Maurice Clarett

Maurice Clarett is an American football player born on October 29, 1983 (in Youngstown, Ohio).

Related Topics:
American football - October 29 - 1983

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Clarrett starred at Ohio State University for one season, rushing for 1,237 yards (a school record for freshmen) and scoring 18 touchdowns while leading the Buckeyes to a 14-0 record and the 2002 national championship.

Related Topics:
Ohio State University - Touchdown - 2002

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Clarett is perhaps best known for unsuccessfully challenging the NFL's rule that a player must be out of high school three years to be eligible for the entry draft. After being suspended by Ohio State for the 2003 athletic year due to refusal to cooperate with investigators, he attempted to enter the professional draft. Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin initially ruled that the NFL could not bar Clarett from participating in the 2004 NFL Draft. This decision was later overturned by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Clarett's higher appeal was refused by the Supreme Court.

Related Topics:
NFL - Entry draft - 2003 - Federal Judge - Shira Scheindlin - 2004 NFL Draft - Overturn - 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals - Supreme Court

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In February 2005, he participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. During a press conference, he uttered the phrase: "It's a humbling thing being humble." After running for a disappointing 4.72 and 4.82 seconds in the 40-yard dash, he refused to participate further, and was referred to as "Slow-Mo" by the sports media. Ohio State declined to allow him to take part in a private work-out for pro scouts in Columbus because it wanted to avoid a "circus" situation.

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Clarett was drafted on the first day of the 2005 NFL Draft with the 101st pick by the Denver Broncos in a widely unexpected move. Many experts felt that he would fall to the 6th or 7th round if he was drafted at all. Despite the risk that the Broncos took on him, he failed to impress in training camp. He showed up overweight and was said to demonstrate little work ethic. He was placed on waivers on August 28, 2005. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2145372 After clearing waivers, Clarett's NFL future is uncertain. The Miami Herald reported in September that Clarett is already $1 million in debt from legal fees for his fight with the NFL and other costs. They reported that Clarett turned down a traditional signing bonus of $413,000 in his original contract with Denver because Kenner wanted incentives that would pay Clarett if he became a star.

Related Topics:
2005 NFL Draft - Denver Broncos

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That all backfired after a series of off-field events resulted in Clarett being cut. He reported to training camp at 248 pounds (at least 20 pounds overweight), was slow to return from an injury, had run-ins with coaches and was even found drinking alcohol in the team's weight room.

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When contacted by The Herald, Kenner said: I'm not at liberty to discuss any of those matters. But thank you for the call. Kenner then hung up.

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A source close to Clarett is reported to have stated: ``It's ridiculous how badly this thing is screwed up. In the minds of the people around Maurice, he was going to walk in and be a superstar. They kept filling his head with that idea, and he thought he was already the man before he did anything.

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