Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was making the media rounds at the Super Bowl on Saturday and finally offered up some excuses for not being on the field at the end of regulation during the NFC Championship game.
Matthews was on the sideline for the Seahawks’ final two drives — both touchdowns — before overtime.
It’s not clear whether Matthews voluntarily offered these excuses or someone finally asked him the question they should have asked him two weeks ago. In either instance, we’ll note that Tom Silverstein is the guy who jotted down Matthews’ excuses.
Way to do your job, Tom!
Here’s what Matthews had to say.
“People said I was exhausted or didn’t want to be out there,” Matthews said. “I’ll let the fans or Seattle fans say what they want. It was a medley of things catching up with me.
“I had just taken a big hit of a tight end coming across the middle, my ribs were hurting pretty good from that late hit on the sack as well as my knee too was acting up. I needed a minute to get my bearings straight. By the time we were out there for that last drive to kick a field goal and tie it I felt ready to go back out there.”
You got that?
Ribs and knee, everyone.
One of the hits Matthews is referring to was was a late hit by Seahawks’ lineman J.R. Sweezy, who nailed Matthews in the back after he sacked Russell Wilson. After the game, Packers coach Mike McCarthy also briefly noted that the training staff was looking at Matthews’ knee.
However, no one other than Matthews has mentioned anything about an injury. And this is also the first time Matthews has mentioned anything about being hurt.
Last week, during his season-ending press conference, McCarthy said Matthews told him “he needed a minute.” In other words, he took himself out of the game. Or, another way to look at it is, he quit on the Packers.
And that’s still the way we’re choosing to look at it.
We’re doing that for two reasons.
First, the minute that Matthews needed was actually around 20 minutes and possibly as much as 30 in real time. We counted. Then he was miraculously just fine and could go back into the game with no ill effects? Oh, and he was healthy enough to play in the Pro Bowl a week later? That doesn’t say “injured” to us, especially when no one else — not the head coach or the team doctor — has suggested Matthews was injured.
Second, we watched two of the other team’s defensive leaders — Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas — play the game with a sprained elbow and dislocated shoulder, respectively. Say what you want about being hurt, Clay, but this is the NFC Championship game and we expect more from our team leaders. Especially when we can see that leadership on the other team.
And maybe that’s why you’re not a team leader. Maybe that’s why you weren’t elected a defensive captain. Moments like this right here.
Because we all know who quits in the NFC Championship game. Jay Culter and now you, Clay Matthews.