Clay Mathews

[Sam I Am]

Is there any question this guy isn't a steroiding fool? :rolleyes:

You couldn't point something out any clearer than if you put a spotlight on him on the dark side of the moon.

This airhead wasn't even a starter until the end of his college career. If anything doesn't shout STEROIDS nothing does.

EDIT: damn, typoed his name. Clay Matthews

[kmp77]

He doesn't look ripped though. Dunno. I didn't realize he went to USC until now so hmmmm....

[Eskimo]

He definitely looks and plays like he is on steroids, HGH or both.

[hornitosmonster]

He did Roids for sure.

[brucekr]

I dunno, I saw him get handled quite a bit tonight, but his motor never stops running and his play til the whistle blows mentality pays off. Reminds me of their DE they let go, think he plays for the 49ers now? Just can't think of his name. Big white dude.

[Danny White]

He needs some good shampoo with conditioner.

[Cowboysfan570]

He needs some good shampoo with conditioner.

Troy Polamalu definitely needs to have a talk with him.

[ThreeSportStar80]

Dude looks like a Roid Rage case waiting to happen...

[CowboyMike]

Clay Matthews was 6-1 190 lbs when he entered USC.

He graduated standing at 6-3 250 lbs.

His linebacking buddy in college, Brian Cushing, is currently serving a suspension for steroid use.

You do the math.

[Biolink]

The height is within reason because men have known to have growth spurts as old as 25 years old, but to gain all of that muscle and not even give an inch in speed is just suspicious as hell

[BAZ]

Clay Matthews was 6-1 190 lbs when he entered USC.

He graduated standing at 6-3 250 lbs.

His linebacking buddy in college, Brian Cushing, is currently serving a suspension for steroid use.

You do the math.

60 pounds! What do I win?

[perrykemp]

I question Matthews being on roids too -- however, the one <major> thing in his benefit is that his genetics are outstanding...

Dad played 19 years at LB for Cleveland
Uncle was a Hall of Fame OL for Houston

Those are some serious bloodlines.

[joseephuss]

I question Matthews being on roids too -- however, the one <major> thing in his benefit is that his genetics are outstanding...

Dad played 19 years at LB for Cleveland
Uncle was a Hall of Fame OL for Houston

Those are some serious bloodlines.

His grandfather also played a few years in the league and was listed at 6'-3" and 218 lbs back in the 1950s.

[Plankton]

Clay Matthews was 6-1 190 lbs when he entered USC.

He graduated standing at 6-3 250 lbs.

His linebacking buddy in college, Brian Cushing, is currently serving a suspension for steroid use.

You do the math.

DeMarcus Ware entered Troy University at 190 pounds, and left weighing 251.

Do you believe that Ware took roids too?

[ABQCOWBOY]

I dunno, I saw him get handled quite a bit tonight, but his motor never stops running and his play til the whistle blows mentality pays off. Reminds me of their DE they let go, think he plays for the 49ers now? Just can't think of his name. Big white dude.

I'm guessing Aaron Kampman here. 6-4 286. He was a heck of a rusher but I don't think he was nearly the player Matthews is in space. JMO. I believe he's in Jacksonville now.

[Aven8]

This kid is a manbeast! I would take him in a NY second. I wouldn't be surprised if he get's the DPOY if he keeps playing like this!

[CowboyMike]

DeMarcus Ware entered Troy University at 190 pounds, and left weighing 251.

Do you believe that Ware took roids too?

Nope. Ware is 6-4 262, but he is a very lean 262. He isn't very bulky, he's more of a streamlined body type. He carries that weight naturally.

Matthews, well... he's this...

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/files/2009/03/clay-matthews-jr.jpg

[Plankton]

Nope. Ware is 6-4 262, but he is a very lean 262. He isn't very bulky, he's more of a streamlined body type. He carries that weight naturally.

Matthews, well... he's this...

http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/files/2009/03/clay-matthews-jr.jpg

Matthews' father and uncle were both large framed players, so it's not as if it isn't in his bloodlines. His dad played at over 240 pounds, and his uncle was 315.

Matthews body type does not look ridiculous in football gear at all. Is he on roids? Possibly. But, to point to "weight gain" as an indicator would bring Ware into the same discussion, as they had the same weight changes.

So did Orakpo, who I definitely think is on roids.

[chicago JK]

It is interesting how things play out. Wasn't Matthews not even scheduled to start at USC after his junior year? Now he looks like a pro bowler in his second season.

