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named AFC ‘Defensive Player of the Week’ days earlier and<br />
would go on to finish as the <strong>NFL</strong> sack leader with 18½…At<br />
Tampa Bay (Nov. 24): Had his year <strong>com</strong>e to an abrupt<br />
end when he was blindsided by an unnecessary block during<br />
a third-quarter interception return. Sprained the bones<br />
of his pelvis so severely that he was hospitalized for nearly<br />
a week (in both Tampa and Green Bay) and was unable to<br />
walk on his own for roughly another six weeks before beginning<br />
a full offseason of rehabilitation…Was placed on<br />
injured reserve Dec. 4.<br />
2001<br />
Played in 14 games, starting 13, in his first full<br />
season as the starter at left tackle…Also opened<br />
both playoff contests…Was inactive for one regular-season<br />
game and dressed for the other, though he did not play…<br />
Played a central role as Green Bay allowed the third fewest<br />
sacks in the <strong>NFL</strong> (22) and the least by a Packers team in 27<br />
years (17 in 1974) at that time…Vs. Washington (Sept.<br />
24): Held Hall of Famer Bruce Smith without a sack in Monday<br />
night victory over Redskins…Vs. Baltimore (Oct.<br />
14): Despite playing with a left hamstring strain suffered a<br />
week earlier at Tampa Bay, shut out Michael McCrary, one<br />
of the AFC’s top pass rushers, in triumph over the defending<br />
Super Bowl champions…Vs. Tampa Bay (Nov. 4):<br />
Sprained his left ankle early in the game, forcing him to be<br />
inactive for the ensuing contest, at Chicago (Nov. 11)…Vs.<br />
Atlanta (Nov. 18): Was available for backup duty but did<br />
not see any action…At Detroit (Nov. 22): Returned to<br />
the field, in a reserve capacity, for Thanksgiving Day battle,<br />
rotating in for Barry Stokes in the first half before taking<br />
the majority of snaps after halftime…At Jacksonville<br />
(Dec. 3): Returned to the starting lineup…Vs. Minnesota<br />
(Dec. 30): Picked up a big block of linebacker Jim<br />
Nelson on Donald Driver’s 31-yard TD run on a reverse,<br />
giving the Packers a 7-3 advantage late in the first half of<br />
eventual 24-13 win.<br />
2000<br />
Moved into the starting lineup at left tackle in<br />
the seventh game of his rookie season, taking<br />
over for Wahle…Played so well down the stretch against<br />
some of the <strong>NFL</strong>’s best pass rushers that he drew serious<br />
consideration for all-rookie honors…Helped Green Bay<br />
average 117.3 yards rushing per game over the final 10<br />
contests – a 39-yard improvement over the 78.3 yards per<br />
game the Packers put forth in the first six weeks when he<br />
wasn’t starting…Saw action in 13 games, starting the last<br />
10…Saw his rookie season get off to a slow start when<br />
he suffered a mild sprain of his right MCL during one-onone<br />
pass-blocking drills in practice Aug. 16, causing him<br />
to miss the Packers’ final two preseason games and to<br />
be inactive for the first two regular-season contests (vs.<br />
New York Jets, at Buffalo)…Dressed, but did not play, vs.<br />
Philadelphia (Sept. 17)…At Arizona (Sept. 24): Made<br />
his <strong>NFL</strong> debut, seeing late-game action at left tackle in a<br />
29-3 win…At Detroit (Oct. 8): Played the majority of the<br />
second half at left tackle after Wahle went out due to a calf<br />
strain, holding up well against Tracy Scroggins, who had<br />
generated 1½ sacks and significant pressure before Clifton<br />
got onto the field…Vs. San Francisco (Oct. 15):<br />
Made his first <strong>NFL</strong> start, opening up at left tackle. Along<br />
with Tauscher, gave Green Bay its first pair of starting<br />
rookie tackles in 48 years (Tom Johnson-Bob Dees, Nov.<br />
16, 1952, at N.Y. Giants)…At Miami (Oct. 29): Held his<br />
own against Taylor, whose 14½ sacks ended up second in<br />
