wpr
  • wpr
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13 years ago
Just one more solid season out of Clifton.....


Chad Clifton finds longevity in cautious training regimen 



Chances are Chad Clifton is taking fewer snaps than any healthy starter in any training camp around the NFL.

The Green Bay Packers left tackle has arthritic knees and at age 35 is the NFL’s oldest starter at that demanding position and the third-oldest starting offensive lineman overall, behind only Kansas City’s Casey Wiegmann (37) and Indianapolis’ Jeff Saturday (35), both of whom play center.

The Packers have spent years learning to manage Clifton’s chronically sore knees and since the early 2000s have given him regular days off in training camp and during the regular season to make sure he’s feeling OK on Sundays.

But in this year’s camp they’ve cut back on his playing time even further, often playing him only a snap or two per team period. There also are practices, even with only one practice a day, when he doesn’t do any 11-on-11 work and takes part only in individual drills.

So far, at least, it seems to be working. Clifton says his knees are holding up and he’s feeling only the typical soreness that all players do in camp. And his performance in two series in the preseason opener didn’t suffer from rust.

“He looked good the other night,” said Joe Philbin, the Packers’ offensive coordinator. “He’s getting some good work in individual (drills). I’m hopeful. A player at that stage in his career, you have to have a little faith that he knows how much he needs and what he doesn’t need. I think he looks good.”

Clifton was one of the surprises of the Packers’ Super Bowl run last year, at least considering how he looked in Week 2. In that home game against Buffalo, the Packers pulled him in the first half because of performance – his right knee was so inflamed and irritated that he couldn’t play at a starter’s level.

There was reason to wonder whether it was the beginning of the end of a distinguished NFL career. Clifton’s knees had been chronically sore since his return from the devastating separated pelvis he sustained on a Warren Sapp blind-side block in 2002, and maybe he was hitting an age when the swelling and irritation were too much to overcome.


“That was definitely the low point of last year,” Clifton said. “I was like, ‘Oh man, something has to be done to calm this knee down or it’s done.’ Fortunately we were able to do that.”

The Packers took two steps to help him: They scaled back his already abridged practice schedule and had him undergo an injected treatment called Euflexxa to lubricate his arthritic right knee. Starting after the Bills game, Clifton had one injection in his knee per week for three weeks with a form of hyaluronic acid that’s similar to the natural substances that lubricate a healthy knee.

“I haven’t had an issue since,” Clifton said.

Clifton also puts in long hours taking care of his knee, and with his daily pre- and post-practice treatment and rehabilitation regimen probably spends more time than any other player in the Packers’ training room, which is an honor no player wants. But it helps him to play at age 35 despite multiple arthroscopic surgeries to both knees, and the demands of a position where he’s blocking the NFL’s premier outside pass rushers, usually one-on-one.

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beast (19h) : But the Return from IR designations had to be applied by the 53 man cutdown.
beast (19h) : It's a new rule, so it's not clear, but my understanding was that they could be IR'd at any time
Mucky Tundra (8-Aug) : *had to be IRed at 53
Mucky Tundra (8-Aug) : beast, I thought the designate return from IR players had to be IR at cutdowns to 53, not before
beast (8-Aug) : It's a brand new rule, either last season or this season, prior, all pre-season IRs were done for the season
beast (8-Aug) : But the Packers would have to use one for their return from IR spots on him, when they cut down to 53.
beast (8-Aug) : I think the NFL recently changed the IR rules, so maybe the season might not be over for OL Glover.
Zero2Cool (8-Aug) : Packers star Howton, first NFLPA prez, dies at 95 😔
dfosterf (8-Aug) : Apparently it is too complicated for several to follow your simple instructions, but I digress
dfosterf (8-Aug) : Zero- Did you see what I posted about Voice of Reason and his wife? She posted over at fleaflicker that they are both "In"
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : Well, not crazy, it makes sense. Crazy I didn't notice/find it earlier
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : it's crazy how one stored procedure to get data bogged everything down for speed here
dfosterf (7-Aug) : to herd cats or goldfish without a bowl. They reminded me of the annual assembly of our fantasy league
dfosterf (7-Aug) : out on a field trip, outfitting them with little yellow smocks. Most of the little folk were well behaved, but several were like trying
dfosterf (7-Aug) : Yesterday my wife and I spent the afternoon on the waterfront here in Alexandria, Va. A daycare company took about 15 three/four year olds
wpr (7-Aug) : seems faster. yay
dfosterf (7-Aug) : Wife of reason posted on the in/out thread on fleaflicker that both she and vor are in
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : This page was generated in 0.135 seconds.
Mucky Tundra (7-Aug) : Tbh, I can never tell the difference in speed unless it's completely shitting the bed
Zero2Cool (7-Aug) : Sure does feel like site is more snappy
Zero2Cool (6-Aug) : I thought that was the Lions OL
Mucky Tundra (6-Aug) : Travis Glover placed on IR; seasons over for him
Zero2Cool (6-Aug) : found bad sql in database, maybe site faster now?
dfosterf (5-Aug) : I'm going to call that a good move.
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : Packers sign CB Corey Ballentine
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : I'm not sure how to kill the draft order just yet so it's not so confusing.
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : *to be able
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : and because it's not a dynasty league (which makes a lot more sense to be ability to trade picks)
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Oh I know; I was just exploring and it blew my mind that you could trade picks because of the whole reordering thing
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Zero, I think I preferred my offer: your 1st for my 15th rounder
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : Keep in mind, we do a draft reorder once all members locked in
Zero2Cool (4-Aug) : You can have my 12th Rd for your 2nd round
Mucky Tundra (4-Aug) : Hey i didn't know we could trade picks in fantasy
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Update: Rock has tried a cheese curd, promises it's not his last
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : watch it!! lol
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : you're right, we never did leave, the site just went down :P
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Rock claims to have never eaten a cheese curd
Zero2Cool (3-Aug) : We did not leave.
Mucky Tundra (3-Aug) : Family Night! WE ARE SO BACK!
Mucky Tundra (2-Aug) : To this day, I'm still miffed about his 4 TD game against Dallas on Thanksgiving going to waste
Martha Careful (2-Aug) : Congratulations Sterling Sharpe. He was terrific and I loved watching him play.
beast (2-Aug) : I believe it's technically against the CBA rules, but Jerry just calls it a simple unofficial chat... and somehow gets away with it.
beast (2-Aug) : Jerry Jones is infamous for ̶n̶e̶g̶o̶t̶i̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ chatting with players one on one... and going around the agent.
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Oo just saw a blurb saying that Dallas negotiated directly with Parsons and not through his agent
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : I assumed that both guys will get paid, just a matter of when or how we get there
Zero2Cool (1-Aug) : McLaurin nor Micah going anywhere. They will get money
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : the Synder years or do they take care of one of their own?
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Do the Commanders risk losing a top WR with an emerging QB just because he's turning 30 and potentially risk damaging the rebuild from
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : Turns 30 this September, plays at a high level and Washington has some cap space I believe
Mucky Tundra (1-Aug) : More interesting is Washington with Terry McLaurin
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