These types of scenarios play out more than you think with players. I guess it is why the draft is so unpredictable.

[baj1dallas]

DeMarcus Ware entered Troy University at 190 pounds, and left weighing 251.

Do you believe that Ware took roids too?

yeah gaining 50-60 pounds over 4 years under a professional training regimen is not really that hard to believe, especially the way a lot of these guys today know so much about proper training and nutrition.

roid rage is a myth.

[jimnabby]

Clay Matthews was 6-1 190 lbs when he entered USC.

He graduated standing at 6-3 250 lbs.

His linebacking buddy in college, Brian Cushing, is currently serving a suspension for steroid use.

You do the math.

You're kidding, right?

A guy grows two inches between the ages of 18 and 23 and that's somehow evidence for steroid/HGH use?

An 18-year-old begins a major college football program and gains 60 pounds over five years (1 pound a month), and that's somehow evidence for steroid/HGH use?

[Bob Sacamano]

Clay Matthews was 6-1 190 lbs when he entered USC.

He graduated standing at 6-3 250 lbs.

His linebacking buddy in college, Brian Cushing, is currently serving a suspension for steroid use.

You do the math.

DeMarcus Ware was the same way. He was originally recruited to play WR and entered Troy about 190 lbs.

I'm just saying that it's possible that Matthews isn't on 'roids.

[Bob Sacamano]

You're kidding, right?

A guy grows two inches between the ages of 18 and 23 and that's somehow evidence for steroid/HGH use?

An 18-year-old begins a major college football program and gains 60 pounds over five years (1 pound a month), and that's somehow evidence for steroid/HGH use?

Good points all around. Weight gain only becomes suspicious when a guy like Merriman gains 30 pounds in 2 weeks before the draft.

[Joshmvii]

Nope. Ware is 6-4 262, but he is a very lean 262. He isn't very bulky, he's more of a streamlined body type. He carries that weight naturally.

Matthews, well... he's this...


I'm not saying I do or don't think Matthews uses roids, because I have no reason to believe or disbelieve it, but if you don't think D-Ware looks a lot like that in the middle of a probably 500+ pound deadlift then you're out of your mind. It's called getting a pump, and it happens when you lift weights. Ware does have a lean body, but he's also extremely muscular.

[CanuckCowboysFan]

Clay Matthews was 6-1 190 lbs when he entered USC.

He graduated standing at 6-3 250 lbs.

His linebacking buddy in college, Brian Cushing, is currently serving a suspension for steroid use.

You do the math.



you know its possible to gain 60 pounds in 4 years naturally right? Just eat like a possessed human being, and lift weights.

[Joe Rod]

you know its possible to gain 60 pounds in 4 years naturally right? Just eat like a possessed human being, and lift weights.

Yep, he had plenty of time and folks around him dedicated to helping him bulk up. If he was like Barry Bonds gaining 30 pounds of muscle in one-offseason, then let the speculation run rampant.

[Ntegrase96]

you know its possible to gain 60 pounds in 4 years naturally right? Just eat like a possessed human being, and lift weights.


True. I had a friend that was 6-5 195 our senior year. He went off to a division 2 school for the first two years of college, and came back around 230ish. He was picked up by an SEC team after his sophomore year, and by the time he was out of college he was up to about 260.

A lot of growth when you start eating better, training more effectively, and in that age group of 18-23.

[CanuckCowboysFan]

True. I had a friend that was 6-5 195 our senior year. He went off to a division 2 school for the first two years of college, and came back around 230ish. He was picked up by an SEC team after his sophomore year, and by the time he was out of college he was up to about 260.

A lot of growth when you start eating better, training more effectively, and in that age group of 18-23.



yep. I'd go even further and say it's completely possible to gain 50-60 pounds within the year, or two. If you eat around 4000-5000 calories and lift weights effectively, that would equal around .8 to a pound a week. Completely stupid people think Mathews is on roids cause of that. The jersey shore dudes, you have a point, but not Mathews (atleast I highly doubt it).

[ghst187]

reminds me of the Texans LB that got busted for it...Cushing....

[BAZ]

you know its possible to gain 60 pounds in 4 years naturally right? Just eat like a possessed human being, and lift weights.


Yeah but it's fun to speculate and in fairness, he is tearing it up at a rate that Loots oot did and then dropped off the map.

In fairness

[Sam I Am]

There is nothing wrong with his weight growth during college.

The issue is the extreme intensity. Nobody is that intense all the time.

