Clarett Eligible for Draft

[AZCB34]

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7065027

Judge: NFL Draft rule violates antitrust laws; Clarett eligible
Feb. 5, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports

NEW YORK -- Suspended Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett was ruled eligible for the NFL Draft Thursday by a federal judge who concluded the league's rule violates antitrust laws.

U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin ordered the NFL to let Clarett enter April's draft.

Clarett played just one season at Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to the 2002 national championship. He was barred from playing in the 2003 season for accepting improper benefits from a family friend and then lying about it to investigators.

Clarett sued the NFL last summer to challenge the league rule that a player must be out of high school three years for draft eligibility. Thursday's ruling, if not successfully appealed, could allow teenage football stars to take advantage of the marketing and business opportunities available to young athletes in other sports.

The league had argued Clarett should not be eligible because its rule resulted from a collective bargaining agreement with the players and is immune from antitrust scrutiny. The NFL also argued its rule is reasonable and Clarett cannot bring such a lawsuit.

"While, ordinarily, the best offense is a good defense, none of these defenses hold the line," the judge wrote in a 70-page ruling.

She said Clarett could bring the lawsuit because he was fighting a policy that excludes all players in his position from selling their services to the only viable buyer -- the NFL.

"The NFL has not justified Clarett's exclusion by demonstrating that the rule enhances competition. Indeed, Clarett has alleged the very type of injury -- a complete bar to entry into the market for this services -- that the antitrust laws are designed to prevent," she said.

 

[Russ Smith]

And the saga continues, I predict in less than a week another judge will change this ruling somehow in favor of the NFL and we'll go back and forth for months.

 

[Mrospi]

wow..... only a matter of time before we have the first high schooler jumping to the NFL.....just open the door and let them in

 

[spanky1]

Originally posted by Mrospi
wow..... only a matter of time before we have the first high schooler jumping to the NFL.....just open the door and let them in

But put injury clauses in BOLD ink.........these kids are not ready for the contact of NFL football.

 

[Stout]

See, this taps into the problem...the NFL, IMO, simply can't make this blanket statement. Because, what happens if a kid can't go back to school...the NFL says he can't join them either? So his career goes down the tubes? Not saying this specific to Clarett, but it's unfair. IMO, you can't have a 'no exceptions' rule on something like this.

As to the concern of high school fb players entering the NFL...ain't gonna happen. They need far too much seasoning, and teams are smart enough to realize this.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Stout
See, this taps into the problem...the NFL, IMO, simply can't make this blanket statement. Because, what happens if a kid can't go back to school...the NFL says he can't join them either? So his career goes down the tubes? Not saying this specific to Clarett, but it's unfair. IMO, you can't have a 'no exceptions' rule on something like this.

As to the concern of high school fb players entering the NFL...ain't gonna happen. They need far too much seasoning, and teams are smart enough to realize this.

First, if a kid cannot go back to school, does that mean he is mentally ready for the NFL? Let's use Clarett as an example. After all that has happened with him, is he mentally and matured enough to be an NFL player?

Second, nobody said he couldn't make a living playing football, just not in the NFL. Go to Canada or Arena but the NFL isn't a child care center. Let Saskatchewan or Buffalo take care of him. Then when he is 3 years removed, welcome to the NFL.

Finally, are you suggesting Clarett doesn't need more seasoning than a high school player? Or was his 8 college games as a freshman enough?

 

[B-Dogg]

Anybody else see Clarett as a Green type player? It seems to me he has allways been willing to take the risk on taltented players with questionable historys. Moss, Underwood to name a few. If Clarett last till the 3rd or 4th round any chance Green takes a flyer with a possible compensatory pick given to the Cards?

 

[ajcardfan]

First of all, I think Russ is right. This will be appealed and probably drug out until after the draft. Second of all, the rule is three years out of high school. Thus, it doesn't matter if you can't get back into a college. If you are good enough that is. Eric Swann for example.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

You could argue that Clarett is more mature with all the stuff he has put himself through.Physically,the guy is ready.Mentally, i think he's on the same level as any rookie.All the guy wants to do is play football.I'm not going to defend his actions at OSU because you really can't.He snubbed his nose at the system,but he won.So,maybe, the system was wrong.And now he is SO elgible so why not take him in round 2.You can't tell me,talentwise, that it wouldn't be a steal to get him at 33.There is off field issues but the kid is only 19-20 yeras old.We took Rutledge in round 2.I think we'd have a better chance with Clarett.Alright,everybody go on the attack now.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

As for an appeal,the NFL will appeal but i read that it will be to protect their rule as a whole and not just Clarett.Which means the ruling will stand and Clarett will eligible but the appeal will be to stop future players from entering.I don't know if that made any sense since i'm not a lawyer.My wife is though.

 

[Wildman©]

Couldn't this judge's reasoning for making Clarett eligible for the NFL draft be used to let mature 13 year old's obtain a provisional driver's license?

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by Wildman©
Couldn't this judge's reasoning for making Clarett eligible for the NFL draft be used to let mature 13 year old's obtain a provisional driver's license?

No, the NFL is not a government creating laws. Totally different situation.

 

[Savage58]

And now he is SO elgible so why not take him in round 2.You can't tell me,talentwise, that it wouldn't be a steal to get him at 33.There is off field issues but the kid is only 19-20 yeras old.We took Rutledge in round 2.I think we'd have a better chance with Clarett.Alright,everybody go on the attack now.

I agree completely, no arguement there. He has the potential to be a franchise back, a banger like Eddie George, but without the wear and tear. I say grab him in the 2nd if he does go into the draft. I doubt many teams will risk a first rounder, and heck the Cards have done worse things with 2nd round picks.

