20°c A few clouds
25°c Chance of thundershowers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Longest-serving Falcon desperate for victory
McClure in 14th year, never been to big game
John Amis / the associated press archives Falcons centre Todd McClure celebrates as running back Michael Turner scores a TD. (CP)
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- When Todd McClure was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, they had just made it to the Super Bowl for the first time.
"You think it's going to be easy," he remembered.
It's not, of course.
Fourteen years later, McClure is still waiting for his first trip to the big game.
"I tell the young guys on this team that we have to take advantage of this opportunity," he said, "because it's not a given that you'll be in this position again next year."
When the Falcons (14-3) host the San Francisco 49ers (12-4-1) today for the NFC championship and a spot in the Super Bowl, McClure will be right in the middle of things, though chances are he'll barely be noticed.
He may be the centre, but he's hardly the centre of attention. McClure snaps the ball to get the play started, then fades into the background while players such as Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez grab all the headlines for the Falcons high-octane offence.
But ask around the locker-room, and everyone will say that McClure is the glue that holds the unit together.
"Todd has been huge for my career here in Atlanta," Ryan said. "He's a guy who doesn't get enough recognition. In all honesty, my first two years here, in terms of pass protection, Todd carried me. He really did. He set every protection, he got us on the right page, and he kept me clean. He helped me out immensely."
As the longest-running member of the Falcons by far, McClure has certainly gone through his share of ups and downs.
A seventh-round pick out of LSU in 1999, he sustained a season-ending injury in his first training camp, raising doubts about whether he'd ever play in the NFL. Turns out, he claimed a job on the line the next season and went on to set a franchise record with 148 consecutive starts. Over the past dozen seasons, he's missed only four of 192 games.
"He's a consummate professional, he really is," Ryan said. "He's extremely well prepared week in and week out. He gives it everything he has. He's a guy I look up to on how to handle your business and be a good teammate, and what it takes to have yourself prepared, those kinds of things. I've looked up to him since I've been here and he's certainly meant a lot to me."
McClure has gotten this close to the Super Bowl only one other time. During the 2004 season, when he was snapping the ball to Michael Vick, the Falcons came up one win short, losing at frigid Philadelphia in the conference championship game.
Now, as the lone holdover from that team, McClure is back for another shot.
With his 36th birthday right around the corner, he doesn't want to let it slip away again.
"This is why we play the game," McClure said. "That's why I'm still playing this game."
No wonder McClure hopes to come back for at least one more season, maybe two.
"I'm still having fun," he said. "I enjoy this team, enjoy hanging out with the guys in the locker-room. I don't know what else I would do with my time..."
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 20, 2013 B12
More Football
- Back to Top
- Return to Football
More Football
(1 of 3 articles for this month)
Stop us, Buck fans, if you've heard this before
06/19/2013 1:00 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Football
- Burke discontinues walk-throughs ahead of Ticats game
- Hef will be Huf's SAM
- Blue hope the future is now
- Garrett's fire still burning
- Burke keeps mum on which starting jobs still to be won
- Forewarned is forearmed, Blue fans
- QB Goltz plays game of thrones
- Burke reaches out to his veterans
- Blue offence must make teams pay for blitzing Buck
- Stop us, Buck fans, if you've heard this before
- Bombers admit a lot of work to do
- CFL tells Bombers to fix press box
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers release Jonathan Hefney
- Hefney decision is mine: Burke
- Brett Cameron among Bomber cuts
- New era begins with errors
- Etienne grabs a clue
- QB Hall discovers three less than four
- Bombers leaving veterans at home for game against Ticats
- Bombers receive no love from oddsmakers
- Bombers admit a lot of work to do
- CFL tells Bombers to fix press box
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers release Jonathan Hefney
- Burke cracks down after tempers flare at Bomber practice
- Hefney decision is mine: Burke
- Bombers' Hefney charged with marijuana possession in S.C.
- Bombers lose 24-6 to Argos in Investors Group Field debut
- Don't count out former NFLer as QBs battle for backup position
- Brett Cameron among Bomber cuts
- No Kumbaya at this camp
- Blue offence must make teams pay for blitzing Buck
- CFL game an eye-opener
- Hef will be Huf's SAM
- Burke discontinues walk-throughs ahead of Ticats game
- Bombers admit a lot of work to do
- New era begins with errors
- Burke picks up pieces of pre-season pummeling
- Critical numbers
- CFL tells Bombers to fix press box
- Big Blue 10-1 dogs to win Grey Cup
- Brett Cameron among Bomber cuts
- CFL game an eye-opener
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers release Jonathan Hefney
- Blue offence must make teams pay for blitzing Buck
- Buck 'goes long' for Winnipeg
- The Burke identity
- Freight train at fullback
- Bombers admit a lot of work to do
- Bomber greats to adorn gates
- Don't count out former NFLer as QBs battle for backup position
- Hall of Fame DE Deacon Jones of famed Fearsome Foursome, who coined term 'sack,' dead at 74
- Not enough gates to honour Blue greats
- Bombers' Hefney charged with marijuana possession in S.C.
- New era begins with errors
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.