Matthews Is Milestone Man

Bruce Matthews’ latest milestone might be his toughest.

Not because the Tennessee Titans offensive lineman is slowing down at 39. No, when he takes the field today against the Cleveland Browns, he finally passes his favorite player on the NFL’s career games-played list with No. 279.

That player? Older brother Clay, a former linebacker for the Browns.

“It’s kind of weird. I can’t believe it, that I’m doing something that he actually did. He played a long time and played really well,” Bruce said.

Clay is the guy Bruce never wanted to lose to as a child, the man he most enjoyed playing against in the NFL, and someone he admired so much he had trouble doing his own job because he was watching his brother.

One of Bruce’s toughest yet proudest moments in the NFL was in November 1986 when Clay beat him at left tackle for a sack and fell on Mike Rozier’s leg, ending the running back’s season.

“At least it was to my brother,” Bruce said.

Even now, Bruce will ask people with Ohio license plates if they remember Clay, who retired after the 1996 season, and boast about his brother.

Today, he will glance up to see his brother’s No. 57 jerseys in the stands. He also will see his brother.

Clay is flying in from his home in Agoura Hills to be at the game. He will be an honorary co-captain for the Browns and will join his brother on the field for the ceremonial coin toss.

It will be Clay’s first visit to Cleveland Browns Stadium since the team was reborn.

“He probably feels bad he’s passing me, but I don’t,” Clay said.

The 44-year-old Clay played 278 games during 19 seasons, including 232 as a linebacker, a Browns record. He played his final three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

Bruce tied his brother last week with his 278th game in his 18th season.

Only four players are ahead of the Matthews: George Blanda, who played 340 games as a kicker; kickers Gary Anderson (290) and Morten Andersen (289); and defensive end Jim Marshall (282).

“When you consider the average life of a football player is about four years at the most, I’d say 19 and 18 is very impressive,” father Clay Matthews Sr. said from his home in Charleston, S.C. “I really don’t know how they lasted that long other than I must’ve bred them real good.”

Indeed. The elder Matthews started the legacy, playing four seasons as a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s. Their grandfather was a minor league baseball player and boxing coach.

As boys, the Matthews brothers competed fiercely at every game available, even a few they made up. The rule? No blood, no foul.

“They just don’t like to lose,” their father said. “I just thank God that since they grew up so big that they were nice guys.”

Clay Jr., 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds when he played, said: “The reason we both played so long is we don’t play for records, but for the joy of competition itself.”

That enjoyment might decide how long the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Bruce keeps playing.

People who watch him think he’s playing as well as ever, and he was selected Thursday for his 13th straight Pro Bowl.

His father credits assistant coach Mike Munchak with teaching his son finesse to go with his strength.

Titan Coach Jeff Fisher, who played a season with Bruce at Southern California, said the lineman’s accomplishments are overlooked.

“It’s something that’s taken for granted, always taken for granted, because he just shows up week in, week out,” Fisher said.

Just where Bruce finishes on the career-games list is unclear. He’s under contract for two more seasons, and his father has told him to stick with the game as long as he enjoys playing.

And Bruce’s six children want him to beat Uncle Clay by playing two more seasons.

“They obviously are enthusiastic about it,” Bruce said. “It’s easy for them. They just go to the game.”