Those that are (Merriman, Bosworth, Cushing, etc) are all big time steroid users.

[Joshmvii]

yep. I'd go even further and say it's completely possible to gain 50-60 pounds within the year, or two. If you eat around 4000-5000 calories and lift weights effectively, that would equal around .8 to a pound a week. Completely stupid people think Mathews is on roids cause of that. The jersey shore dudes, you have a point, but not Mathews (atleast I highly doubt it).

It's not even close to possible to gain 60 pounds of lean mass in one year. 5 years yes, one, not even close. Anybody can gain 60 pounds in a year, you just eat 210,000 calories worth of surplus in whatever time period, but it's just going to be mostly fat. There is a limit on how much muscle you can build naturally within a short term time span. That's the reason people use steroids, to overcome their natural limits.

[Joshmvii]

There is nothing wrong with his weight growth during college.

The issue is the extreme intensity. Nobody is that intense all the time.

Those that are (Merriman, Bosworth, Cushing, etc) are all big time steroid users.

That is extremely ridiculous. The kind of steroids that guys use today don't make you intense. They just make you able to recover faster and build muscle faster. Jay Ratliff plays with the same intensity as the guys you mentioned(No he doesn't yell constantly, but he does play with the same intensity), and he's not a juicer.

I know plenty of people who use roids and it doesn't just automatically make you intense. :lmao2:

[Sam I Am]

That is extremely ridiculous. The kind of steroids that guys use today don't make you intense. They just make you able to recover faster and build muscle faster. Jay Ratliff plays with the same intensity as the guys you mentioned(No he doesn't yell constantly, but he does play with the same intensity), and he's not a juicer.

I know plenty of people who use roids and it doesn't just automatically make you intense. :lmao2:

Steroids DO and HGH doesn't.

What Ratliff does and what Cushing/Matthews/Merriman/Bosworth and the like did are two different things.

Ratliff doesn't look like his head is going to explode.

[InmanRoshi]

Clay Matthews was 6-1 190 lbs when he entered USC.

He graduated standing at 6-3 250 lbs.

His linebacking buddy in college, Brian Cushing, is currently serving a suspension for steroid use.

You do the math.

Actually, he reportedly came into USC as a 166 lbs. walk on. He didn't even play regularly except on special teams until his senior year when he magically morphed into this man-beast.

So he goes from college special teamer to NFL DPOY candidate in about 16 months ... yeah, I would say something is fishy about that, even if you believe the 80 lbs. of muscle in 4 years (while actually getting faster) to be legit.

And as far as his bloodlines go, who's to say that doesn't make him more likely for steroid use? I'm sure his dad and uncle are/were quite familiar with steroids and how to acquire, use and mask them. We know they were pretty much rampant in NFL lockerrooms in the late 70's and early 80s, especially among linemen. Even if they didn't take them, they knew a lot of teammates who did firsthand.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/44071

[perrykemp]

And as far as his bloodlines go, who's to say that doesn't make him more likely for steroid use? I'm sure his dad and uncle are/were quite familiar with steroids and how to acquire, use and mask them. We know they were pretty much rampant in NFL lockerrooms in the late 70's and early 80s, especially among linemen.

Bloodlines are important though. His dad wasn't "just a guy" -- he went to 4 Pro-Bowls and was sacking guys when he was 40 years old. His Uncle wasn't "just a guy", he ended up in the Hall of Fame.

In terms of pedigree, it would be hard to beat Clay Matthews background for any player in the NFL.

[Joe Rod]

Actually, he reportedly came into USC as a 166 lbs. walk on. He didn't even play regularly except on special teams until his senior year when he magically morphed into this man-beast.

So he goes from college special teamer to NFL DPOY candidate in about 16 months ... yeah, I would say something is fishy about that, even if you believe the 80 lbs. of muscle in 4 years (while actually getting faster) to be legit.

And as far as his bloodlines go, who's to say that doesn't make him more likely for steroid use? I'm sure his dad and uncle are/were quite familiar with steroids and how to acquire, use and mask them. We know they were pretty much rampant in NFL lockerrooms in the late 70's and early 80s, especially among linemen. Even if they didn't take them, they knew a lot of teammates who did firsthand.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/44071

Hey IR, the 166 pounds was his playing weight during his junior year in High School.

That Matthews — a 166-pound backup linebacker/tight end as a junior at Agoura (Calif.) High School whose only Division I scholarship offer came from Idaho — would be in this position is one of the all-time rags-to-riches stories in USC football history.

