL is a business, these guys aren’t some big happy “Brady Bunch”! It’s rare for a vet, especially a vet who’s worried about his job!, to help out the rookies. Can’t catch or not , it’s a classy move by Clayton, and happens FAR less than fans think! Clayton has disappointed all of us over the years. I believe it torments him alot more than it does us! But let’s not take away what amounts to a real classy move , and real dedication to the team, from him. He knows he’s probably losing his job here. To help the guys who are staying here is a real show of character!
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:15 pm
@Capt.Tim
It’s not Gruden’s fault that Clayton hasn’t done crap since his rookie year. It’s Clayton’s fault, no one else’s! Hopefully, you haven’t been brainwashed by his “oh poor me, it’s all Gruden’s fault” whining last offseason. If it was Gruden’s fault, then Clayton should’ve had a great season last year!! Instead, it was same ole, same ole, just as I expected when he signed that ridiculous contract.
I agree that Clayton is a nice guy. But as a football player, he’s been a huge disappointment. If Clayton shines AGAIN in training camp this year and makes the roster, he better DAMN well show it during the season.
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:18 pm
CaptTim, Clayton has talent(see his rookie year), I just think he lost his desire and mentality to catch. His head isn’t in it. His telling sign was showing up to camp his second year overweight. Even watching him play, his desire was lost. Funny how Mann doesn’t get credit for helping Clayton his rookie year? And I guess his bitching about said former coach and him being the reason for his crappy play was what? BS! What’s that you say?? BS! Exactly! Him making excuses, is another sign his desire and passion to play WR(no, his passion for blocking is fine) are gone. Maybe a change of scenery(new team) would do him some good? Well that and less money. I feel his “to the bank” statement is the final sign! I can’t believe your blaming the old regime for his still UNIMPRESSIVE WR play. I thought you knew something.
BTW nice to see you give the former coach a zinger withoutnaming names. You do realize you still brought him up? So who’s, stuck on who? LOL!
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:19 pm
BTW I’d have team dedication to. What, with getting PAID and all for nothing!
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Only the dream would allow this to happen.
Use the guy who sucks to explain to the rookie why he sucks, even though he is still on the team.
Leman Bennett had a better idea of how to build a winner than this buffoon.
Hands down, worst coach in bucs history.
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
@Eric
I’m don’t think Raheem is the worst coach in Bucs history YET. Leeman Bennett went 4-28 in two seasons as Bucs head coach. That’s pretty piss poor. Raheem the Dream only needs 2 more wins to beat him.
I agree that Raheem has been pretty bad so far, and overall I haven’t been that happy with him. But this season, we’ll learn a lot about Raheem. I actually wanted Raheem fired at one time last year when I was hearing about all the Bill Cowher rumors. But I’ll give him another chance. I think it’s good that this team finally has some stability and there’s one guy on the team that needs that more than anyone. Josh Freeman. Though a thing I’m nervous about is if Raheem and Olsen have another bad season and get the axe after this year, then Freeman will have to learn another offense entering his 3rd season as a QB. That will mess him up.
August 3rd, 2010 at 5:54 pm
How can you blame Gruden for Clayton’s inability to catch the ball? It is clearly George Bush’s fault.
Funny how Ruud never complained about Clayhand’s contract. Cut the dead weight loose.
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Patrick and Oar- yeah, you’re both probably right! I know, I know. Something about this guy makes me wanna defend him- probaly because he should be exactly what we need! Either that or I’m a sap for last causes! Either way, I admit I’m probably fill of B. S. On this one:(
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:08 pm
What chaps my ass is that they cut a guy like Derrick Brooks, who had great mentoring value, and then turn around and use Clayton as a damn mentor.
I cannot grasp the way these people think.
What’s next, Ryan leaf as a consultant?
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:45 pm
@Eric
They should’ve just let Derrick finish out the 1 year he had left on his contract!!!
Is that so freaking hard to do??? I really don’t think that would’ve “killed” this team!
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:26 pm
I seriously doubt they kept Clayton to be a mentor. They are not “using” him as a mentor. He took some time to spend with Williams, I’m guessing the team didn’t ask him to do that. They aren’t paying him to mentor anyone. If they wanted someone to “mentor” the young guys, they’d hire them as coaches, not as players, it’s a lot cheaper that way. When a vet decides to take the time to help a younger player, it’s their choice, not the teams. Honestly, I’m not sure whether or not Clayton would be a good teacher, but I can’t see anyone being on the roster simply to mentor other guys to play.