For an undrafted free agent, Ryan Clark has carved out a pretty impressive career for himself.
Clark, who began his NFL career with the New York Giants and Washignton Redskins, has developed into a critical member of Dick LeBeau’s defence in Pittsburgh.
The last four years have been the most productive for Clark.
Since 2009, the veteran safety has started 61 out of a possible 64 games, totaling 381 tackles and eight interceptions, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011.
Outside of his inability to play in Denver (missed two games) because of serious health concerns, Clark has proved to be a durable, productive and very reliable player for his team.
Now in his 12th season, the 33-year-old has become one of the elder statesmen on the roster and a leader in the locker room.
With that stature comes certain responsibilities and at the top of that list is teaching rookies what it means to play for the Steelers organization.
“It’s your job. It’s your duty to give that knowledge to young people,” Clark told sportsnet.ca. “And especially young people who you want to help and that can also help the team. I think its tradition here.
“You look at the Pittsburgh Steelers, we’ve had great leaders here. James Farrior, Hines Ward, Aaron Smith — these are guys who led by example, but also showed love to the younger players, so we try to do the same thing.”
If young players in Steelers camp want to know what it takes to play in the NFL, they need to look no further than Clark.
“You can’t get ready to play football without doing football; and that’s what camp is about,” Clark said. “You want to show that you are going to work harder than the next guy. You’re going to run to the ball. You’re going to communicate. Then the young guys see that and they also try to emulate it.”
Even at this point in his career, Clark is still humbled by the passion and devotion of the fans that come out, in any kind of weather, just to watch them practice.
“These people take it harder than we take it,” he said. “There’s the Patriot way and the Cowboys are ‘America’s Team’ and this and that. But the way the Steelers organization does it, the Rooney family and this city (Pittsburgh), it’s big.
“Training camp matters. Eevery practice matters. Everything you do here matter to these fans…The coolest part about being here (training camp) is the blue collar, family mentality. It’s no showtime around here, it’s no Hollywood.”
That unbridled devotion that Steelers fans have is not lost on the players.
“They appreciate workers here, ” Clark explained. “If you go to a lot of places it is about the quarterback, or it’s about the star. This is a place you can play kicker and be famous, and be a celebrity. You can play offensive line, and they respect what you do. Casey Hampton is one of the most popular players since I’ve been here, and he plays nose tackle.
“The people appreciate the dirty work that he did. “So that’s the thing I love about Pittsburgh. It’s not necessarily about if you’re the guy putting points up on the board. It’s about the guys in the middle. It’s about the guys doing the grunt work that they love. They don’t just know two players. They know them all. It makes you feel like you’re important to the fans, to the organization and makes you want to do well.”
While Las Vegas odds makers have pegged the Broncos, Patriots and Texans as the favourites to win the AFC, Clark has high hopes for the coming season.
“We can be the team to win the Super Bowl,” Clark said. “I’ve been on one team that won (the Super Bowl). I’ve been on another that’s been to one, and talent wise — we’re there,” Clark added. “You look at what we went through in those years we went to the Super Bowl. We had guys go down (and) other guys stepped up.
“We need to develop depth and have guys who can play high quality football behind the starters. In order to that, you have to come to camp and you have to pass down the knowledge, you have to work with the younger guys and get them up to speed.”
Before the Steelers can think about taking a run at the Super Bowl again, Clark and his teammates have to make it though the regular season.
“My wife always jokes about the fact I always tell her,’I’m the one working,'” he said. “And it’s true though. I hang out with my friends (the Steelers), and we play a game, it’s a stressful game, but we play a game. And you love it. It’s still pure to me. I still enjoy doing it.”
And the Steelers are glad that he does.