Clay Matthews Jr. a semifinalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame for 3rd straight year, 5th overall SharePlay Video Download the RADIO.COM app
By Daryl Ruiter
5 hours ago
CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Clay Matthews Jr. has once again advanced in his bid to head to Canton.
The former Browns linebacker was named a semifinalist for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class on Tuesday, marking the third straight year, and fifth time overall, that Matthews has reached the list of 25 semifinalists.
Matthews also reached the semifinal round in 2014 and 2017 but has never been named a finalist and come up for vote on Super Bowl Saturday.
Matthews was selected by the Browns 12th overall in the 1978 draft before turning into one of the best linebackers and most durable players in league history.
During his 16 seasons with the Browns from 1978-93, Matthews racked up 76.5 sacks, 1,430 total tackles, 14 interceptions, 24 forced fumbles and 13 recoveries.
Matthews, who played in 278 games — the 21st most in NFL history — and amassed 1,561 tackles over that span, was a three-time All Pro and received four Pro Bowl nods.
Matthews is the first and only non-Hall of Famer to be inducted into the Browns’ Ring of Honor at FirstEnergy Stadium.
When he played in his 15th year, it was something of either, no other linebacker had played 15 years in the NFL, or there was only one other player in the league history that had played 15 years, Something. And the lion share of those stats, probably in the 10 year span, Dominant? Yes, Probably the most Dominant Brown I've ever seen.
How is he not in there yet!
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Clay's detractors call him "a compiler", a guy who built up stat totals due more to longevity than excellence. I say that Clay excelled at whatever he was asked to do. When they wanted him to rush the passer, he was a dominant pass rusher. When Marty took over the defense, and then the HC job, Clay was asked to provide pass coverage on RBs and TEs, and he was very good at that too. He played at a high level for 19 freaking years at one of, if not the most demanding position in football, having to match up against OTs who dwarfed him size-wise, and RBs who could fly. That's not a mere "compiler", that's a true Hall Of Famer, IMO.
If you saw how talented and tenacious he was, especially for his size, he should be in. I gave him my vote and would again. Hard to be a "compiler" when people would avoid you regularly, limiting the time they would challenge you. Remember him running plays down from the backside and pass rush pressures. He really was a leader, and shouldn't be measured in a way that takes anything away from him. He did his job regularly and all that was asked of him with ferocity. He has earned this place in this year's class. IMO.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
Linebacker Clay Matthews is one of 25 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame’s Class of 2021, and nothing new there. He’s been a semifinalist five times, including the past three years. But he’s never been a finalist for Canton, and that must change.
Now. Or else.
Because if he fails to reach the Final 15, Clay Matthews may never have another chance to have his case heard by the Hall’s board of 48 selectors. Reason: He’s in his 20th – and final – year of eligibility as a modern-era candidate, which means a failure to become a finalist would condemn his candidacy to the senior pool … and good luck.
That category is defined as players retired more than 25 years and whose 20-year candidacies have expired. But let’s be honest: It’s more than that. It can be purgatory. Canton’s version of a vortex, the senior class pulls qualified candidates down into a morass of all-decade stars and All-Pro luminaries so thick that some – no, most – seldom have their candidacies revisited.
I’m serious.
Consider that our Rick Gosselin counts 59 all-decade members – players considered elite at their positions – in the senior pool. Among them is former Eagles’ lineman Al Wistert, who in nine seasons with Philadelphia was an eight-time All-Pro, two-time NFL champion, all-decade choice and MVP on the only NFL club to post back-to-back shutouts in league championship games (1948-49).
Imagine that resume with one of today’s candidates. He’d be a first-ballot cinch. Yet Wistert, passed over for this year’s Centennial Class, remains buried among the dozens of Hall-of-Fame-worthy choices that Clay Matthews seems destined to join. Which is why I want the board to hear his case now.
Because it may never again.
Look, I understand the odds of his reaching Canton in his last year of eligibility. They border on the Jets’ chances of reaching Super Bowl LV. But at least the Jets gain another chance next year. And the year after that … and the year after that.
Clay Matthews may not.
The senior pool, which once had two Hall-of-Fame finalists each year, was reduced to one candidate every other year when in 2014 the Hall’s board of directors created the contributor category. Then, when the board this year devised the coaches’ category, it cut the senior finalists again – this time to one annually through at least 2024.
