Former NY Giants Wide Receiver Michael Clayton to Release Self-Published Book
Online, January 2, 2014 (Newswire.com) - New York-NY Former NY Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl XLVI Champion Michael Clayton is set to release his first self-published book entitled, Chasing My Rookie Year: The Michael Clayton Story ,an autobiography and motivational memoir of Michael's NFL career also detailing his revelation of a life purpose beyond football. Chasing My Rookie Year was released on Michael Clayton's website on December 30, 2013.
Michael Clayton is one of the most celebrated athletes to ever play football at LSU. His three consecutive years as an LSU Tiger led to record breaking NCAA and SEC championships, ultimately becoming a number one draft pick, (15th) overall in the 2004 NFL draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a stellar rookie year, Michael was ranked 5th all time in NFL history for his rookie performance. Though Michael never achieved that level of success again in the years following, he earned a veteran status with an eight year career in the NFL. After six years with the Tampa Bucs, Michael signed with the NY Giants in 2010, later becoming part of a Super Bowl winning team in 2012.
Since announcing his retirement in 2013, Michael has been actively working as a sports analyst for networks such the Big Ten Network, CBS Tampa, and as a motivational speaker for several non-profits and corporations. In addition to releasing two wide receiver youth training videos through PlaySports TV and School Of The Legends, he completed the NFL's Broadcast Boot-Camp program where he was selected as an analyst for the NFL International Games. Michael began writing Chasing My Rookie Year in 2012 with the inspiration to give fans a first-hand look into the importance of other life goals and passions off the football field. He describes his struggles and triumphs as he became one of the most accomplished rookies in NFL history including the difficulties of maintaining that level of success. Michael realized he needed to chase something else besides perfection on the football field. Clayton instead started to chase and strive for compassion, solemnity, uprightness, and charity. He never gave up the chase for perfection on the field; he just started working harder toward perfection off of it. Chasing My Rookie Year is not a quest for glory, it is a quest for life's purpose. Clayton equally credits a number of NFL and college coaches including Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, Coach Saban, Richard Mann, and Tom Coughlin, for the many lessons he learned throughout his career. He also gives credit and thanks to NFL players and long-time childhood friends such Marcus Spears (Dallas Cowboys) and Corey Webster (NY Giants) who were influential in Michael's youth, which ultimately contributed to his early career success.
Michael is set to begin his publicity tour in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he will host a book signing after guest speaking at the Blue Cross Blue Shield's annual Martin Luther King Day celebration on January 16, 2014. He is also finalizing details for a highly publicized book signing at the LSU Barnes & Noble on January 17, 2014. Michael will then travel to New York where he will participate and make several appearances at a number of pre Super Bowl events, hold a private press book reading, and appear on morning news shows and radio stations. Additional book signings will later be announced in Tampa, Florida in February 2014.
As an NCAA and SEC champion, Michael is hopeful that his history with the SEC and being a former team captain with the LSU tigers, in addition to a great publicity tour, will land him a spot with the SEC's Network as a correspondent or analyst which he is currently being considered for.
Chasing My Rookie Year is currently available on Amazon.com. Autographed and general copies can also be purchased through Michael's official website www.MichaelRClayton.com. Ebook purchases will be available in January 2014.
About Michael Clayton
A veteran among veterans, Michael Rashard Clayton (born October 13, 1982) is considered as one of the best all-around wide receiver football players to ever play at LSU. After three successful years of playing college football with the NCAA champion team the LSU Tigers, Clayton was a first round draft pick, 15th overall, by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2004 NFL Draft. In his first year, Clayton was ranked 5th all-time in NFL history among rookies with 80 receptions for 1193 yards and 7 touchdowns, ranking him 1st on the Buccaneers in receiving touchdowns that season. This stellar season has led numerous publications to select him to the all rookie team. With eight years in the NFL, one of Clayton's biggest NFL accomplishments include averaging over 14 yards per reception in 2009, extending his streak of averaging over 10 yards per reception since joining the league. Michael signed with the NY Giants in 2010, becoming a Super Bowl XLVI Champion in 2012.