Clark Finally Receiving Long-Deserved Recognition

Apparently it takes 100 receptions in one season for Colts tight end Dallas Clark to garner the recognition he has long deserved.

Clark was named to the NFL's All-Pro team Thursday afternoon, one of 16 first-timers to make an appearance on the elite squad. Fellow Colts Peyton Manning and Dwight Freeney joined Clark in earning the prestigious honor.

For anyone that has consistently watched Indianapolis through the years, the honor should come as no surprise. Even during Clark's first few years in the league, though his stats weren't gaudy, he presented matchup nightmares for opponents. Teams are now more aware of the dangers Clark presents, but as the 100 receptions show, defenses still can't contain him.

Clark is a rare breed of tight end. He is too quick for the majority of linebackers to cover, but not quite fast enough to move a cornerback off of a receiver to cover. He can line up in the slot, or run a delayed route after blocking.

And not that his versatility was ever a question mark, but he has proved just how versatile he is by executing slip and smoke screen routes to perfection. A screen to a tight end? You don't see that often, except from the Colts. But that's just one of the many contributing factors that gives opposing defensive coordinators headaches when preparing to face Clark.

His 100 catches placed him in elite company in the tight end world, joining Tony Gonzalez as the only other tight end in NFL history with 100 receptions or more. Gonzalez finished the 2004 season with 102 catches.

Clark's 235 receptions and 27 touchdowns through the past three seasons rank second to only Gonzalez among tight ends.

A big reason Clark has failed to receive more attention or accolades is because until this year, he was in the shadow of Gonzalez in Kansas City and Antonio Gates in San Diego.

There's no question about it, Gonzalez and Gates are the class of the NFL in terms of the tight end position. Clark made a heckuva statement this season to place him in that same conversation.