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Patriots Gridiron News: Adrian Clayborn a necessary force in the playoffs

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

FOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 04: Adrian Clayborn #94 of the New England Patriots celebrates after sacking Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers (not pictured) during the second half at Gillette Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 04: Adrian Clayborn #94 of the New England Patriots celebrates after sacking Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers (not pictured) during the second half at Gillette Stadium on November 4, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots veteran defensive end Adrian Clayborn was a healthy scratch the last two games of the season but is keeping it positive going forward.

Alan Branch, Jabaal Sheard, Malcolm Butler.  New England Patriots fans have seen this story before and so has defensive end Adrian Clayborn, which is why he is not trying to start any beef over his lack of playing time.

Inactive the last two games of the week, fans may have not even noticed the absence of Clayborn.  That could be a reason he was inactive.

Signed to a two-year, $10 million deal in the offseason, Adrian Clayborn was the team’s high-profile signing.  He was a player who could get after the quarterback and came in with the work ethic to be a more versatile defensive player.

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Needless to say, Clayborn didn’t add much to the pass rush this season.  He had a couple games where he flashed but was more noticeable running past quarterbacks than knocking them down.

Still, Clayborn did what he was brought in to do, apply pressure to the quarterback.  But what ultimately led to his benching is more of a personnel issue.

The team simply needed to be stouter against the run.  That’s where a player like Danny Shelton and recent promoted defensive end Ufomba Kamalu come in to play.  In playing just 318 total snaps against the run, Clayborn was simply the odd man out when it came to the defensive gameplan the last two weeks of the season.

Obviously, disappointed, Clayborn is keeping his cool about his current situation.

"“I don’t want to get into it,” Clayborn said, as transcribed by NESN.  “I’m not really trying to start any rifts or anything, but I don’t know.  It is what it is.  That’s over and done with.  Moving forward, we’ll see where it goes.  Playoffs now, can’t really be negative about anything.”"

As a player who promised to be more versatile coming into the season, not having more of an opportunity to prove that could definitely swing the mood of a player.  If that is the case, Adrian Clayborn is not showing it and knows if he wants to be an active participant, the hard work has to continue because the playoff are here and the Patriots’ defense will need all the help they can get.

In all, Clayborn’s edge rush ability will be called upon again.  He just recorded 2.5 sacks in the regular season, but he has shown an ability to get there.  If and when the team takes on a team like the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers or Kanas City Chiefs, applying pressure will be a necessity.

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Simply put, Adrian Clayborn is going to have to show up for the New England Patriots when he gets his opportunity again.  As we’ve seen with more high-profile players, if he doesn’t or becomes more of a liability, his tenure with the team will be over just that quick.

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