Clarett Loses In Court One More Time

[sportscurmudgeon]

Just something to ponder here:

Who is paying for Clarett's lawyers? Or are these guys doing it "pro bono"?

If they re "running a tab" for Maurice, I suggest he damned well better get himself a fat contract one of these days soon because lawyers of this type charge $600 - 700 an hour where I come from and they have to have several hundred hours on the tab already. Do the math folks...

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

The NFL is protecting their product, and should be commended for doing so......The league has set up certain guidelines to insure that the players for its franchises are physically, mentally and emotionally mature enough to perform like professionals and not diminish the product they sell. These rules are arbitrary and make no sense, but since deciding matters on a case-by-case basis isn't feasible (operationally or legally), the arbitrary rules stand.

The NFL should be commended because they insure that players are physically, mentally and emotionally ready?
Do you really think that NFL really believes that every male at 21 suddenly transforms into Mother Theresa? Come on.
We can agree to disagree, but I think the league is hiding behind this excuse, so they can set up a rule that will keep them in good the NCAA.
Each team should choose which players they want or don't want, not the league.
Your argument implies the league "suits" think they know more about player talent evaluation and whether they are ready for the NFL than the scouts and coaches. I don't think that Paul Tagliabue knows more about college players that are ready for the NFL than a scout or coach...do you?.
You say, "since deciding matters on a case-by-case basis isn't feasible (operationally or legally), the arbitrary rules stand."
Each NFL team already decide on a case by case basis if they want a certain player or not. Legally? What is illegal about each NFL teams deciding on a case by case basis if they want to draft a player or not?

[Daseal]

Sports. you're right. I'm sorry.

[Daseal]

haha
Offiss and I often agree - provided it's not a chat about politics!

[BrudLee]

Daseal - no one is denying Clarett his right to play football - there are several venues to do just that. The argument seems to be whether he has the right to play in the NFL, rather than the CFL, Arena League, or some other less glamorous venue - for one year.

I agree that the rule is arbitrary and has little basis as to whether a player is "ready" for the NFL. You have to agree that deciding whether each player individually is ready is, to say the least, logistically problematic. It would also leave the league open to hundreds of lawsuits from players told to wait a year. So this arbitrary rule is how they've chosen to defend the league from players whose maturity might be outshined by their 40 times, and therefore weaken the product.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

Daseal - no one is denying Clarett his right to play football - there are several venues to do just that. The argument seems to be whether he has the right to play in the NFL, rather than the CFL, Arena League, or some other less glamorous venue - for one year.

I agree that the rule is arbitrary and has little basis as to whether a player is "ready" for the NFL. You have to agree that deciding whether each player individually is ready is, to say the least, logistically problematic. It would also leave the league open to hundreds of lawsuits from players told to wait a year. So this arbitrary rule is how they've chosen to defend the league from players whose maturity might be outshined by their 40 times, and therefore weaken the product.

I understand the opposing argument for Clarett to stay out of the NFL, but don't you think BL that if a player is not ready a team won't draft him? Team's are in no way forced to draft anyone particular player, and even if they do, thet are not forced to play him right away, let's face it how many of these kid's are really ready after 2 year's? very few, I just believe that if there is an exeptional kid who may be ready to compete on the NFL level, he should be givin that chance, as far as making money, sport's are some of these kid's only shot, what happen's to a Clarett if he suffer's a career ending injury? before he ever get's to the NFL? Are the colleges going top pay his way the rest of his life? Not every body has the head for school, but thier gift may be as an athlete, should kid's be punished if accademicly they are so smart that major companies want to hire them before they get out of college, and offer them million's to work for them? as far as I know there is no stipulation that they can't, [I know this is a unlikly scenerio] but the option is there, what should be done here is allow these kid's to enter the draft, if they don't like where they are drafted then the college's should reinstate thier eligibility, we are not talking about a lot of player's here, the thing that kill's me about this whole thing is this, if that kid quit school and went to work in construction or another dangerous job, you wouldn't hear boo from these colleges, yes he's old enough to work a dangerous job, possibly hanging off sky scrapper's, or join the military and maybe get killed, or injured, but he's just not ready to be drafted by the NFL, WHAT ABOUT HIS EDUCATION? HOW WILL HE EVER SURVIVE IF HE DOESN'T MAKE IT IN THE NFL?, I just feel the whole thing is very hypocrytical, as well I feel it punishes a kid who may not have the book smart's, but is football savey.

[sportscurmudgeon]

offiss:

If teams only drafted players ready to play in the NFL ,there would be no disastrously bad picks. Ryan Leaf would have been an undrafted free agent; same with Rick Mirer and same with that big stud offensive tackle that was drafted by Green Bay who stunk on a bagel (can't remember his name at the moment).

There is a thread here asking if several current Redskins were "wasted picks". If you assertion were correct and only players ready to play were taken, no such thread would ever need to be started.

Clarett can protect himself against a career ending injury with an insurance policy. Even the NCAA, which hates to admit that athletes get certain bennies that other students do not, will allow this and allow him to retain eligibility. (Where can he get the money? From the same place that he is getting the money to pay his lawyers.)

Problem is that Clarett tossed his eligibility in the ashcan when he stopped going to class to maintain academic eligibility. So now that kind of policy is not really open to him.

Clarett chose to put all his eggs in one basket. Notice I said he CHOSE to do that; no one put a gun to his head and made him do it against his will. Then he forgot to keep a careful eye on the basket...

