Clay Matthews is an Acquired Taste
Clay Matthews has managed to keep himself out of the spotlight so well off the field that we didn’t even know he had impregnated his girlfriend or who that girlfriend was until last December. There’s probably good reason for that, but that’s another story.
Matthews and his then-girlfriend, Casey Noble, had their son in February. They got married in July.
Again, these things had to be sleuthed out.
The point here is, Clay Matthews is a private person, but he gave Jason Wilde an interview where he opened up slightly about his private life. And by opening up, we mean he acknowledged that he had a wife and kid and then said the kind of cliche things about them that Clay Matthews says in all interviews.
Like this.
“It was a pretty eventful year this year as far as [life-changing events]. I’m really happy. I am,” Matthews said. “I’m excited I got to marry my best friend, and obviously we have a son now, who is awesome. Being a father is such a great joy – and one you can’t appreciate until you are one. I’m very happy about where my life is outside of football now.”
What’s more interesting is that this profile paints Clay as being rather aloof, even unfriendly.
Here’s David Bakhtiari on what it’s like to be friends with Clay.
“It’s just tough. It’s not easy [being his friend]” replied Bakhtiari, who works out with Matthews during the offseason. “We give him [expletive] about it. When I first met him, my brother talked to me afterward. I was like, ‘That was really weird.’ And my brother said, ‘Well, the fact that he acknowledged you means that he likes you.’
“He’s just a very private person in general, so don’t feel like you’re the only person [who doesn’t know him very well]. He’s like that with everyone. But he’ll sometimes open up. We’ve been up and down. I love the guy. He’s awesome. But he is an acquired taste.”
Here’s Andy Mulumba.
“You have to take out the fact that it’s Clay Matthews. He expects that ‘Oh, he’s Clay Matthews’ from people. I think taking that approach will only make things harder because he doesn’t want to be that superstar figure outside of football. He wants to be a regular person,” Mulumba explained.
“Working out with him, we barely talked about football. We’d joke around, but he didn’t touch on his personal life that much. It’s only if he opens up to it. Then you can have a conversation about it. If you show him that you care about his life, he’ll chat a little bit about it.”
What do we take away from this?
It’s no wonder Matthews isn’t seen as one of the leaders in the locker room. It’s hard to be that when you’re unwilling or unable to connect with the people around you.
Remember, the Packers voted Morgan Burnett and Julius Peppers as their defensive captains last season. Even though he was the catalyst for the defense’s resurgence, other players just don’t see Matthews as a leader.
They maybe don’t even see him as approachable.
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Maybe the guy is not talkative outside of football ?
He’s very talkative. Haven’t you seen his numerous commercials, tv appearances, and films? He is just talkative if there is something in it for him. He loves cultivating his brand and his name.
A picture of the happy couple and their son would be nice. Smells like a PR stunt ,however it certainly didn’t paint a very good picture of him. He used to be personable
Because you…know him?
Sounds like no one really knows him. I was referring to the way he was when he was in the NFL the first couple years. After the Super Bowl and his big contract he changed at least his public persona.
He can have the charisma of a damp rag for all I care, so long as he racks up the sacks.
Who is he trying to kid? He married his best friend? LOL. Your best friend that you were dating and screwing while she was still married? The same best friend that purposely got pregnant to tie him down? Best friend? Then he has the audacity to say they are on the same page. Were they on the same page when she got knocked up? Doubt it.
He just needs to fire his lousy PR team and tell people not to bother him, including fans since he really doesn’t want to be bothered with them either. He will want his fans attention only when he wants you to buy his jersey, contribute to a cause he is advertising or if he needs a photo op. He is about his brand and not much else.
Don’t be such a drama queen. Some people’s personality’s are reserved. If he’s happy and the people around him respect him, which seems to be the case, then who gives a fuck. I like Clay, except when he’s on the sideline.
I don’t see the need to rag on the guy. Just a tic over 10 sacks/yr on average. The only time he’s pissed me off is when the Pack played the 49ers. He would be ridiculously out of position consistently when they would run the option.
Couldn’t agree more.
A drama queen calling out another drama queen. Thanks for the laugh queens.
Hopefully he won’t be on the sidelines, again.
He was much more personable when he came on the scene. Now, its like he can’t really stand the fans, unless its for a photo op or something that will help his brand.
Yeah, they respect him. That is the reason why he was not a captain last year AND someone else was mentioned as the leader of the defense. Yeah, he is really respected.
His entire family are a bunch of douches.
I went to the SF playoff game a few years ago and while looking for other Packer fans, found his family’s tailgate. They were rude and totally ignored me. Trade the MF!
So YOU crashed somebody’s tailgate and they didn’t immediately love YOU and enjoy sharing their stuff with YOU.
What a bunch of douches.
They owed YOU because they were the family of a player on YOUR team and they didn’t deliver. It’s their job to drink and carouse with every Packer fan around the world. But, especially YOU.
Entitlement must be real fucking rollercoaster.
Monty the Wilde article sums up your personality wouldn’t you say? “Aquired taste,” “private person,” “not really one of the guys.” I’m surprised you still are able to keep this blog functioning with how much you hate putting yourself out there.