To see what that means for someone like a Clay Matthews, look at the 10 senior finalists left out of the Hall’s. Centennial Class of 2020. Roger Craig didn’t make it. Cliff Branch didn’t make it. Randy Gradishar didn’t make it. Al Wistert didn’t make it.
Barring a Super Bowl III-like upset, Clay Matthews joins them when the Hall announces its Class of 2021 finalists in early January … and not because he’s not worthy but because he’s in his last year of eligibility. Worse, he’s in his last year of eligibility as someone who never was a finalist.
I saw how that went down with defensive back Everson Walls in 2018. Named a finalist in his last year of eligibility, he failed to generate sufficient support to survive the first cut to 10. But that’s not the point. He had his case heard, which is what he and deserving candidates like Clay Matthews deserve.
Matthews played 19 years and was one of the league’s most effective and durable linebackers. He played in 278 games, had 1,561 tackles and was a four-time Pro Bowl choice when that accolade meant something. He also set the Cleveland Browns’ franchise record for career sacks.
Inducted into the Browns' Ring of Honor in 2019, he became the first player in team history to gain that honor without first being enshrined in Canton.
“Clay’s longevity is indisputable,” said Hall-of-Fame voter Tony Grossi, who covered Matthews during his tenure with the Browns, “but it is not his only qualification. He played every linebacker position in a 3-4 system from year to year and remained the best player on his various defenses – no matter which role he selflessly filled under five head coaches.”
In 16 seasons with Cleveland and three with Atlanta, Matthews' career included (according to statistics compiled by Pro Football Journal) 16 interceptions, 28 forced fumbles, 14 recoveries, 82-1/2 sacks and five seasons with 100 or more tackles. According to Gosselin, he also had four blocked field goals.
“He was a four-down linebacker,” Gosselin wrote in 2015 (State Your Case: Clay Matthews (si.com), “who played the run, rushed the passer and covered both receivers and kicks. At the age of 39, he made three special-teams tackles.”
And at the age of 40, he set a record as the oldest player (40 years, 282 days) to produce a sack. That was his last NFL season, and he went out with a flourish. As a right defensive end, he led the Falcons in sacks that year with 6-1/2.
The knock on Matthews is that he was named to no more than four Pro Bowls, was never a first-team All-Pro, wasn't an all-decade choice and didn’t reach a Super Bowl. OK, I get it. But he did enough in his career to convince Hall voters to bring him back again and again as a semifinalist.
There must be a reason.
Does he belong in the Hall? I don’t know. But I'd like to find out. This is his last chance to have his case heard as a modern-era candidate. So let’s hear it. Clay Matthews deserves nothing less.
As someone who never saw him play, was Clay dominant? Who would you compare him to in today’s game?
Or was his thing more longevity and steadiness?
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
Finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 revealed Published: Jan 05, 2021 at 06:02 PM NFLShield Around the NFL Staff nfl.com
Fifteen Modern-Era Player Finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021 include four first-year eligible players.
Quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Calvin Johnson, defensive back Charles Woodson and defensive end Jared Allen are in their first years of eligibility.
The Modern-Era Player Finalists are determined by a vote of the Hall's Selection Committee from a list of 130 nominees named in September that was reduced to 25 semifinalists in November.
The 2021 Modern-Era Player Finalists with their positions, years and teams, as announced on NFL Network on Tuesday:
Jared Allen, DE – 2004-2007 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-2015 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers Ronde Barber, DB – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tony Boselli, T -- 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve) LeRoy Butler, S -- 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers Alan Faneca, G -- 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars Calvin Johnson, WR – 2007-2015 Detroit Lions John Lynch, FS -- 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos Peyton Manning, QB – 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts, 2012-2015 Denver Broncos Clay Matthews, LB – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-1996 Atlanta Falcons Sam Mills, LB -- 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers Richard Seymour, DE/DT -- 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders Zach Thomas, LB -- 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts Charles Woodson, DB – 1998-2005, 2013-2015 Oakland Raiders, 2006-2012 Green Bay Packers
These 15 finalists will be presented to the full 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual meeting on "Selection Saturday," the day before Super Bowl LV. The finalists will be 18 in total, which includes senior finalist, Drew Pearson; contributor finalist, Bill Nunn; and coach finalist, Tom Flores.
