- Clay Matthews made a mistake turning down the Denver Broncos.
- Replacing injured Von Miller would’ve been the perfect situation for Matthews.
- A 34-year-old has to be realistic about the offers he’ll receive so close to the season.
Clay Matthews’ agent says the outside linebacker wants to play football in 2020. I’m just not sure I believe him. Not when Matthews couldn’t come to terms with the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos approached Matthews after Von Miller suffered an ankle injury. Denver is still a contender and runs a 3-4 defensive scheme perfect for Matthews.
Yet neither side managed to find an agreement. Matthews’ agent, Ryan Williams, released a statement (h/t NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo):
Matthews needs to be more realistic about his situation.
Clay Matthews No Longer a Hot Commodity
Garafolo’s NFL Network colleague Tom Pelissero explained the financial reasons behind Matthews leaving Denver without a deal:
It would be short-sighted to make it all about the money. These uncertain times mean everybody has to weigh decisions with the financial impact at the forefront of their minds.
Yet from a sporting perspective, Matthews won’t get a better offer. He’s no longer the game-wrecker who helped the Green Bay Packers win a Super Bowl after the 2010 season.
Instead, Matthews’ production has steadily declined. He hasn’t posted double-digit sacks since 2014, recording just eight on the Rams last season.
Denver Would Have Been Perfect
The numbers don’t wow anybody, but Matthews is still a natural playmaker off the edge. He would’ve thrived in Denver head coach Vic Fangio’s defense, a system ideally tailored to Matthews’ versatility.
A healthy Bradley Chubb attacking offenses from the other side would have helped Matthews rediscover his best form.
A 34-year-old can’t expect to be offered more than the veteran minimum this close to the season. Matthews could deal with a relative shortfall for a year if it meant being in a situation perfect for him to prolong his stellar career.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
