QUOTE
The 49ers were poised to take LSU wide receiver Michael Clayton with the 16th overall choice in April's draft. But at No. 15, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 49ers' opponent Sunday, took Clayton.
When ESPN announced the Bucs' selection, a chorus of expletives resounded from the 49ers' draft room. The Niners eventually traded down, collected more picks and landed Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashaun Woods with the 31st overall choice.
Such are the tricks of fate. The 49ers are struggling, and Woods has yet to contribute.
Meanwhile, Clayton has helped lead the Buccaneers' offensive revival. The 3-6 Bucs got off to a stumbling start as wide receiver Keenan McCardell held out and Joe Jurevicius mended from a Dec. 2 medial collateral tear in his knee. Then the Bucs lost veteran receiver Joey Galloway to an injury for two months.
It was a situation Bucs coach Jon Gruden dubbed "horrific."
Clayton was forced into the lineup when McCardell was dealt to San Diego for a third- and sixth-round draft picks in the 2005 draft, and Jurevicius and Galloway came along slowly.
Clayton responded. In a draft where six receivers were taken in the first 15 selections, Clayton leads all rookie receivers this year with 48 catches for 685 yards and three touchdowns.
Clayton's emergence mirrors that of his team, which lost its first four games and then won three of its last five. Fueled by quarterback Brian Griese and Clayton's insertions into the lineup, the Bucs have scored 14 touchdowns in the past five games after scoring only four in their first four games.
Along the way, Clayton won effusive praise from a perfectionist who's impossible to please -- Gruden.
"Mike Clayton, he is a really good player," Gruden said. "He's a natural. He's got the size and physical attributes you are looking for. He has a great charisma and maturity about him. He's handled our system of football as well as any young guy that I have ever been around. He's got an incredible future ahead of him."
Such plaudits probably make the 49ers envious. While Clayton starred, Woods iced swollen hamstrings and tried to digest the 49ers' playbook. While Clayton makes his seventh NFL start, Woods will have his snaps bumped up from 12 to an estimated 21 in this game.
But fortunately for Woods, the story doesn't end here. In fact, for him it's just the beginning.
Woods, who knows Clayton from the college scouting combine, said he keeps track of his fellow rookie receivers.
"He's doing well, I'm happy for him," Woods said.
Clayton said there was only one difference between himself and Woods this season.
"Any one of those (first round receivers) can do what I do. I was given an opportunity." Clayton said. "Those guys had to work their way through it. That's the only difference."
Despite only catching two passes this season, Woods' confidence remains high. Even though Woods never had a pass thrown his way in 12 plays last Sunday, he said, "Oh, I was open."
When ESPN announced the Bucs' selection, a chorus of expletives resounded from the 49ers' draft room. The Niners eventually traded down, collected more picks and landed Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashaun Woods with the 31st overall choice.
Such are the tricks of fate. The 49ers are struggling, and Woods has yet to contribute.
Meanwhile, Clayton has helped lead the Buccaneers' offensive revival. The 3-6 Bucs got off to a stumbling start as wide receiver Keenan McCardell held out and Joe Jurevicius mended from a Dec. 2 medial collateral tear in his knee. Then the Bucs lost veteran receiver Joey Galloway to an injury for two months.
It was a situation Bucs coach Jon Gruden dubbed "horrific."
Clayton was forced into the lineup when McCardell was dealt to San Diego for a third- and sixth-round draft picks in the 2005 draft, and Jurevicius and Galloway came along slowly.
Clayton responded. In a draft where six receivers were taken in the first 15 selections, Clayton leads all rookie receivers this year with 48 catches for 685 yards and three touchdowns.
Clayton's emergence mirrors that of his team, which lost its first four games and then won three of its last five. Fueled by quarterback Brian Griese and Clayton's insertions into the lineup, the Bucs have scored 14 touchdowns in the past five games after scoring only four in their first four games.
Along the way, Clayton won effusive praise from a perfectionist who's impossible to please -- Gruden.
"Mike Clayton, he is a really good player," Gruden said. "He's a natural. He's got the size and physical attributes you are looking for. He has a great charisma and maturity about him. He's handled our system of football as well as any young guy that I have ever been around. He's got an incredible future ahead of him."
Such plaudits probably make the 49ers envious. While Clayton starred, Woods iced swollen hamstrings and tried to digest the 49ers' playbook. While Clayton makes his seventh NFL start, Woods will have his snaps bumped up from 12 to an estimated 21 in this game.
But fortunately for Woods, the story doesn't end here. In fact, for him it's just the beginning.
Woods, who knows Clayton from the college scouting combine, said he keeps track of his fellow rookie receivers.
"He's doing well, I'm happy for him," Woods said.
Clayton said there was only one difference between himself and Woods this season.
"Any one of those (first round receivers) can do what I do. I was given an opportunity." Clayton said. "Those guys had to work their way through it. That's the only difference."
Despite only catching two passes this season, Woods' confidence remains high. Even though Woods never had a pass thrown his way in 12 plays last Sunday, he said, "Oh, I was open."
while Clayton is PLAYING a good game! 
