FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Before he put on his new red blazer and entered the New England Patriots’ Hall of Fame, All-Pro cornerback Raymond Clayborn had one request for owner Robert Kraft.
A new contract.
Raymond Clayborn inducted into Patriots Hall of Fame
• Played for Patriots from 1977-89, then played two seasons for Cleveland.
• Was a running back at University of Texas and teammate of Earl Campbell.
• Former Patriots coach Chuck Fairbanks recommended to his college coach to move him to cornerback after his junior year. Fairbanks drafted Clayborn 16th overall in 1977.
• Had three TDs returning kickoffs as a rookie, including one for a then-franchise record 101 yards.
• Had 36 career interceptions and was a three-time All-Pro (1977, 1983, 1986).
• Started 147 consecutive games over an 11-year span.
After asking Kraft earlier this year for an opportunity to retire as a Patriot, Clayborn’s request was granted Saturday. He signed a new, one-day contract just minutes before officially earning his induction into the Hall of Fame.
“It’s an honor to stand on this stage beside my fellow inductees,” Clayborn said. “It means so much to me to enter the Hall of Fame with these particular men. No one gets here alone. It’s a team game. Thank you for making my dreams come true.”
Clayborn, who started 147 consecutive games with New England over an 11-year span, was a dominant player in the secondary from 1977-89. He set a franchise record with 36 interceptions, since equaled by Ty Law.
Clayborn, who was inducted in front of thousands of fans outside of the Patriots’ Hall of Fame, was a finalist for the hall three previous times before finally getting the honor.
“To the fans who voted for me,” he said, “I’ve always said Patriots fans are the best fans in the world. You all were able to finally make this happen. The fourth time was a charm.”
He also got an up close and personal look that things have changed in the near-three decades since he played.
Some cornerbacks have long hair. Some make $12 million per year. And the practices are shorter with much less bloodshed.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed how much some of these guys are getting paid,” said Clayborn. But that wasn’t what moved him the most.
Seeing Gillette Stadium, the mall at “Patriot Place,” the restaurants, the team’s Hall of Fame building and particularly the amount of people at a practice session was awe-inspiring.
“I can’t believe this place,” said Clayborn, on the second floor of the Patriots Hall of Fame, looking out the 20-foot windows at the mall.
“It’s incredible what this franchise has become and done,” said Clayborn. “Mr. (Bob) Kraft has done amazing things. I have to catch my breath sometimes.”
The Patriots had a bit of a scare during Saturday’s training session when safety Duron Harmon appeared to tweak his right leg while attempting to break up a play in the end zone.
Harmon was down and tended to for a few minutes before finally walking to the sidelines. While he didn’t finish practice, he appeared in good spirits following the session.
Jim McBride of the Boston Globe said Harmon’s injury doesn’t appear serious.
While seeing a teammate go down with an injury at this stage of the season is unfortunate, safety Devin McCourty was confident that Harmon was fine.
“I know he’s all right,” McCourty said. “He’s a tough guy. Anybody on the team, in training camp, when you see a guy go down and not get up right away, it’s a bad feeling. But hopefully (Harmon) is all right. I’m sure he’ll get checked out.”
In the final 10 minutes of practice Friday, second-year defensive back Cyrus Jones dropped back and caught punts at midfield. He smoothly caught every ball, showing off the hands that the Patriots were hoping for when they drafted him out of Alabama in the second round in 2016.
Last season Jones fumbled five kicks, was not active in several games and expressed his disappointment via an offseason Instagram post that cited “by far one of the most challenging times in my life.”
But he also showed some life in an exchange with receiver Chris Hogan, slapping the ball out of Hogan’s hands and appearing to exchange words with him after Hogan made a reception inside the 5.
While admitting that he hopes to increase his role this year, Jones said, “I’m not really too worried about it. I’m just trying to come out here, work hard and get better. I’m just focusing on the details, the little things that I think will help me out. Just trying to come out here and get better every day.”
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