Michael Clayton (American football) facts for kids
Clayton signing autographs in 2006
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| No. 80, 83 | |||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | October 13, 1982 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 202 lb (92 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Baton Rouge (LA) Christian Life | ||||||
| College: | LSU | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Michael Rashard Clayton (born October 13, 1982) is a former American football player. He played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Michael played college football for the LSU Tigers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked him in the 2004 NFL draft. He was the 15th player chosen overall.
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Early Life and High School Football
Michael Clayton grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He went to Christian Life Academy. He was a very popular football player in high school. Many colleges wanted him to play for them.
He played in the first-ever U.S. Army All-American Bowl. This special game was on December 30, 2000. He played with future LSU teammates like Ben Wilkerson and Andrew Whitworth. Michael also played basketball for his school. In 2008, he was the first person to join the Christian Life Academy Hall of Fame.
College Football Career
Michael Clayton played college football at Louisiana State University (LSU). He was part of the LSU Tigers team that won the NCAA championship in 2003. This was a huge achievement for the team.
During his three years at LSU, he caught 182 passes. He gained 2,582 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. He set a new record for career touchdowns at LSU with 21. This record was later broken by Dwayne Bowe in 2006. Michael finished second in LSU history for total catches. He was also fourth in career receiving yards. He is the only LSU player to have over 700 receiving yards in three seasons in a row.
Playing in the NFL
Michael Clayton was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. He was the 15th player picked overall.
Starting Strong with the Buccaneers
In his first year, the 2004 season, Michael had a great start. He led all new players in the NFL with 80 catches. He also gained 1,193 yards and scored 7 touchdowns. He was a key player for the Buccaneers that year.
However, his second season in 2005 was not as strong. He had knee surgery before the season. He finished with 32 catches for 372 yards and no touchdowns. He missed the last game of the season and a playoff game due to an injury.
Later Years with Tampa Bay
The 2006 season showed Michael getting back to his strong form. He caught 6 passes for 55 yards and scored a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. This touchdown, thrown by Bruce Gradkowski, helped the Buccaneers win their first game of the season. Unfortunately, an injury ended his season early.
The 2007 season was also challenging for him. However, he played much better towards the end of the season. He caught 16 of his 22 passes in the last four games. He also gained most of his yards in those final games.
On January 6, 2008, Michael played in his first playoff game. It was against the New York Giants, who later won the Super Bowl. He caught 3 passes for 39 yards in that game. After the 2008 season, he signed a new five-year deal with the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers released him on September 4, 2010.
Time in Other Leagues
After leaving the Buccaneers, Michael Clayton joined the Omaha Nighthawks. This team was part of the United Football League. He played for them in October 2010.
Winning a Super Bowl with the Giants
On November 23, 2010, Michael signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants. He joined the team because other receivers like Steve Smith were injured. This move also brought him back together with Giants quarterback Eli Manning. They had shared a dorm during the NFL combine in 2004.
The Giants released Michael on September 3, 2011. But they re-signed him on September 23, 2011, after another player got injured. In the 2011–2012 season, Michael and the Giants played in the Super Bowl. They beat the Patriots 21–17. This win earned Michael his first Super Bowl ring! He became a free agent after that season.
Life After Football
Michael Clayton runs the Michael Clayton Generation Next Foundation. This is a group that helps local charities. They support organizations in Tampa Bay and Baton Rouge. These include the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile and the Tampa Bay Pediatric Cancer Center. Michael also hosts a yearly celebrity basketball game to raise money for his foundation.
He has also worked as a football expert for Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. Michael is currently attending Florida College in Temple Terrace, Florida, to finish his degree. His cousin, Noah Cain, also played football at Penn State and LSU.
