Clarett awaits courts

The appeals court will probably make a decision Monday on his draft status.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Youngstown native Maurice Clarett and the NFL face a monumental week that promises to be more defining than ever for the player and pro sports league.
History is about to be made.
On Monday, the 2nd District Court of Appeals will hear arguments on whether Clarett, 20, should be allowed into the NFL draft.
Adding intrigue is the timing; arguments will be heard only five days before the draft begins in New York.
Will Clarett, a Warren Harding High graduate, be among the pool of players from which 32 teams can select?
"We have in this country right-to-work laws, and it's un-American to stop somebody from making a living," said Myke Clarett, Maurice's father, who believes his son has "a better-than-fair chance of prevailing."
Central issue
The complication centers on age. Since 1990, through an agreement with its Players Association, the NFL has allowed only those players at least three years removed from their high school graduation to enter the draft.
Clarett, an Ohio State running back who graduated from high school in 2001, changed all that.
It began in October of 2002, in an interview with an ESPN The Magazine reporter, who queried Clarett on the NFL's draft rules. Clarett, then a freshman, expressed interest in challenging the NFL rule barring underclassmen from the draft.
Word of that article spread, and it put Clarett on a national stage. The topic became the center of attention for fans and media everywhere.
Clarett, meanwhile, continued a strong freshman season at Ohio State.
Despite missing three games because of injuries, he rushed for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns as the Buckeyes won the national championship.
Career turns
But in the summer of 2003, Clarett's tenure at Ohio State became marked by controversy, his future clouded.
"People have been harsh in their criticism and unforgiving. He's a good young man, but in a position where he's being judged unfairly," Myke Clarett said. "The person they describe in newspapers is not the person I know."
The New York Times reported that Clarett received improper academic assistance, and his problems only mounted when he found himself in a legal hole.
He filed a police report claiming that $10,000 of stereo equipment and merchandise had been stolen from a car he was driving. Clarett, however, was charged with a misdemeanor falsification charge for exaggerating the amount of items stolen.
The biggest blow came last September when Clarett was suspended for his sophomore season after Ohio State determined he had accepted thousands of dollars in improper benefits and lied to investigators.
That's when Clarett, his mother Michelle and a legal team took action against the NFL, which has aggressively held its ground in the seven-month court battle.
"Some of the things that happened at Ohio State are beyond repair, and his options are limited," Myke Clarett said. "I'm just hoping the [original] ruling is upheld, and he can go on with his life."
The appeals court will rule one of three ways. It will uphold the original decision of a lower court that has already allowed Clarett into the draft, overturn that decision and take away his draft eligibility or issue a stay.
A stay will keep Clarett out of the draft until a future ruling is made. If necessary, a supplemental draft will be held for Clarett, USC receiver Mike Williams and seven other athletes who have declared early.
Both sides can still appeal the result of Monday's hearing.
"The current structure works well," San Francisco 49ers general manager Terry Donahue said.
"Are there exceptions? Sure," he added, "but the majority feels the system we have in place is the best system, and I hope the courts uphold it."
richesson@vindy.com