Clayton: I don't want to ever come out of a game'

   Beleaguered Bucs' receiver Michael Clayton said he told coach Jon Gruden he didn't like being pulled out of a game during their sideline spat Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.

   Clayton dropped a pass and fumbled following a reception two plays later at the end of the first half and was removed from the game for Maurice Stovall.

   Clayton had words with Gruden, at one point briefly grabbing hold of his shirt.

   "I told him, 'don't do that to me,'' Clayton said Wednesday. "Hell no, I don't ever want to come out of a game again.

   "(Receivers coach) Richard Mann, he pulled me out for a few plays and let me get my head back.''

   Clayton has just two catches this season but has been effective as a run blocker. He said he understood why he was replaced by Stovall.

   "You've got to secure the ball,'' Clayton said. "It's a shame that those plays happened so close together. But I love that (quarterback Jeff Garcia) came right back to me. And he's going to do that. If he sees you, he's going to throw it.

   "He told me to get my head out of my a-- and that was that.''

   Clayton said despite the slow start and last week's incident, he never lost confidence.

   "I don't go in the jar, man,'' Clayton said. "I'm too positive and mentally focused. I don't go in the jar.''

Comments

[Mr.T]

I'd tell him the same thing Gru did.

Clayton's got to learn - it's a "show me" game. He got his feelings hurt. You don't talk to any coach like that. Did Marcus Allen do that when he was taken out? Did Brad Johnson? NO.

If you want to say something to the coach after he takes you out, you say, "Put me back in soon, coach. I'll show you. I got it." And then, you DO what you say you were going to do.

Show us, Mike. Show us.

[Duffiedawg]

Mr. T,
You made a very valid comment. Don't diss the Coach.

What I am afraid of, in Clayton's case, is that he is trying too hard. The dropped pass was because he started to run before the completion.

I have never seen any other WR that was willing to block as Clayton does. This proves his heart is in the game, and in the game for the Bucs. That was his contention, Sunday.

I know, he has had chance after chance, but never with a QB like Garcia. I feel that a little more confidence by others, especially Garcia, and we will see a receiver that makes his rookie season look like HS footbal.

What I am really afraid of, is that this will happen with another team.

Gruden is not the most patient man, and, I think Sunday we finally saw his brilliance. Finally, after all these bitter years, he is finally able to shoot live ammunition, instead of the blanks that other coaches and the salary cap has supplied him with.

Clayton will be a premier WR, even though Gruden has a big question mark. I am willing to bet that Cadillac is under the same suspicion. Both are Hall of Famers.

[John P]

Sorry to disagree Winston, but I feel Clayton is in serious trouble, and on his way out of the league. Mentally, he is no longer in the game. He's too busy thinking about everything instead of just playing. As long as he does that, he's toast. Gruden and Mann aren't stupid about that - they're just hoping he'll snap out of it. So far though, it's not happening. He has 13 games left to prove he can get it done, or else he's finished.

[Rick]

Hall of Famers? Please, neither would start for any other team. They may not even be in the league in 5 years. Hall of Famers. STOP....

[Ryan]

Say what you will about Cadillac, but out of Cedric Benson, Ronnie Brown, and Caddy, Caddy has been the best RB of the three thus far. Furthermore, he's been a much better pro than Mike Williams, the guy all of Tampa wanted Gruden and Allen to draft.

[derek]

come on ryan im a bucs fan to but thats total bias cadillac hasnt been better then brown and benson is just now getting a serious look and will have griese at qb now to help his production and hes put together a few nice games also just like cadillac being honest and unbias they should be ranked brown,cadillac,and benson last until he really shows what he can do

[DR]

This blog is too funny. Clayton and Caddy HOFers, lmao. Yeah, their careers sure are starting out like other HOFers. haha too funny, can't stop laughing. 2 catches in 3 games, thats got HOF written all over it so far. Besides a great rookie year, Clayton hasn't earned a dime. He certainly hasn't earned the respect to demand to stay in a game. Neither has Caddy.
Quit talking Clayton and play the game. Harrison doesn't talk much, follow his lead and shut your mouth. Let your play do the talking, and so far, it looks like crap.

[Fred Augat]

if you dont perform...you sit...gruden benched caddy after he fumbled and look what his replacement did.....we really need both caddy and clayton to step up and be the players we all hope they have the potential of being...we have a huge game vs carolina this sunday and its time to show up....for both of them.

[larry]

I must say the headline and lede on the Clayton story is very misleading. There is no evidence that Clayton is angry at Gruden at all. In fact, he was also patting the coach's butt during that exchange on the sideline and he's quite contrite about his case of the dropsies.

What's with the inaccurate reporting?

[Hate Da Panthers]

If he doesn't stop dropping passes and fumbling...He's going to get more than
taken off the feld...He'll be out of here...