[Bob Sacamano]

That is extremely ridiculous. The kind of steroids that guys use today don't make you intense. They just make you able to recover faster and build muscle faster. Jay Ratliff plays with the same intensity as the guys you mentioned(No he doesn't yell constantly, but he does play with the same intensity), and he's not a juicer.

I know plenty of people who use roids and it doesn't just automatically make you intense. :lmao2:

It does however build up your testosterone which brings on 'roid rage.

Intensity isn't 'roid rage.

[CanuckCowboysFan]

It's not even close to possible to gain 60 pounds of lean mass in one year. 5 years yes, one, not even close. Anybody can gain 60 pounds in a year, you just eat 210,000 calories worth of surplus in whatever time period, but it's just going to be mostly fat. There is a limit on how much muscle you can build naturally within a short term time span. That's the reason people use steroids, to overcome their natural limits.


What are you talking about? I never said 60 pound of MUSCLE. I said 60 pound of WEIGHT. Some is fat, some is muscle. But WEIGHT. It is completely possible to gain 60 pounds in a year. I never said 60 pound of MUSCLE. And no, you don't have to eat 210,000 calories, 4000-5000 will do the job, plus lift weights.

BTW, Vinny Delmonte gained 48 pounds of pure muscle in 6 months, and many users of his program have gotten similar results. So that pretty much dis-proves you're theory that 60 pounds of muscle can't be done in a year.

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bestmusclebuilding.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Table_vincedelmontenononsense2_thumb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bestmusclebuilding.org/best-muscle-building-programs/vince-delmonte-reviews-is-vince-delmonte-scam&usg=__vtaoddXmow6sqWI4mnCPIsplzzY=&h=238&w=307&sz=33&hl=en&start=103&zoom=1&tbnid=KTda8dA9L3qNgM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=165&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvince%2Bdelmonte%2Bbefore%2Bafter%26u m%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3 Den%26biw%3D1281%26bih%3D601%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C244 5&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=490&ei=8fGkTJvdOoa6sQOElZD-Dg&oei=xPGkTJbpLp34cMaTqaAI&esq=7&page=6&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:103&tx=51&ty=63&biw=1281&bih=601

[CanuckCowboysFan]

Actually, he reportedly came into USC as a 166 lbs. walk on.



I find that extremely hard to believe. A 166 pounds? Isn't there a limit?

[Sam I Am]

I find that extremely hard to believe. A 166 pounds? Isn't there a limit?

I was 155lbs till just after I turned 27. I quit smoking and gained 30lbs in 2 months time.

[CanuckCowboysFan]

I was 155lbs till just after I turned 27. I quit smoking and gained 30lbs in 2 months time.


We're talking about a division 1 linebacker here being 166 pounds. BS.

[Joshmvii]

Well, if a guy is gaining weight to play football, it better be mostly muscle. ALso, yes, to gain 60 pounds you must eat a 210,000 calorie surplus over what your body burns over whatever time period is in question. There are 3500 calories of energy in a pound, and the only way to gain weight is to eat more than you burn. Law of thermodynamics...

And nobody built 48 pounds of pure muscle in 6 months naturally. It's not humanly possible. Maybe if a guy had already been bigger then lost it, and was gaining it back, but that's an entirely different set of circumstances.

If you're lucky and not blessed with freakish genetics, you can build generally about a pound of lean mass per month. If you're a complete beginner or have god tier genetics, you may get more than that, but not to the tune of 10+ pounds a month, ever. Not natural.

What are you talking about? I never said 60 pound of MUSCLE. I said 60 pound of WEIGHT. Some is fat, some is muscle. But WEIGHT. It is completely possible to gain 60 pounds in a year. I never said 60 pound of MUSCLE. And no, you don't have to eat 210,000 calories, 4000-5000 will do the job, plus lift weights.

BTW, Vinny Delmonte gained 48 pounds of pure muscle in 6 months, and many users of his program have gotten similar results. So that pretty much dis-proves you're theory that 60 pounds of muscle can't be done in a year.

