McDaniels: Lawyers misguided

The Warren Harding coach said Clarett should have had a safety net.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- Maurice Clarett's high school football coach says the player's lawyers have "fumbled the ball" in a landmark lawsuit challenging NFL draft rules.
"I'm not upset that he challenged the NFL," said Thom McDaniels, Warren Harding High's coach. "I'm upset that people around him didn't make sure he did what he needed to do" in case his challenge was unsuccessful.
McDaniels favored Clarett staying at Ohio State to develop himself as a student and football player.
"I don't think it was in his best interest to have done what he did, but that's water under the bridge," McDaniels said. "Once he made that decision, I accepted that, and now I hope everything happens in his favor."
Court-room battle
Clarett, 20, a sophomore from Youngstown, challenged the NFL for early entry into this weekend's draft.
He won his first court challenge, but the NFL prevailed Monday in a federal appeals court, making Clarett ineligible for the draft.
Tuesday, Clarett's lawyers fired back, filing an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
As the court-room battle has played out, McDaniels has watched from a distance, hoping his former standout running back prevails.
"Unfortunately," McDaniels said, "the kid is left with no alternative."
That's because Clarett's lawyers didn't provide their client with a "safety net," McDaniels said.
Eligibility rules
According to NCAA rules, a player forfeits his college eligibility once he declares himself eligible for the NFL draft.
Clarett, USC receiver Mike Williams and seven other players declared early for the draft and await the court's decision.
If the court subsequently rules in the players' favor, the NFL would hold a supplemental draft. If the court rules against the players, their immediate football future would be in doubt.
"If I'm his lawyer, I'm certainly hopeful I win the suit against the NFL," McDaniels said.
"But in case I don't, I'm going to have a Plan B because I want to take care of the kid.
"I hold the lawyers responsible for the predicament he's in right now."
richesson@vindy.com