Clarett set to challenge NFL’s early entry rules
Maurice Clarett said he will
challenge the NFL for early entry;
however, not everyone agrees
with the tailback's decision
By Marla Ridenour
Knight Ridder Newspapers (KRT)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Even those who know
Maurice Clarett might not understand his mo
tives, whether he envisions himself as a football
pioneer or feels the clock is ticking on how
many more hits he can take at any level.
But the suspended Ohio State sophomore
tailback made his most daring run Tuesday and
filed a lawsuit against the NFL. In papers sub
mitted by his attorney, Alan C. Milstein, in U S.
District Court for the Southern District of New
York, Clarett is seeking an order allowing him
the option to enter the 2004 NFL Draft as a
hardship case.
The suit also holds that the league's current
rule that players are not eligible for the draft un
til three years after their high school class has
graduated violates federal antitrust laws. Athletes
have the opportunity to play out of high school
in every other major professional sport.
"Mr. Clarett's purpose in bringing the suit
is to give him the right to use his skills and
abilities to earn a livelihood, a right enjoyed
by young people in virtually every other pro
fession," said a statement released by Mil
stein's office.
Clarett's mother, Michelle, reached at home
in Youngstown, had no comment. Michelle
Clarett and Milstein met with NFL executives in
Washington Monday.
When NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue was
asked earlier this month if he thought the league
could win such a lawsuit, he said, "My feeling as
commissioner is that we have a very strong case
and that we'll win it."
The NFL issued a statement through
spokesman Greg Aiello.
"We do not believe that this lawsuit serves
the best interests of Maurice Clarett or college
football players generally, but we look forward
to explaining to the court both the very sound
reasons underlying our eligibility rule and the
legal impediments to the claim that was filed,"
Aiello said.
The NFL Players Association said in a state
ment Tuesday that, under the collective bar
gaining agreement, it wouldn't sue or be a
party to a suit against the league challenging
the college draft. The association declined fur
ther comment.
Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and scored 18
touchdowns last season as the Buckeyes went
14-0 and won the national championship. In
the lawsuit, Clarett claims it was "almost certain"
he would have been taken in the first round of
the 2003 draft had he been eligible, and he
would have made millions of dollars in a con
tract and signing bonus.
Clarett, who was a front-runner for the Heis
man Trophy this season, is serving a university
imposed suspension of at least one season for
receiving improper benefits and lying to NCAA
and OSU investigators. He turns 20 on Oct. 29.
Classes begin at Ohio State Wednesday and
Clarett is still under scholarship. Buckeyes
Coach Jim Tressel said he expects Clarett
to enroll.
"1 talked to his mom last night and she said
he was all set to begin classes," Tressel said. "As
far as I know, he'll be in class (today)."
But Tressel was reluctant to discuss how he
feels about Clarett's suit.
"I don't know really much of what's behind
the decision," Tressel said. "I don't know if he's
testing the waters, how he's approaching it. I re
ally don't have much reaction because I don't
have much information."
Fellow members of Clarett's class at OSU
agreed they're not ready to play in the NFL. But
sophomore linebacker A.J. Hawk said Clarett
might be.
"You can tell sometimes he's like a man
amongst boys when he’s playing," I lawk said.
"He's a great player.
"He’s a grown man. I've still got years to ma
ture. 1 know I'm not ready for that yet. I know
my body's not ready for anything like the NFL
fora long time."
Sophomore center Nick Mangold said, 'That's
his tiling. I couldn't see myself doing it. I can't see
myself starting for these past two games, either."
Junior kicker Mike Nugent doesn't sound
confident Clarett could be as dominant in
the NFL.
"Maurice wants to go right now," Nugent
said. "It would be really tough to be an 18- or
19-year old running back and go and play
against 26- or 27-year old guys who have been
there for six or seven years and know what the
NFL is all about. It seems like a completely dif
ferent game. The jump from high school to
college is just huge."
Of the five OSU players selected in the 2003
NFL Draft, only one is starting — safety Mike
Doss with the Indianapolis Colts.
Hawk said he agrees with the NFL's three
year rule.
"Football is different," Hawk said. "It's a little
different from basketball, there's grown men up
in the NFL."
But Mangold sounded interested in following
Clarett's fight.
"There’s two different ways to look at it,"
'V
;r.
-__i.
Phil Mazturzo Akron Beacon Journal
Ohio State's Maurice Clarett (seen here last season) said he will challenege the NFL’s early entry rule.
Mangold said. "He's saying, 'Why can't 1 do it
now when I have the opportunity?' They're say
ing, 'It's our organization, we're going to do
what we want to do with it.' It should be a nice
little clash between them."
Defensive end Will Smith, who bypassed the
NFL to return for his senior season, had a sim
ple message in support of his friend.
"Go Maurice!" Smith said.
(cj 2003, Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio).
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune
Information Services.
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