Micheal Clemons has shown a lack of self control more than he’s pressured the opposing passer this season.
The New York Jets’ defensive end was filmed while repeatedly making tasteless gestures towards spectators from the sideline during the waning minutes of a 37-20 road loss to Cleveland on December 28. The display happened on a night when Clemons played 33 percent of defensive snaps and made two tackles.
In a viral video circulating throughout social media, Clemons can be seen facing the stands behind the Jets’ bench. Individually pointing at crowd members, the second-year pro emphatically hurled the “F word” toward ticketed spectators. The video showed Clemons singling out at least nine different targets for his venom.
The unsportsmanlike behavior is certainly nothing new for Clemons, who was involved in documented incidents in back-to-back weeks during November.
After a minor on-field dust-up with Buffalo Bills’ left tackle Dion Dawkins during the Jets’ Week 11 road loss, Clemons attempted to physically confront his adversary in the tunnel en-route to the locker-rooms. Dawkins later accused Clemons and the Jets of being “disrespectful.”
CBS reporter Otis Livingston shared captured video of the November 19 altercation between Clemons and Dawkins.
The near fight in question. Michael Clemons and Dion Dawkins have to be separated. Two big dudes almost locked horns. Spilled over from beef during the 32-6 Bills win. 📸 From my iPhone pic.twitter.com/P7xE0ADi3f
— Otis Livingston (@OlivingstonTV) November 20, 2023
Less than one week later, Clemons was ejected from the NFL Black Friday Game against Miami at MetLife Stadium. In a scrum that followed an extra-point kick, the lineman inadvertently made contact with a game official. While passionately pointing, Clemons struck umpire Carl Paganelli in the face and drew blood.
It’s hasn’t been a memorable sophomore season for Clemons, who has only one quarterback hit and one-half sack over 15 appearances. In 16 games as a rookie, the fourth-round draft pick totaled 2.5 sacks and six quarterback hits. Clemons’s lack of production coupled with consistently distracting behavior is not the recipe for a long NFL career.
