Clifton - the NFL's elder statesman LT

[Patler]

Kind of surprising, really:

The Green Bay Packers left tackle has arthritic knees and at age 35 is the NFL’s oldest starter at that demanding position and the third-oldest starting offensive lineman overall, behind only Kansas City’s Casey Wiegmann (37) and Indianapolis’ Jeff Saturday (35), both of whom play center.

From the following article:

http://packersnews.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110817/PKR01/110817176/Handled-care-Clifton-delivers-Packers?odyssey=tab|topnews|img|FRONTPAGE

[bobblehead]

especially considering we all expected his career to be cut short due to all the injuries....that and OL historically play a little older than many positions.

[pbmax]

He used to say he wanted a 10 year career. Apparently, that was a minimum number.

[KYPack]

especially considering we all expected his career to be cut short due to all the injuries....that and OL historically play a little older than many positions.

Cliffy played 9 years after a career ending injury.

[woodbuck27]

Cliffy played 9 years after a career ending injury.

Jhhheeessh. was that NINE years ago? Time sure flys.

I can see it like it was last weekend. I was never so pissed at an opposing player as on that pointless takeout. Especially given where Chad Clifton was in respect to the fella that was returning the ball after the turnover. I was never more proud of OUR HC than how he reacted to that viscious play after the contest ended. I'll always give kudos to Mike Sherman for letting his anger out at games end. I thought he was going to attack Warre Sapp. Good last name for him based on that rotten play.

If I was Mike Sherman I would've gone one step further. I would,ve attacked that senseless clown and forgot the consequences. I would've had to seek vengence there. It's just ' the Irish ' in me. Forget the fact that that was our LT that was blndsided so visciously. I never saw aythin more viscious than that. I felt terrle fpr Chad Clifton.

I would've gone commando over any of my players being blindsided as Chad Clifton was. I never had any good feelings over Warren Sapp after that shity block.

Thinking back. Where was Brett Favre on that play. Favre always was rather feisty. How come he didn't attack Warren Sapp? How could the Packer Players ..all of them let that go without at least wanting a piece of Warren Sapp? Ohh it has to do wit being a PRO !? Screw that.

I never understood that. Noone atacking Sapp. Where I come from it's someone or more more than one down on Sapp's face after that blindside block. Whatever it would take Sapp gets his. I played lots of copetitve sports at the hampionshp level and the fellas I played wit wouldn't havelet that one just slide by. It would've been WAR.

[red]

Cliffy played 9 years after a career ending injury.

i thought for sure that was the end of him too. i still hate sapp for that

[rbaloha1]

Thank goodness for Sherrod.

[Freak Out]

Death to Sapp.

[VermontPackFan]

Jhhheeessh. was that NINE years ago? Time sure flys.

I can see it like it was last weekend. I was never so pissed at an opposing player as on that pointless takeout. Especially given where Chad Clifton was in respect to the fella that was returning the ball after the turnover. I was never more proud of OUR HC than how he reacted to that viscious play after the contest ended. I'll always give kudos to Mike Sherman for letting his anger out at games end. I thought he was going to attack Warre Sapp. Good last name for him based on that rotten play.

If I was Mike Sherman I would've gone one step further. I would,ve attacked that senseless clown and forgot the consequences. I would've had to seek vengence there. It's just ' the Irish ' in me. Forget the fact that that was our LT that was blndsided so visciously. I never saw aythin more viscious than that. I felt terrle fpr Chad Clifton.

I would've gone commando over any of my players being blindsided as Chad Clifton was. I never had any good feelings over Warren Sapp after that shity block.

Thinking back. Where was Brett Favre on that play. Favre always was rather feisty. How come he didn't attack Warren Sapp? How could the Packer Players ..all of them let that go without at least wanting a piece of Warren Sapp? Ohh it has to do wit being a PRO !? Screw that.

I never understood that. Noone atacking Sapp. Where I come from it's someone or more more than one down on Sapp's face after that blindside block. Whatever it would take Sapp gets his. I played lots of copetitve sports at the hampionshp level and the fellas I played wit wouldn't havelet that one just slide by. It would've been WAR.

Its a good thing Sherman didnt do anything we would still be looking for pieces of him. Come on, I was pissed that Clifton got hurt on a tough hit but thats just hard nosed football. Clifton wasnt looking and got his clock cleaned, if it wasnt for him landing on his hip in an awkward way, no one would have ever talked about it.

[Brando19]

I've tried to find the Sapp hit on Clifton, but can't. Anyone have a link?

[sharpe1027]

Its a good thing Sherman didnt do anything we would still be looking for pieces of him. Come on, I was pissed that Clifton got hurt on a tough hit but thats just hard nosed football. Clifton wasnt looking and got his clock cleaned, if it wasnt for him landing on his hip in an awkward way, no one would have ever talked about it.

You can debate about how bad the hit was, but I don't agree that it was "just" hard nosed football. Clifton was not involved in the play, and Sapp had no good football reason to make that block. To add to it, Sapp celebrated the hit while Clifton was motionless on the ground.

Just because someone hits hard, that doesn't make it "just" hard nosed football.

[sharpe1027]

http://static.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1465999.html

Clifton lost feeling in his extremities for a short period and, while he was on the ground, Sapp was shown on the in-stadium video screens celebrating. It was apparently that celebration which most bothered Sherman and some of the Green Bay players. Clifton was able to move his arms and legs as he left the field.

Sapp did not deny that he hunted Clifton out on the play.

"Yeah, I was a heat-seeking missile," Sapp said. "Boom. Boom. Boom. And I hit him."

[RashanGary]

For me, he's probably the Packer I've underappreciated the most. I knew he was a damn good LT, always knew it, but what he's done has been right up there with the best OL in Packer history. In the new pass first NFL, Clifton was one of the best pass protector for over a decade.

Clifton has been quiet on the field with his steady play and quiet off the field with his introverted demeanor. Outside of his couple probowls, the Sapp injury and the recent, "OMG our LT is old and we don't have a new one" dillema, he's been a distant thought. Really, he's been one of the best Packer OL ever.

When an OL comes in with a big name and has a big career, everyone honks and hollers about it. A guy like Clifton, he pretty much went under the radar. Oh well, we know what he did and so do his teammates and coaches.

[KYPack]

That link didn't work for me.

Well, don't everybody get a case of the ass about this clip.

You have to watch some other stuff, but it's on here after about 90 seconds or so...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgdlqNtbBAA

I hated Sapp doing that one, but it's snap to whistle and keep your head on a swivel. When you don't, well ya know?

[sharpe1027]

That link didn't work for me.

Sorry, the link was to the article I quoted, not the video of the hit.