Clayborn healthy for Super Bowl this time around
Patriots defensive end Adrian Clayborn, who played three seasons with the Falcons, was a financial casualty in Atlanta last season.
Clayborn is set to be a reserve for the Patriots who will face the Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons didn’t have enough money to pay his market value while trying to fit quarterback Matt Ryan’s five-year, $150 million deal into their salary structure.
“Money is always an issue especially when you’ve have to pay a quarterback all of that money,” Clayborn told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. “You got guys like Grady (Jarrett) who’s going to be an awesome star and you have other guys like Julio (Jones). It’s hard. I understand it. There are no hard feelings. It happened.
“I’m in the super Bowl, so I can’t complain.”
Clayborn signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Patriots. He played in 14 regular-season games and made one start.
Back in 2016, Clayborn suffered a torn biceps in the divisional playoff round win over the Seahawks and missed the rest of the run to Super Bowl LI.
Clayborn, who is part of the Patriots defensive end rotation, is estactic about being healthy for this Super Bowl.
“It feels good,” Clayborn said. “It’s good to be healthy. I can’t wait.”
Clayborn played 50 of 70 defensive snaps in the divisional playoff win over the Chargers. He had a sack, three quarterback hits and two tackles.
In the AFC championship win over the Chiefs, Clayborn played 18 snaps (35 percent) and had a quarterback hit.
“It’s been good,” Clayborn said. “It’s been up and downs, learning curves and all of that stuff. It’s been awesome. The playoffs have been great. I look forward to carrying it on to the Super Bowl.”
Clayborn knows the Patriots will have a tough time with the Rams and running back Todd Gurley.
“Plug up all of our gaps and get some more help,” Clayborn said. “He’s great.”
Clayborn is taking a practical approach to the game.
“Play every play, good or bad, and move on to the next play,” Clayborn said. “They’ve got two great running backs now. They’ve got great wide receivers and tight ends. They are explosive. We just have to try to stop them.”
Really, no hard feelings about leaving the Falcons?
“It was just free agency,” Clayborn said. “Free agency happened. I don’t know. I left and I’m excited to be here.”
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