[offiss]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

offiss:

If teams only drafted players ready to play in the NFL ,there would be no disastrously bad picks. Ryan Leaf would have been an undrafted free agent; same with Rick Mirer and same with that big stud offensive tackle that was drafted by Green Bay who stunk on a bagel (can't remember his name at the moment).

There is a thread here asking if several current Redskins were "wasted picks". If you assertion were correct and only players ready to play were taken, no such thread would ever need to be started.

Clarett can protect himself against a career ending injury with an insurance policy. Even the NCAA, which hates to admit that athletes get certain bennies that other students do not, will allow this and allow him to retain eligibility. (Where can he get the money? From the same place that he is getting the money to pay his lawyers.)

Problem is that Clarett tossed his eligibility in the ashcan when he stopped going to class to maintain academic eligibility. So now that kind of policy is not really open to him.

Clarett chose to put all his eggs in one basket. Notice I said he CHOSE to do that; no one put a gun to his head and made him do it against his will. Then he forgot to keep a careful eye on the basket...

Tony mandarich- green bay. there are no certainties when it comes to the draft, I just feel Clarett should be alotted the same opportunity as a junior in college.
I have to say about player's being ready, the question is not if he's talented enough, but whether or not he is physically ready, although there are plenty of bust's, it's usually because they are not talented enough, the case with underclassmen is they are not physically ready for the NFL, and I can see the point trying to be made, it's not unreasonable, but you have to admit there is alway's an exception to the rule, we all know not everybody mature's at the same rate, some guy's are much further along than other's, why should they be held back? I believe it's nothing more than college's losing the draw of star power, thus losing out on a lot of money, did Clarett bring this on himself? Absolutly, but that doesn't mean he's wrong, many people have challenged the establishment when they felt there was an injustes, Curt Flood opened the way for free agency, was he wrong? And I feel this situation with Clarett is a minor ripple in the rule changes, that really won't affect that much either way, I just feel it's not right if a kid is not smart enough to go to college, that he should be punished for it, and not allow to pursue another venue of income in the NFL.

[sportscurmudgeon]

Thank you for Tony Mandarich. I'm having a senior moment here.

I have nothing against giving Maurice Clarett the same opportunity that every other college junior has to jump to the NFL - the moment he is a college junior.

BTW, to be accurate, the NFL rule does not say a player has to be 21. It says his high school class had to graduate three years ago. MOST high school grads are 18, but if a kid graduated at 16, he'd be eligible for the NFL draft at 19 under the current rule. This is one way that the rule might be attacked because it is not equally applied...

It is the NBA that wants to have a lower age limit of 20 for all its players. the NFL merely wants them out of HS for 3 years.

I don't think the NFL gives a fig about colleges losing money when star players leave school. And the NCAA hardly has fallen all over itself to try to keep a door open for Clarett to come back and play for them somewhere. In fact, unless the NCAA filed an amicus curiae brief in the very last hearing in the appeals court, then they were not even a party to this action. So the money that Clarett might generate as a college football palyer does not seem to have enticed them very much.

[Daseal]

As many have said, no one held a gun to Clarette's head and forced him to try to get drafted. Likewise no one is forcing a team to draft him. Fact is he's talented enough to make it into the league and play well.

I see no reason why if a team is willing to take a guy and play him they can't. As long as he's 18 (only because of the whole liability thing) why not let him play.

[Hogskin]

Daseal, actually, I don't believe it is really a liability issue. I believe he could play at 18 if he graduated high school at 15. The NFL and NCAA have structured the system in a way that helps them both financially, and is GREATLY beneficial to many, many people.

First, the NFL gets a free minor league structure.

Next the NCAA schools make a ton off the games. If NFL teams were allowed to raid the college crop, their concern is that the quality of their product would be greatly diminished.

With the income from the football programs, colleges make FREE educations available to thousands of people - many who could not afford it, or would not go for other reasons. This gives them a much better shot at a financially successful life.

For the hundreds that DO get to the NFL, most would not have been ready before they were draftable anyway. The few Clarett's out there that "MIGHT" be ready continue to get that free education while they finish their preparation for the NFL. Personally, I believe that a guy like Clarett is much better off for having to wait. If he has enough sense to take advantage of the educational opportunity while he is waiting for his "time", he will have something to fall back on if he fails in the NFL.

Anyway, that seems to be the thinking of some that support the existing system.

[Daseal]

Much better off having to wait? ARe you nuts? He goes from a potential #1 overall pick (which isn't insane, a lot of sportscasters said after his 3 years he'd be the #1 pick even after only one year of college) to the 3rd/4th round? He's definitely worse off.

As far as liability, perhaps I didn't explain myself very well. I meant that as long as their 18 they should be able to play. Before you turn 18 there are labor laws, most pertaining on amount of hours worked, which football players far exceed.

[SKINSnCANES]

Its going to hurt him that he didnt play his second year. The fact that he tried scamming the insurance company wont help but shouldnt help to much. Mabye thats how his paying for his laywers.

[Hogskin]

Daseal, no, I just checked, and I am not nuts... LOL

But who told you he was a potential #1 overall pick???? Over Eli?? From everything I read before the ruling came down against him, he was going to be lucky to go in the third round. And one good college season is absolutely no guarantee of NFL success. So he washes out - then what. Now let's suppose he IS the real thing. Then, if he had just been patient and played his Junior season, he would have proven himself. Then maybe he WOULD have been a very early pick in round 1, and gotten, not only more of his education, but enough hootch to last a lifetime.

[SKINSnCANES]

I dont think he meant he was going to be a nubmer one overall in this draft had he been allowed to enter. Im assuming he meant thta he would have been a top pick had he played in college for both years, or for three years and entered next year.