the AFC, in his initial significant challenge since be<strong>com</strong>ing a<br />
starter…At Tampa Bay (Nov. 12): Held Marcus Jones<br />
(fourth in the NFC with 13 sacks) without a sack, and prevented<br />
him from making even a single tackle…At Minnesota<br />
(Dec. 17): Shut down John Randle in upset victory<br />
over Vikings inside the noisy Metrodome...2000 Draft:<br />
Selected in the second round (44th overall), and was the<br />
fifth offensive lineman picked in the draft…First offensive<br />
lineman drafted by the Packers out of the University of Tennessee<br />
since T Jim Haslam in 1953…At the time, was the<br />
highest selection used on a player from the University of<br />
Tennessee in team history (Justin Harrell, 16th overall in<br />
2007)…One of nine Volunteers drafted in 2000.<br />
college<br />
Four-year starter (1996-99) who began<br />
his collegiate career at right tackle<br />
before spending his final three seasons at left tackle…A<br />
two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection, he also<br />
earned second-team All-America honors from The Sporting<br />
News as a senior…Played in two national championship<br />
games – including Fiesta Bowl victory over Florida State to<br />
culminate unbeaten 1998 season – four bowl games and<br />
two SEC championship games…Started 45 of 48 career<br />
games played as a collegian, including 26 straight starts…<br />
Enjoyed a 43-7 on-field record (.860) during the four seasons<br />
in which he played for the Volunteers…Majored in<br />
psychology…Senior season (1999): Served as one of<br />
six team captains while opening at left tackle in 11 of 12<br />
contests…Earned second-team All-America honors from<br />
The Sporting News and was a second-team All-SEC pick<br />
by the conference’s coaches…Junior season (1998):<br />
Named first-team All-SEC by Football News and secondteam<br />
all-conference by The Associated Press and league’s<br />
coaches…Started all 13 games at left tackle as Vols went<br />
13-0 and captured the ’98 national title…Sophomore<br />
season (1997): Played in all 13 games, starting 12 at<br />
left tackle, as Volunteers won SEC title before losing to<br />
Nebraska in national championship (Orange Bowl)…Was<br />
part of an offensive line that allowed only one sack per 35<br />
snaps – a school record…Redshirt freshman season<br />
(1996): Took over at right tackle after incumbent Jarvis<br />
Reado broke his leg in the third game of the year…Played<br />
in 11 of the Vols’ 12 games, starting nine, including Florida<br />
Citrus Bowl victory over Northwestern.<br />
personal<br />
VETERANS<br />
Given name Jeffrey Chad Clifton…<br />
Nicknamed ‘Big Cliff’…Born in Martin,<br />
Tenn., the same hometown as 2007 first-round draft pick<br />
Justin Harrell…Married to Candy, who passed the Wisconsin<br />
bar exam in 2003, the couple has two sons, Corbin, 4,<br />
and Cruz, 2…Twin sisters, Gloria and Glenda, played basketball<br />
at Austin Peay…High school: Earned All-America<br />
honors from Parade and Scholastic Coach as a senior at<br />
Westview High School in Martin, Tenn. …Also received<br />
ADMIN. &<br />
DRAFT &<br />
COMMUNITY COACHES CLIFTON FREE AGENTS<br />
2008 REVIEW HISTORY<br />
RECORDS &<br />
LAMBEAU<br />
FIELD<br />
Fewest sacks allowed since 2000<br />
Tackle Chad Clifton has been a mainstay along the line since his rookie season in 2000 and is noted as one of the league’s finest pass<br />
protectors. A look at the numbers since he entered the <strong>NFL</strong>:<br />
Since Week 7, 2000 (Clifton’s first start)<br />
Indianapolis Colts ....173<br />
Green Bay Packers. .203<br />
San Diego Chargers ..240<br />
Denver Broncos. .....241<br />
Tennessee Titans. ....248<br />
Since Week 1, 2000<br />
Indianapolis Colts ....178<br />
Green Bay Packers. .220<br />
Denver Broncos. .....256<br />
San Diego Chargers ..262<br />
Tennessee Titans. ....262<br />
MISC.<br />
103
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