How did Jadeveon Clowney get No. 90 from Jarran Reed? ‘It wasn’t cheap’
Sep 12, 2019, 4:21 PM | Updated: 4:40 pm
Jadeveon Clowney had to negotiate a deal with Seahawks DT Jarran Reed for No. 90. (Getty)
(Getty)
There was plenty of change for new Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney in the whirlwind week following his trade to Seattle, but there was at least one thing Clowney wanted to keep the same: his No. 90.
Seahawks already trying new things on defense with Clowney
And why wouldn’t he? The former Houston Texan spent five years wearing that number on that jersey, racking up 29 sacks and earning three Pro Bowl nods.
But there was a problem. No. 90 was already owned by Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who is coming off his best season as a pro and, despite being dealt a suspension for the first six weeks of the season, figures to be a major contributor on Seattle’s defensive line. Furthermore, Reed also wore No. 90 during his college career at Alabama.
It’s not unusual for a younger player to swap jerseys with a recently-signed veteran star, but how do two 26-year-old starters come to an agreement?
“I’ll let him tell you when he gets back,” Clowney said with a laugh on 710 ESPN Seattle’s The Huddle Thursday. “It wasn’t cheap, I’ll tell you that.”
Still, even with payment, Clowney said he admired Reed for being willing to part with it.
“He’s good, he’s a great player,” Clowney said. “I knew he wasn’t going to come up off it cheap, so I was expecting to pay for it…
“He had a great season last year with 10 1/2 sacks, so for him to come in with 10 1/2 sacks and still give me a chance to get that jersey was big, so I appreciate him for that.”
Listen to Clowney’s full interview in the audio clip embedded here or download it at this link. Below are a few more highlights from the conversation.
How much did your relationship with former Texans teammate Duane Brown factor into you coming to Seattle? “That was a big role of me transitioning here when I first found out that I had a chance of being traded to Seattle. I talked to him, asked him how the place was. He said he loved every bit of it; they take care of their players and players love the coaches. And I was just like, man, I’d like to be a part of something like that.”
How do you think the defense will look once everyone is able to get on the field together? “I think we’ll be pretty good. We’ll be solid. We’ve got a great core of linebackers… guys that know the system, know just about everything, and how to line guys up. When Ziggy (Ansah) comes back – another great rusher – (and) J-Reed… and everybody gets going in the system and being together, and bonding with the team, and the defense (starts) just knowing how we feel and feed off each other – as in a rush, you can just feel rushes and stuff – it’ll be a lot better. And I’m sure they expect that out of us when we get going.”
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How will Seahawks use Clowney and Ansah on the field together?
