Handing Bucs wideout Michael Clayton a huge contract last offseason with $10.5 million guaranteed was lunacy; probably the worst deal handed out other than Javon Walker’s contract in the last three years.
But the Bucs were hopeful to find a sucker to make a bigger mistake.
The team tried to trade Clayton this offseason, according to Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times. A Clayton trade was about as likely as me having a sudden growth spurt at 31 years old.
Clayton was guaranteed $3 million contract and a $1 million roster bonus. He’s caught 16 passes last year and hasn’t topped 500 receiving yards since 2004. Shockingly, there were no takers for him. (Maybe the Packers would take him for Breno Giacomini.)
Most Bucs observers expect Clayton to get released, but he’s maintained a positive attitude and hasn’t been a problem for the team. He also can’t believe that his one-promising career in Tampa looks ready to end.
“I’ll believe it when it happens,” Clayton said. “But I can’t see it. I can’t even live in that world.”
31 years old and as ignorant as a hump. Sad
hope he likes oakland lol
Who’s running that team down there? They sign Derrick Ward then hand this laughable contarct to Clayton. Wow, 2002 seems like…..8 years ago.
gregg, if u had a sudden growth spurt now, the other little people would say you are “heightening”
“He also can’t believe that his one-promising career in Tampa looks ready to end.”
How about once-promising? If I played a drinking game where I had to take a drink whenever Rosenthal failed to proofread, I’d go into an alcohol-induced coma. Florio might be a hack, but he’s not nearly as sloppy or lazy as Rosenthal.
this was the worst mistake followed by Derrick Ward, made by the new regime. I really think that Raheem still doesn’t have what it takes to be a head coach. Defensive coordinator, possibly but what can you do. Whether it’s true the Glazers are losing money/going broke or are just cheap, I wish they would just sell the team already to someone devoted to bringing winning to the team again. People can say what they will, but I really enjoyed watching the team under Dungy and even Gruden for about three years.
I know I’m excited about both Williams and Stroughter. I just hope Sammie isn’t destined to be injury proned and the Williams kid really has resolved his “questionable” character issues. Speaking of character, would really like Talib a lot better if he would get his head on straight, which is IMO further proof that Raheem isn’t meant to be a head coach. Yes, Talib had issues coming out of college too but come on, in the pros, that has to be reigned in. Wish I could see these guys who are meant to be professionals, start acting like it and have a little more class and tact. They make more in 30 seconds than I will make my entire life and too many of them take it for granted and throw it away, whine for more money, etc etc. It’s a damn game and should be fun for them and for us fans…nothing less and nothing more.
A final note, since I don’t get to post very often, it would be great to see the Bucs be a contender and in the playoffs or a threat for the playoffs every year but I don’t see it happening anytime soon (five to ten years at least) unfortunately. I hope I’m wrong.
Coach Morris, I have the Bengals on line two!
a growth spurt for you would be taking a little blue pill and growing from 1 inch to 1.5 inches.
‘Mike….can you grab your playbook and come with me?’
Worst contract other than Walkers???
Now don;t get me wrong, the Clayton deal is idiotic but is it really worse than…
Deangelo Halls Oakland contract for 8 games?
Antonio Bryants Bengals contract for about 2 minutes of practice?
Albert Haynesworths Skins deal to be a fat, lazy sack o shite?
Jamarcus Russells Raiders contract for being the most obvious and biggest bust ever?
What do you know, 3 Raider deals in recent years that could argueably be the 3 worst ever.
You’re only 31? Had me fooled.
His daughter goes to school with my son. Oddly enough she’s always dropping the crayons…must run in the family.
Rosenthal, not to be someone who corrects grammatical and spelling errors, but please check your work. This is a highly respected sports blog after all………
On Michael Clayton, he will catch on with another NFL team if he is released. He is not a diva and he has some talent.
@kosarsmyidol:
Maybe he was just thinking about the one season Clayton showed promise and was going to write something along those lines, and then crossed over. Yeah, that’s it. But before you get too hard on Gregg, pick up your local paper. They don’t employ editors anymore.
Dear Mike — Looking forward to seeing you Saturday.
Signed,
The Turk
well, if the Bucs release Michael Clayton, i can see him landing a job in Washington, it also wouldnt surprise me if the Redskins traded Devin Thomas for Clayton.
Another backhanded slap at the Silver & Black from the hack. Nice job proof reading your story Gregg.
Somehow you overlooked the Haynesworthless contract in your analysis. Or how about the bust Leinart?
Clayton is a superb person and player. Great blocking Wr and will definitely catch on somewhere. It’s hard to believe that Haslett predicted that Devery would have a better pro career than Clayton. At least he got something right….
For that amount of money, the Bucs could have gotten George Clooney to play WR for them.
The “other” Michael Clayton.
Damn, Mark just cut the guy already.
Nobody will give up their 2nd string waterboy for Mike Clayton.
Yes Mark Dominick has already made questionable decisions. Same guy gives away money to Ward and Clayton who will both end up cut and then played a game of cat and mouse with Donald Penn our best O Lineman instead of paying him.
Almost as silly as giving a 31 year old, who is grammatically challenged, a job writing about something….
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but it explains a lot….
Typical Rosenthal crap.
Personally I’d say the Haynesworth contract was the worst one in recent history but hey, what does pissing away 31 mil and getting almost noting in return for it mean anyway ?
Reggies jukemove says:
“Clayton is a superb person and player.”
Um, maybe to the former (don’t know him myself), but what are you smoking to the latter?? Let me guess, you take everything Duemig says as biblical?
Myopinionsuxworstthanyours…… No. I just met him my freshman year of college. Maybe didn’t pan out to be the best pro but he’s well regarded in these parts down here…..
@Reggies jukemove:
Okay, you do realize there is a difference between college and pros, right? I’ll even cop that Clayton was a very good COLLEGE player, but he’s been crap in the NFL. And who cares he’s a great guy? You have to produce on the field, or you’re GONE. Period.
If you don’t have a Qb or offense for that matter it’s hard to say
what he might do for another team. I know if the Saints weren’t so stacked I wouldn’t mind having him.