CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney cannot wait to convey to his hometown Carolina Panthers the prove-it mode he has been in since his falling-out with the Cleveland Browns on the finish of the 2022 season.
The three-time Professional Bowl choice from close by Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Wednesday signed a two-year, $20 million cope with the Panthers that would attain as much as $24 million with incentives based mostly on sacks.
Clowney, 31, earned the deal after tying his profession excessive in sacks (9.5) final season in what he referred to as his “Kobe [Bryant] yr” with the Baltimore Ravens.
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“That was crucial, actually for myself as a result of I already knew I might play the sport and make performs,” Clowney stated throughout a Zoom name on Friday. “I inform folks on a regular basis if I play in 16, 17 video games, it is going to seem like a Professional Bowl season. That is all I received to do, is simply be on the market enjoying.
“I do know I could make the performs it doesn’t matter what workforce I am on. I’ve simply received to be accessible and deal with myself. The older I get the extra I work out learn how to keep more healthy.”
Due to accidents, Clowney hadn’t performed a full season earlier than final yr since 2017, when he had 9.5 sacks for the Houston Texans, who chosen him with the highest choose of the 2014 draft.
After carrying No. 90 most of his profession, he selected 24 final season to represent what he hoped can be a yr of development after having solely two sacks in an injury-plagued 2022 season with the Browns. He says his reasoning was much like Bryant’s when he switched from No. 8 to 24 with the Lakers in 2006 after Los Angeles moved on from star middle Shaquille O’Neal.
“That was my Kobe Bryant yr, the return of the killer,” Clowney stated. “I stated Kobe [year] as a result of once I was in Cleveland a variety of stuff occurred my final yr there once I did not have my greatest season.
“They put out that article about me saying all this about what was happening.”
In an article printed in Cleveland.com, Clowney stated the workforce was favoring star defensive finish Myles Garrett over him.
“For example it. Let’s be trustworthy,” Clowney stated within the article. “[It seems to me] they do not need me to outplay no person.”
The Browns disciplined Clowney for his feedback, sending him residence earlier than a follow previous to the season finale on the Steelers and leaving him in Cleveland for the sport.
Clowney performed final season for the Ravens on a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
“Like I stated, the girl with the pen will get the final say, so I by no means actually received to reply to that or say something about what was stated,” Clowney stated. “I simply swallowed that and went to work and received again to grinding and understanding.”
His 9.5 sacks in 2023 made Clowney a sizzling commodity in free company, significantly for the Panthers after they traded two-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants.
The New York Jets additionally tried to signal Clowney to assist anchor a protection that may take a few of the strain off their offense as future Corridor of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns from harm.
Clowney selected Carolina partially as a result of he grew up solely 25 miles from Charlotte, performed his school soccer at South Carolina simply 90 miles away, and idolized longtime Panther and 2024 Corridor of Fame inductee Julius Peppers. He additionally believes the Panthers, regardless of six straight shedding seasons and coming off an NFL-worst 2-15 report, have the expertise to make a run on the playoffs.
He hopes to assist convey five-time Professional Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore, his teammate at South Pointe Excessive and South Carolina, again to assist the trigger.
Clowney stated he and Gilmore talked earlier than he signed his new deal. He stated Gilmore informed him he has been making an attempt to get the Panthers to signal him after he spent the 2023 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
“I believe we will flip this factor round and have some enjoyable right here,” Clowney stated. “I am in search of one thing nice for this upcoming season.
“The division [NFC South] was tight final yr no matter what folks say. It is no cause to assume the Panthers cannot come out on prime of the division this yr and make the playoffs.”
Clowney first requested for No. 24 when arriving at Carolina, however after being informed No. 7, which he wore in highschool and school, was accessible he selected that quantity as a result of 24 already had served its goal.
“I stated I simply want one alternative to indicate these folks I nonetheless can do that at a excessive stage and I am not the man they make me out to be,” Clowney stated of final season. “That is all I wished to do this complete offseason, show that to folks.
“Baltimore gave me that chance to return on the market and play.”
Now, Clowney added, he is having a homecoming that is “permitting me to stay out my dream.”