Though there is no set number for any enshrinee class, the selection process by-laws provide that between four and eight new members will be selected. The Class of 2021 will be revealed during NFL Honors on Saturday, Feb. 6.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021 will be enshrined Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021 in Canton, Ohio. Other events during the week of festivities will include the rescheduled Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 5, the Gold Jacket Dinner on Aug. 6 and the Centennial Class of 2020 Enshrinement.
As someone who never saw him play, was Clay dominant? Who would you compare him to in today’s game?
Or was his thing more longevity and steadiness?
He was damned good.
18 years, almost 1600 tackles.... on good teams, not teams whose defense had trouble getting off the field. That's a LOT of tackles per year.
4x Pro Bowler
He played on both the Brian Sipe AND Bernie Kosar teams.... Sipe is now 71 and Kosar is 57. Those were GOOD teams and he was rocking it during both eras.
His problem would be akin to if he was like the 3rd best LB to play during the time of Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher.... they get the instant first-ballot nod and he gets overlooked, over and over again as guys like them come and go while he keeps on playing. But, he was THAT good for THAT long, in a league that had smaller rosters and fewer teams which made every roster spot that much tougher to keep.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
For D4L and anyone else who wonders about Clay's bonafides, my post from upthread:
Originally Posted By: Dave
Clay's detractors call him "a compiler", a guy who built up stat totals due more to longevity than excellence. I say that Clay excelled at whatever he was asked to do. When they wanted him to rush the passer, he was a dominant pass rusher. When Marty took over the defense, and then the HC job, Clay was asked to provide pass coverage on RBs and TEs, and he was very good at that too. He played at a high level for 19 freaking years at one of, if not the most demanding position in football, having to match up against OTs who dwarfed him size-wise, and RBs who could fly. That's not a mere "compiler", that's a true Hall Of Famer, IMO.
Thanks for the composite info guys ... I’ll be watching his clips!
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
There are very few outside LBs in the hall of fame. Most of the glory goes to middle LB’s.
Clay was such a force that a team would not go after his side. That did not matter. He tracked them down anyways. He was not a pass rush specialist but could cover any RB or TE. He was a very effective pass rusher when called upon. A smart player that would see and get the ball and a sure tackler.
I hate saying this but his play was similar to Jack Ham. Lambert got all the press, but Ham was probably the more reliable player.
There are few modern day comparable players. Maybe Anthony Barr with Minnesota. Coverage LB are generally lighter. Pass rushers heavier.
Welcome back, Joe, we missed you!…. That did not age well.
The 15 Modern-Era Player Finalists will be considered for election to the Hall of Fame when the Hall’s Selection Committee meets virtually January 19, 2021. The full committee will elect up to five Modern-Era Players, who must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent for election. Three others — Tom Flores, Bill Nunn and Drew Pearson, the finalists in the Coach, Contributor and Senior categories, respectively — also are candidates for the Class of 2021. Voting on each will be held individually, in conjunction with the meeting to decide the Modern-Era Player Finalists.
Clay's detractors call him "a compiler", a guy who built up stat totals due more to longevity than excellence. I say that Clay excelled at whatever he was asked to do. When they wanted him to rush the passer, he was a dominant pass rusher. When Marty took over the defense, and then the HC job, Clay was asked to provide pass coverage on RBs and TEs, and he was very good at that too. He played at a high level for 19 freaking years at one of, if not the most demanding position in football, having to match up against OTs who dwarfed him size-wise, and RBs who could fly. That's not a mere "compiler", that's a true Hall Of Famer, IMO.
His stats are comparable to Junior Seau, but to add to your point: when MLB pitcher Don Sutton got elected to Cooperstown there were people who said “oh well it took him 18 years to win 300 games” - or something similar - as if playing at a high level for an uncommonly number of years should be dismissed out of hand.
Some players matter more than others on the Browns over the years, but some even more helping to set the bar for standards for The Game. I think CM is one of those. He did so many things for so long and did them so well and so consistently, I think he deserves the HOF.
