Adrian Clayborn on Erb's Palsy, flirtation with retirement and what he brings to the edge

Defensive end Adrian Clayborn had his first meeting with the New England media on Wednesday afternoon, and while he touched on a number of topics, the former Falcon — who didn’t play in Super Bowl LI because of injury — these are the three biggest takeaways from our Q&A.

1. He said Erb’s Palsy does not hold him back.

Clayborn was born with Erb’s Palsy, and has been outspoken in how he’s used it to help become an inspiration to others. In the past — depending on who you listen to — it’s also one of the reasons why he’s primarily lined up on the right side of the course of his career. On Wednesday, I asked him how he’s dealt with it as a player, specifically how’s deployed as a lineman.

“I play the right side — that’s where I’ve been playing for most of my career,” Clayborn said. “I mean, it doesn’t really affect me besides in the weight room with doing some stuff, but on the field, it doesn’t really affect me. I’ve learned to compensate when I have to, and I do what I’ve got to do to make the plays.”

That being said, it will be interesting to see how the Patriots use the combination of Clayborn and Trey Flowers. Last season, per ProFootballFocus.com, Flowers played on the right side 64 percent of the time and 36 percent on the left side. PFF had Clayborn with just one pass-rush snap from the left side, and 390 times on the right. Maybe the two aren’t on the field at the same time? Who knows. But it’s certainly worth keeping an eye on.

2. He thought about retirement a few years ago.

Clayborn gave a notable interview last year where he confessed he thought about retirement because he was sick of being hurt all the time. He expanded on those thoughts in an interesting essay for The Players’ Tribune. What made him reverse field?

“Honestly, just praying about it with my wife and my family and talking to my agent — just coming to a decision that I wanted to play,” he said Wednesday. “I’m glad that I made that decision to come back. Getting over that hump was a big one, dealing with my fourth injury, but I’m trying to play as long as I can – as long as this body lets me.”

3. He considers himself a three-down player who is an aggressive presence on the edge.

He has a very simple scouting report when it comes to what he brings to the New England defense.

“I like to play every play like it’s my last,” he said. “I know I can rush the passer and I know I can set the edge in the run, so I mean, there’s a couple different positions that they believe I can play. So, it’s up to me to prove I can play them.”

And don’t suggest that he’s just a pure third-down, pass-rush type.

“I believe that’s what people have pigeon-holed me in as a third-down player,” he said. “But I know I can play first, second, third down if need be. That was my role in Atlanta, because that’s what they asked me to do. But I mean, I can play all three downs if you ask me.”