Chase Claypool's ill-fated prognostication about the Steelers "clapping" the Browns in the playoffs continues to be used against him.
On Sunday, little-known Cleveland linebacker Mack Wilson recalled Claypool's infamous words to chide UCLA for its incredible overtime victory over Alabama in the Sweet 16. He wondered aloud if Browns fans could pinpoint the motivation for his taunt.
Suffice to say, they did.
"This for my #Browns fans.. who i sound like? 'Welp UCLA gonna get clapped by Michigan next week anyway,'" Wilson tweeted, along with plenty of emojis.
While Wilson doesn't have much standing — the 2019 fifth-round pick recorded just 24 tackles last season — his ribbing is a reminder that Cleveland will probably use Claypool's silly boast as a rallying cry for years to come. On one hand, it is apparent Claypool is living rent free in the Browns' heads, which is pretty funny. But on the other hand, his words are a constant reminder of Pittsburgh's most embarrassing playoff lose in a generation.
JuJu Smith-Schuster's midfield TikTok dances already give opposing teams plenty of motivational ammunition to use against the Steelers. Claypool, who cites JuJu as his mentor on all things branding, is adding on.
Overall, this is rather silly stuff, but it's a reminder that Claypool is appearing to follow in the footsteps of other enigmatic Pittsburgh receivers. The second-year wideout was involved in a bar fight earlier this month.
But as our Andrew Limberg points out, beloved Steelers of previous eras got into off-field trouble as well — like that time Jack Lambert didn't show up to testify at a murder trial.
Lambert, of course, wound up winning four Super Bowls as part of the vaunted Steel Curtain defense. That's the difference between previous generations of Steelers stars and this crop: Super Bowl rings.
Until the Steelers win again in January, the team's mockery of Cleveland will keep coming up, fair or not.