Matthews was a pro's pro. Good luck on the vote.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
LeRoy Butler indicates he did not make the Pro Football Hall of Fame Posted by Michael David Smith on January 27, 2021, 10:46 AM EST
Voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 has already been conducted, but the results will not be released until the day before the Super Bowl. However, at least one finalist has revealed he did not make it.
Former Packers safety LeRoy Butler, who was one of the 15 modern-era finalists, posted on Twitter today indicating that he was passed over.
“Maybe next year!” Butler wrote. “It’s always a good thing, to be discussed with the best to ever play THE GAME!”
It’s unclear how Butler was informed that he didn’t make it, as the Hall of Fame wanted to keep the voting results secret until the big reveal on Super Bowl Eve. Realistically, however, it’s almost impossible to keep secrets like that for two weeks, and so this may not be the last time we get a sneak preview of who did or did not make the Hall of Fame.
To be Hall of Fame, it's about changing the game throughout the league, in a recognizable way.
In Browns Players I remember since 1983, Clay Matthews is number one on the list. He Changed the game, by being on the field, more than any player and outdid others at his position.
Clay Mathews really should have been in the Hall of Fame already, 20 years ongoing!
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
I have said many times I have felt that Clay is just short of being a HOF player, but hey, longevity was a big part of his game. His longevity as a HOF finalist might be a fitting way for him to be inducted.
Here's to hoping.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
As someone who never saw him play, was Clay dominant? Who would you compare him to in today’s game?
Or was his thing more longevity and steadiness?
He was dominant that's why he should be in the HOF. I cant compare his game to anyone elses' but faces come to mind, A distant 2nd, way distant 2nd comparison may have been Junior Seau type of, everywhere a factor player, maybe a much better version of what Tryo Polomalu hoped to do, Maybe that guy from the bears.
There is nobody from today's game that's similar I would say.
Well if he was comparable to Seau or Polamalu he should be a 1st ballot HOF
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
Clay was one of my favorites and he was no nonsense. At first I got his lack of entry to the HOF but now many years have passed and I think the NFL has lowered their standards for entry into the HOF and under these new guidselines (well not so new) but after Clay was eligible equal to or even less worthy players were entering into the HOF. In those guidelines I think he deserves to be there. He was a difference maker and he was good for many seasons not a flash in the pan. HE DESERVES to get in but look who VOTES.
A new era where many Steeler and Bengal players climbed the ranks of so call expertise and the Browns were considered Duds with a rare season or two - Model killed the Browns totally killed them.
jmho
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
All what I will say is that Clay was an outside LB, and Junior played in the middle, Junior should have more tackles.
And not that it would not make a difference, but after seeing Junior play, I believe that Marty would have taken Clay every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Junior was a bit of a "free-lancer" that would leave his assignment in search of the game changing play. It drove Marty nuts....
Welcome back, Joe, we missed you!…. That did not age well.
Marty would have had an aneurysm (I almost did) if he had been coach when Clay lateraled a fumble he recovered vs Houston in the last regular season game in 1989. Its around 2:37:38 on the Youtube video below:
Ever since that day, my attitude is if I was a coach, I would fine a defender the max allowed for breaking team rules....the rule would be no laterals by defenders allowed. I don't care if it ended up going for a touchdown.
The worst moment on a football field, short of a serious injury is watching your guy pick off the ball or recover a fumble, then turn it over because he was trying to be a "hero" by pitching it out or start zig zagging around like he is Barry Sanders..
I hate that. Just get on the ground if you don't have a straight shot up the sideline. Don't pitch it out, don't break back to the middle of the field.
Pretty simple rules to follow.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I was thinking this a few times this year. Remembering Taki Taki’s pick 6 .. a play like that is one thing, where there’s a straight line to the end zone.
But I don’t like when defenders start reversing field and stuff
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
I was thinking this a few times this year. Remembering Taki Taki’s pick 6 .. a play like that is one thing, where there’s a straight line to the end zone.
But I don’t like when defenders start reversing field and stuff
yea...go for it when running straight up the sideline.
We had somebody pick one to lose it after zigging around, going for the opposite sideline. I forget who it was. Probably best I have.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
![[Linked Image from i28.photobucket.com]](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/shadedog/mcenroe2.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)