Reporter shares story about John Clayton
On Twitter, Green Bay Press-Gazette writer Ryan Wood shared a story about meeting John Clayton.
“When I was an intern at The Charlotte Observer in 2010, dreaming of working an NFL beat, I spent an OTA practice on the sideline of the Carolina Panthers,” Wood wrote.
“On this day, I was lucky enough to stand next to John Clayton. Of course, I knew who John Clayton was. Respected him. Even revered him. He embodied all the things I hoped to be as an NFL reporter.
“I was nervous, but I had to introduce myself. I had no expectation he’d give me the time of day. Instead, he treated a college intern like a colleague. He was generous with advice, sharing tips on how to grow as a reporter, how to progress in this business.
“Four years later in Seattle, before my first game covering the Packers, I saw a familiar face walking down press row. It was John Clayton shaking hands with fellow reporters before kickoff. When he got to me, I told him about that Panthers practice. He smiled, congratulated me.”
