Atlanta Falcons: Conversation with center Todd McClure

Here's the image that Tyson Clabo is tweeting out to his followers. He wants them to help vote Todd McClure into the Pro Bowl.

By Michael Cunningham

FLOWERY BRANCH — Each week during the season The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will conduct a question-and-answer session with a Falcons player about his off-field interests and activities. The intention is to give fans some insight into the players and a little sense of what makes them tick. This week we spoke with center Todd McClure.

McClure grew up in Baton Rouge, La., where he developed a love for cooking at an early age. He’s known as a good cook among his Falcons teammates, who are known to head to McClure’s house for a good meal.

McClure talked about why cooking brings him joy and the key to making a good dish.

(Falcons tackle Tyson Clabo has started a “Get out the Pro Bowl Vote Campaign for McClure.)

Q: Does your love of cooking come from your Louisiana roots?

A: It does. My dad’s mother, my grandmother (Carmel McClure), I used to love watching her cook. She’s one of the best there is, and she taught me when we were coming up. I wanted to learn. I love doing it on my off days. My kids love it when I’m home and cook because normally I cook something pretty good for them.

Q: What do you usually cook for your kids?

A: Anything. They love my chicken stew, gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee. They love pretty much anything I cook. They love that Louisiana food. My son, my oldest, I’ve got to watch him grabbing the hot sauce or tell him, ‘That’s too much.’ I guess he sees everybody doing it, but I tell him to taste the food before you put that on there. I guess he thinks automatically you’ve got to put that on there.

Q: What’s the key to being a good cook?

A: I really don’t cook from a recipe. It’s kind of throwing it together and knowing the tastes and the different spices that go together. I think enjoying what you are doing is a key to it. It’s really relaxing to me.

Q: Do you plan to cook something up for Thanksgiving?

A: We always do. Thanksgiving is normally tough for us. My wife’s family comes in. My father-in-law and my brother-in law, they do all the meats: the fried turkey, the smoked turkey, the ham. They get it all prepared. We are up here practicing, [so] they will take care of cooking it, and then my mother-in-law does all the side dishes. We will have a big spread. Normally I have some [Falcons] guys over that don’t have family in town.

Q: Are you one of those people who gets satisfaction from others eating your food?

A: I do. I really do. Because sometimes it’s like you don’t really feel like eating it after you cook it. But I do get satisfaction out of seeing other people enjoying what you took time preparing, especially my kids and my wife. If they love it, that’s a big deal to me.

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