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by Savage58
I agree completely, no arguement there. He has the potential to be a franchise back, a banger like Eddie George, but without the wear and tear. I say grab him in the 2nd if he does go into the draft. I doubt many teams will risk a first rounder, and heck the Cards have done worse things with 2nd round picks.

I think Clarett is a GREAT RB, but it seems like every couple of weeks ESPN digs up something new(the gambling stuff was their investigation they're now bragging). I just have to wonder how he'll handle the rigors of the NFL as a job, when he can't handle it as TOSU or even away from TOSU?

Great talent, but he needs to calm down before he pisses away millions of dollars.

 

[vikesfan]

Underwood was not a questionable history guy.

As for Clarett he deepens the draft especially at RB.
DG might take a flyer. BPA and all. I have a sneaking suscpicion that DG will peg off a RB somewhere in the draft. Maybe Julius Jones. Emmitt is gone after this year. And both he and Shipp are not exactly going to tear up the NFL next year.



The NFL is so stupid they should have just admitted Clarett as a special case cause of what happened to him in college. Now they are opening the door by having a judge make a universal ruling.

 

[WizardOfAz]

ESPN's doing a poll (surprise, surprise). Intersting qustions, though:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=573

 

[MadCardDisease]

February 5, 2004

Statement from a League Spokesman:

"We believe today's ruling is inconsistent in numerous respects with well-established labor and antitrust law, and we will seek review of the ruling in the Court of Appeals. We fully expect our eligibility rule to be upheld when this case is concluded."

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Uh Oh

I smell new mocks being formed as I speak..."In round 2 the Arizona Cardinals pick running back Maurice "Counseled by Jim Brown"Clarett.

In reality the NFL will drag this out....he won't be around for this year's draft.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
I think Clarett is a GREAT RB, but it seems like every couple of weeks ESPN digs up something new(the gambling stuff was their investigation they're now bragging). I just have to wonder how he'll handle the rigors of the NFL as a job, when he can't handle it as TOSU or even away from TOSU?

Great talent, but he needs to calm down before he pisses away millions of dollars.

On the field,you can't question his desire.The guy will play hurt and wants the ball.While he brought the scrutiny on himself,i think alot of people would have things found out about them if people dig hard enough.Remember,he was the heisman favorite as a sophomore.Also,as a freshman,he made headlines by calling out his teammates for not practcing hard enough.I'm telling you,once he gets to the NFL,his off field problems will go away.His goal has been to play in the NFL and it looks like he has achieved it.We're looking at Randy Moss situation where every team that passed on him will be kicking themselves in 2-3 years. The good thing is that we now have the guy who took Moss. Look how bad OSU' s running game was last year and they had the same OL as the year before.If he plays at OSU,we're talking about back to back NC's and everyone is drooling to get a shot at him.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Let me raise a different point here.

Does anyone think that the ESPN story about Clarett being 'associated' with a gambler, is a coincidence with the ruling being handed down today?

Seems to me this is the work of the NFL. First off, his association with a gambler is assinine. The guy made 25 calls over a course of a season to an off-shore book maker. Hell, most people here in Vegas will tell you that they make those calls or visits 25 times in a week or two. Its bordering on slanderous.

Clarett has been ripped to shreds in the media for a year now and I for one think a lot of it has to do with the NFL. They clearly dont want thisguy drafted and certainly dont want him to be a good player.

 

[SMAC]

Write it down, Dennis Green will burn a second round pick in the supplemental draft this summer for Clarett. This is the type of kid Green will take a chance on. In the past Green took on guys nobody wanted: Randall Cunningham, Cris Carter, Randy Moss, Jeff George, John Randall, Dimitrius Underwood, Matt Birk, etc. Also, I wouldn't be suprised if Coach Green signs Jeff George as a number 3 QB.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Unless the NFL flies an appeal Clarett will be in the draft. I do not see why the NFL would file an appeal, because the judge has ruled in favor of Clarett. The only thing the NFL has left is to file an appeal JUST to keep him out of the draft his year, or to prove some kind of a stupid point.

 

[Pariah]

Originally posted by LVCARDFREAK


Clarett has been ripped to shreds in the media for a year now and I for one think a lot of it has to do with the NFL. They clearly dont want thisguy drafted and certainly dont want him to be a good player.

Then you'd think they'd want him to play for the Cardinals. We certainly have a history of turning college studs into mediocre NFL talent.

 

[B-Dogg]

The NFL already has begun the process of filing the appeal

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by SMAC
Write it down, Dennis Green will burn a second round pick in the supplemental draft this summer for Clarett. This is the type of kid Green will take a chance on. In the past Green took on guys nobody wanted: Randall Cunningham, Cris Carter, Randy Moss, Jeff George, John Randall, Dimitrius Underwood, Matt Birk, etc. Also, I wouldn't be suprised if Coach Green signs Jeff George as a number 3 QB.

I am not so sure. It seems as though Green is grabbinbg some of Graves' power right now but unless the Bidwill's have some sudden reversal of attitude about character players, than Clarett will not be approved by the check signers. They and Graves made a big issue about character and I believe alot of that to be driven by Mr B.

That is one of the keys when we discuss who Green will draft/bring in. First, until told otherwise, Graves does still have final say...although as I previously mentioned, it appears by the Blake thing that Green is making an early power move. Second, I simply don't believe the Bidwills will approve of them drafting Clarett. He has too many issue around him for their comfort IMO. They may let some small things slide but not as much as Clarett has going on.