A Journey to Clayton Football

It was the summer of 1997 in Eastern Washington. My career changed for the better.

It was my first training camp as a full-time NFL beat reporter. My eyes were wide, my ears were open. I wanted to be a sports journalist since I was 12 and I was one since I was 22. But at the doorstep of 30, everything changed.

I credit John Clayton for that.

As I began my duty as a Seattle Seahawks’ beat writer for a suburban Seattle newspaper, I was most excited about the chance to work next to Clayton more than anything else. Not only was Clayton the dean of Seattle NFL media, but he was the foremost beat writer in the entire country. Without my asking, but much to my delight, Clayton took me under his wing. He let me stand next to him at practice, hang with him on the road and let me bother him well into the evening every night in the press room.

Make no mistake, Clayton also beat my brains in on a daily basis. He got every story. Every day. It was terrible, but it was great. I learned what it means to be a dominant NFL beat writer. It fueled me.

John continued to be a mentor and a sounding board for me as I climbed the beat-writing ladder in Green Bay, Minnesota and Denver. He was there every step of the way. Clayton was part of the reason we finally became teammates at ESPN in 2008.

Now, 21 years after we met, we are united again.

This has been a vision nearly 14 months in the making. The fact Clayton Football that is now a reality is a career highlight. We are going to change the way the NFL is covered. This is John Clayton, folks.

A living NFL media legend. The Professor. A Slayer man.

And it’s not just Clayton. We have Dr. David Chao, Joel Corry and Matt Williamson.

We have you covered in every aspect of this game whether its medical news, contract analysis, player scouting, X-and-O talk, fantasy and gambling help. This is your site.

Clayton Football. Man, I’m finally home.