“It’s Hard To Think I Got Shafted”
January 29th, 2019
Former Bucs DE talks.
Former Bucs defensive end Adrian Clayborn is living the dream.
Like any young man growing up loving football, playing for the highest honor in the sport is the stuff dreams are made of. And so there was Clayborn at “Super Bowl Opening Night” last night at the State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta representing his Patriots.
“Getting to play for a Super Bowl is a dream come true,” Clayborn said.
It’s the second such dream Clayborn has experienced. The first one, oddly enough for the Dixie Chicks, was a nightmare.
Atlanta and Clayborn were just one play from putting the ballgame away, holding a 25-point lead in the third quarter when the Belicheats rallied for a 34-28 overtime win.
Last offseason, Clayborn was a free agent picked up by the Belicheats. And here he is, once again playing for a Super Bowl.
But once upon a time, Clayborn was a highly-thought-of, first-round draft pick of the Bucs, 20th overall in the 2011 draft. Like so many players, the Bucs gave up on him and he shined for another team. It’s a Bucs Life.
In Tampa, Clayborn had injury problems including a blown knee requiring surgery. Three of Clayborn’s first six seasons in the NFL ended with him on injured reserve. The Bucs let Clayborn walk after the 2014 season when then-Bucs coach Lovie Smith, lord of the roster, chose not to re-sign him.
Now some players become enraged when a team gives up on them, and they use that anger to fuel themselves to bigger and better things. Joe asked Clayborn if that was the case with him and he took a very analytical approach to the transaction.
“Not really,” Clayborn said. “I had three coaches in four years [with the Bucs] so it’s hard to think I got shafted. There is always turnover when you get a new coach.”
Former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter often said each season a roster loses roughly a third of its players. Joe heard recently that when a new coach is brought in, that roster change jumps to around 50 percent.
Regardless, Clayborn has bigger things to worry about than who was coaching the Bucs some four years ago. He’s got a ring to go win Sunday.
One that slipped through his fingers two years ago.
January 29th, 2019 at 8:27 am
And the “cut” list goes on and on😆😆😆😆😆
January 29th, 2019 at 8:35 am
Always rooted for Clay but never thought he had the talent to be a game changer. (against a backup vs Dallas doesn’t count)
January 29th, 2019 at 8:43 am
The Buc fans are the ones that had to experience that nightmare!!!! Look at that draft and all of the productive D-line talent, and to see talk show domnik come home with two draft busts in the first and second round is a huge reason why talk show cannot get a NFL office job no matter how hard he begs!!!!!!!!!!! And then to compound that failure when talk show used the medical staff to let M. Bennett go else where so he could crowbar in his two draft busts for more playing time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 29th, 2019 at 8:50 am
@Joe … “Former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter often said each season a roster loses roughly a third of its players. Joe heard recently that when a new coach is brought in, that roster change jumps to around 50 percent.”
Wow! 33% (18 roster players) seems like a BIG turnover. 50% (27 roster players) is a HUUUGE turnover. I expected Coach Arians to pretty much clean house by changing about 15-18 players. Now it sounds like an even bigger roster turnover is in store.
January 29th, 2019 at 9:07 am
I don’t think Huge turnover is needed really, just better coaching. I’ll never forget Monk saying it’s just pitch and catch like the RBs don’t even exist.
What a shame that this team only threw screen passes to RBs somewhere in the 30s all year.
That’s like 2 a game or less and 2.5% of plays.
No jet sweeps hardly or movement pre-snap.
These guys will look WAY better next year under BA
January 29th, 2019 at 9:08 am
The Bucs drafted Clayborn, a physically retarded role-player, ahead of Cam Jordan.
January 29th, 2019 at 9:28 am
Let us hope and pray that Licht doesn’t screw the pooch and draft a short cornerback with #5 pick. All this defensive line talent and we need to get our man–whether it be Bosa, Allen, Ferrel or Q.Williams. Get OLine later in 2-4 rounds, sign Kareem Hunt off the street too. Dump DJax and rework MCoy and franchise Donovan lazy ass Smith. Get a guard in the draft too(better than Cappa and Beneneneoch.) Trade down but get one of thos 4 guys for the D-Line. Trade some players–like Djax–5th round better than nothing.
January 29th, 2019 at 9:38 am
Adrian Clayborn sucks. Period. Outside of one game where he destroyed I think the Seahawks terrible tackles, he is not worth starting. Good job cutting him. Bad job drafting him.
January 29th, 2019 at 9:40 am
It’s a Buc Life
January 29th, 2019 at 9:49 am
if you thought AC shouldve been resigned when lovie took over than i feel soory for the person that has to take care of you….obviously your mentally challenged…..
AC hasnt done anything outside of embarrassing chaz green…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
January 29th, 2019 at 10:00 am
That 2011 draft was the pinnacle of our ineptitude drafting a pass rusher. In rounds 1 and 2 alone you had Von Miller , JJ Watt, Cam Jordan, Robert Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan, Muhammad Wilkerson and Cam Heyward, all pro bowlers, most perennial game wreckers, and we come away with Clayborn and Bowers. lol. Only the Bucs could find the only 2 busts in the first 2 rounds.
January 29th, 2019 at 10:03 am
Not sure why some people think every guy drafted in the nfl is supposed to be a superstar. Guys drafted in the first round do become role players much more than superstars actually, you let them walk when they want to be paid like something their not.
My issue is I think it’s been poor Bucs coaching and not the players. 6.5 sacks as a rookie and never the same since and same goes for Noah Spence so basically our players are better off not getting coaching at all 😂😂😂😂
January 29th, 2019 at 10:05 am
Good riddance.
January 29th, 2019 at 10:06 am
DR
and just like in AC’s case, 1/2 of the turnover has to do with $$$$$$$$…..(GMC,djax,hump,kwon,d.smith)
1/4 will be because of production or lack their of…..(gholston,e.smith, benenoch, conte, d.bond, spence, urein)
1/4 will be because of personnel fit….(quizz, fitz)
even tho i hope they restructure GMC, resign kwon & hump and try to develop spence thats 14 players right there that we already know that may have 1 foot out the door…..throw in a few practice squad players and players like alan cross who retired or dotson who may retire and you can reach that number real quick without touching your core players….
the draft will replace most of those players and FA will take care of the rest…..
i except BA to get rid of the players that we already know may be gone….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
January 29th, 2019 at 10:18 am
@firethecannons
“Note to self, read everything this guy posts!”
You NAILED it with your recommendations ! 👏👏👏
January 29th, 2019 at 10:30 am
I’m not sure if AC should’ve been resigned, but I am pretty sure he played better than the ghost who was given his spot
January 29th, 2019 at 11:23 am
I’m so envious of the Pats. As long as they have Belicheat and Brady they will have a plug and play system.
January 29th, 2019 at 2:09 pm
Yet Another former Buc who has had good fortune changing teams. You never know in this NFL. Good for him! As usual for us though…Its a Buc Life baby!