As former New Orleans mayor Vic Schiro once said, "Don't believe any false rumors unless you hear them from me." I hope this is indeed a rumor, but at this point the story seems to have legs. If true, Michael Clayton can leave LSU with no regrets. He not only was a great football player but also a good representative of the University. I wish him much success in all that he does.
red55, while I have taken to responding to you again, I must admit, I think you're off in your asessment of Clayton's relative draft prospects... Saban is the guy that Clayton trusts. Saban is the guy he's probably getting this advice from, honestly. I think if I'm not mistaken, LSU will be putting in a new surface in the offseason into Tiger Stadium. Do you remember the last collegiate football team that put in a new surface over the course of an offseason, and the wideout who played on it in the first game? Michael Hayes would have been a TWO YEAR All-American at LSU if not for DiNardo's pompous and detrimental attitudes towards his own players...There was no "best 11 will play" philosophy with DiNardon't. It was "My favorite 11 will play". Instead, he transferred to Southern, and without a legitimate quarterback, he rewrote I-AA record books, and went into his senior year as a legitimate TWO YEAR All-American candidate anyway at Southern. Instead, he slips on some turf in the season opener, tears his ACL, and I haven't heard from the kid since. I can remember seeing Kiper and other NFL draft sites listing him as the #1 wideout prospect that year...and now where is he? Football is a dangerous sport. Look at Willis McGahee of the "U". He tore all three of his ligaments in his knee in the national title game. He thanked GOD he signed an insurance policy mere HOURS before the National Title Game. He got $4 million because of it, and thankfully, he was drafted anyway. But, he saw his future possibly go up in smoke over the course of one freak accident. Plays like that happen all the time. Kids get compound fractures and have to have their legs amputated. Kids get concussions like D'Angelo at Southern Miss or kidney conditions like the Nix kid out in Hattiesburg. What about Eli and Payton's oldest brother, Cooper? Saban is about helping players do what's best for their future while at the same time representing themselves, the program, and the school in the best way. Clayton would be doing himself a disservice to both himself and to his future, while doing LSU a favor, to not leave early... Clayton is a better downfield blocker, and a more complete receiver than any of the others in the draft. The HYPE from the East and West Coast might overshadow it, but the bottom line is that MC can hit, he can block, he can tackle, he can catch, and he can make the CLUTCH catch. He can play under pressure, and he can flat out play the game, PERIOD. Roshaun Woods, Larry Fitzgerald, and all the rest don't impress me because in big games like against OU and against Miami, they disappeared, and they didn't impact the game like great plaeyrs are supposed to. Clayton affected every game in which he suited up for. He caught a pass in every game of his entire career. He went for 1,000+ yards this year alone, and Mauck only threw for what...2,800? That means that Clayton from a RECEIVING STANDPOINT ALONE was responsible for over 30% of our offense? Name one other player that had this much talent around him, (IE-Conference leader in TD passes, Conference leader in TD catches, Nation-leading punt returner, freshman 1,000 yard rusher, #1 defense in America) that stood out more prominently amongst such bright stars on his own team? Clayton would have to deal with Clayton of OU and Mike Williams of USC next year...as it would be any year...You always have guys step up... But, I promise you, Clayton isn't about maximizing his short term gain...He's about his long-term success. And leaving the NFL behind for another year does nothing but stunt his long term growth as a professional, like it or lump it...
No doubt it's in Clayton's best interest to leave. If he has gotten favorable advice from Saban, and I assume this is what has occurred, then it only makes sense to bolt for the NFL and secure his financial future. LSU is not guaranteed another championship this year, and if you have one already, its not worth the gamble of severe injury that could affect your entire NFL career just to try for another one.
I'm disappointed that after all that Mike has given us LSU fans you would wish the Saints on him. Have a heart. We can replace Mike as a WR. It's his leadership and total effort that will be difficult to replace. How many times have we seen him block downfield on a long run from scrimmage or make a saving tackle on the kicking team. It was Mike who tackled the Oklahoma DB who made the last interception in the Sugar Bowl. Good luck Mike.
roygu...You have to replace players like that eventually...That's what the real challenge of collegiate football is...How FSU replaced Charlie Ward and eventually got back to the top with Chris Wienke... How Nebraska went with Tommie Frazier, Brooks Bollinger, Scott Frost, and then Eric Crouch? They played for the title how many times? Whose going to replace guys like Chad Lavalais? How did OU replace Rocky Calmus from 2000 to get back in 2003? How will LSU replace Clayton...This is the true challenge in collegiate football...MAINTAINING a program...Building is one thing...but sustaining it is also another...
TE, if you're trying to sell me on how good Clayton is, you are preaching to the choir. I agree totally, of course. He's a top pick, no doubt about it. Best receiver I've seen at LSU. But my point was simply that it would have been fun to see him earn some of the honors/trophys that he is capable of winning if he played his senior year. We can imagine, can't we? The NFL draft is crowded with top receivers this year, it will be interesting to see how they sort out. I really hope he gets the 8-digit signing bonus. Where do you project him in the draft?
Good luck Michael. We will miss you. The team will miss your leadership, clutch catches, blocks, etc. I have enjoyed watching you play. I hope you go to a team that will appreciate you, not the Aint's.
Well, I honestly see him as doing things consistently better than a Roy Williams, and I also see him playing in pain and excelling in clutch situations, all of which neither Roy Williams nor Larry Fitzgerald have... Roshaun Woods disappeared against OU... I'm telling you that there isn't a better player at his position in the draft than Michael Clayton at wideout...The hype may make him the 3rd wideout taken...but that just means that someone's getting a steal of a kid with talent to burn, and a work ethic that's unparalelled...
