The Claymaker. The Predator. CM3. If everything stays on pace, he’ll have another nickname to adorn… Defensive Player of the Year. All grand nicknames for the Packers, nay the NFL’s most explosive defenses player. In two games, Clay Matthews has already accumulated 6 sacks on the season, adding an additional three to his number last week against the lowly Bills. Matthews now has 15 sacks in 15 games if you want to get picky and go back to his rookie campaign.
I’ll admit, when Ted Thompson jumped into this draft and nabbed up Matthews, I was a skeptic. Out of the three USC linebackers I thought either of his teammates would have made more adequate fits.This is one of those times I’m so happy I was wrong. Ray Maluaga, although with explosive talent, seems to have nagging injuries constantly. Brian Cushing although being defensive rookie of the year, has the cloud of performance enhancing drugs circling his name right now, and perhaps the rest of his career.
As exciting as it was to watch the Claymaker to go unscathed against any contender, the thing that struck me the most, and perhaps the move that had chills going down my spine, was Matthews newest signature move… the PREDATOR. Much like the death defying hunters of the sci-fi world, Matthews fits this signature move perfectly. Take out your prey, triumph mightily. Plain and simple, this is what CM3 does as well.
This new celebration by The Predator is definitely a top 5 in Packer adorned moves, but does it take the number one spot? Take a look at KDA’s top 5 Packer celebrations.

5) Brett Favre – “Gunslinger”

I wish I could find a video of this one but I can’t.  (If anyone can, let me know!) Yes, I know I can’t even get through this one stupid post without saying his name, let alone ackowledging him but I personally loved this move when he daunted it.  After throwing the ball, Favre would pull out the “guns”, shoot em off at the receiver that just completed the pass, and put em away back in the holsters. A quick celebration, that always brought a smile to my face.  Can’t do that much now-a-days though, can you Brett…

4) Donald Driver – “The First Down Shake”

Nothing crazy, nothing overly cocky or difficult. But this simple shoulder shimmy followed by the first down signal, can get an already Packer crowd cranked to 11.  Although DD uses this move almost every chance he can get, he respects the move.  You won’t see this move if their down by 30. You won’t see this move if he got the first by a PI call. You see the move when the momentum is needed and the hard work has been earned. The move characterizes the player to a T.

3) Charles Woodson – “The Pose”
I would LOVE to give this the number one spot, but football be damned, I just can’t. Yes, the first time I saw the pose I was only 6, and it wasn’t even Chuck, but it was another former Packer (And my favorite during his brief stunt with the team)… Desmond Howard threw down the Heisman pose after the punt return vs. Ohio State. Fast forward to last year at Detroit on Thanksgiving. Woodson gets the pick-6, and throws it down. I literally shed a tear. The celebration, deservedly so can’t be broken out all the time, but the downside to this, it will never be my number one.

3) Aaron Rodgers – “The Belt”

I LOVE this move.  The champion deserves to don the championship belt, and the belt fits A-Rod just fine.  Only brought in the rarest of occasions, we generally see the move after a rushing TD.  I wouldn’t mind seeing this one a little more often either. Here’s one brought out just for the fans,  HOLY TORNADO!

Clay Matthews – “Predator”

His old move of the bow and arrow was good, but the Predator is legendary. I could get used to watching this all year.

Kevin Kolb

Trent Edwards

On Deck: Jay Cutler

In the Hole: Shaun Hill/Matthew Stafford

1) Everyone – “Lambeau Leap”

Obviously the number one.  Signature for the franchise, it has become a way of life for the Packers.  Everyone wants to do the leap and get $8.00 beers dropped all over them.  The move is so embodied by the franchise the jump has become an illegal form of celebration everywhere else EXCEPT in Titletown. Created by Edger Bennet, made famous by Robert Brooks, the move is now a stable to the community. The latest famous leap was a not-so-great one but when the leader of the Pack, A-Rod does it… it doesn’t even matter.

So there you have it folks, was this a worthy top 5? How would you have graded it? What would you have added?

P.S. Bonus A-Rod clip because I can.