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bestmusclebuilding.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Table_vincedelmontenononsense2_thumb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bestmusclebuilding.org/best-muscle-building-programs/vince-delmonte-reviews-is-vince-delmonte-scam&usg=__vtaoddXmow6sqWI4mnCPIsplzzY=&h=238&w=307&sz=33&hl=en&start=103&zoom=1&tbnid=KTda8dA9L3qNgM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=165&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvince%2Bdelmonte%2Bbefore%2Bafter%26u m%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3 Den%26biw%3D1281%26bih%3D601%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C244 5&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=490&ei=8fGkTJvdOoa6sQOElZD-Dg&oei=xPGkTJbpLp34cMaTqaAI&esq=7&page=6&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:103&tx=51&ty=63&biw=1281&bih=601

[jimmy40]

There is nothing wrong with his weight growth during college.

The issue is the extreme intensity. Nobody is that intense all the time.

Those that are (Merriman, Bosworth, Cushing, etc) are all big time steroid users.throw Brooking in there too.

[Sam I Am]

throw Brooking in there too.

No. You are confusing what I'm talking about. I'm talking about your eye popping out of your head crazy incoherent behavior. I'm guessing you don't remember Brian Bosworth and the psychopath he was.

Both Cushing, Matthews, and Merriman have displayed that same type of behavior.

[speedkilz88]

We're talking about a division 1 linebacker here being 166 pounds. BS.It was already pointed out that weight is from his junior year in high school.

[the kid 05]

No. You are confusing what I'm talking about. I'm talking about your eye popping out of your head crazy incoherent behavior. I'm guessing you don't remember Brian Bosworth and the psychopath he was.

Both Cushing, Matthews, and Merriman have displayed that same type of behavior.

Ware plays with the exact same intensity.

I think this needs to be filed under "there is a player out side of dallas who is good, he must be abusin the roids"

[Joe Rod]

Ware plays with the exact same intensity.

I think this needs to be filed under "there is a player out side of dallas who is good, he must be abusin the roids"

I found a quote from a chat that Clay did prior to the Draft:

Is it true that you were 180lbs going into college? If so what did you do to get to the size you are now?

Clay Matthews Jr., LB, USC

My weight going into college was around 220 pounds

So, if that is true, then he was probably clean in college. BUT, it leads to some suspicion on how he could have gone from 166 to 220 in basically two years (Beginning Junior Year through entry to USC).

[baj1dallas]

Actually, he reportedly came into USC as a 166 lbs. walk on. He didn't even play regularly except on special teams until his senior year when he magically morphed into this man-beast.

even so, check out these from Mark Rippetoe (one of the foremost strength trainers in the country)

>The Starting Strength program is designed to take advantage of the body's immense growth capability during the first few months of training, when Rip says a lifter can gain faster naturally than many seasoned veterans can on steroids.

"These are the prime growth years. You'll never have another anabolic window like that ever again," says Rip. "And if you waste it, you can never go back."

>What kind of growth are we talking about?

"An 18-year-old kid showing up at my gym for the first time; if he's 5'10'' and 140 pounds on day one, I've seen kids that size put on 60 pounds of mass in six to eight months more times than I count," says Rip. "In fact, if he doesn't get results like that, I know he's not eating enough."

[Primetime42]

you know its possible to gain 60 pounds in 4 years naturally right? Just eat like a possessed human being, and lift weights.
I thought that sounded familiar.:laugh2:

FF to the :48 mark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mxjefR-vdI
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mxjefR-vdI)

[gmoney112]

even so, check out these from Mark Rippetoe (one of the foremost strength trainers in the country)

>The Starting Strength program is designed to take advantage of the body's immense growth capability during the first few months of training, when Rip says a lifter can gain faster naturally than many seasoned veterans can on steroids.

"These are the prime growth years. You'll never have another anabolic window like that ever again," says Rip. "And if you waste it, you can never go back."

>What kind of growth are we talking about?

"An 18-year-old kid showing up at my gym for the first time; if he's 5'10'' and 140 pounds on day one, I've seen kids that size put on 60 pounds of mass in six to eight months more times than I count," says Rip. "In fact, if he doesn't get results like that, I know he's not eating enough."

I've read the book through and through and you're a little out of context. He's referring to an 18 year old kid that's never been in a strenuous lifting regimen. For example, a twig at 140 lb's that goes from never lifting and eating 2000 calories a day, to heavy lifting with compound lifts 3-4x a week and eating in excess of 3500. A kid that's entering college will gain no doubt, but 60 pounds of muscle in 2 years after exiting a 4 year lifting program is a little much. There are tons of legal/illegal compounds that are easy to get away with in college, so it's not really outside the realm of possibility. I'd say the majority of college players have done one compound or another at one point in their lives primarly due to the competitive nature of the sport.