FOOTBALL Clarett's attorney seeks new appeal

The options are narrowing for the former Ohio State University tailback.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Despite another setback, former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett is continuing his legal fight to attempt to play in the NFL next season.
Clarett's attorney, Alan C. Milstein, said Tuesday he was preparing a brief to present to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City. He declined further comment.
The next appeal would be before the entire 12-judge panel. Should Clarett lose that battle, he could appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
On Monday, Clarett, a Youngstown native who graduated from Warren Harding High, lost a decision before a three-judge panel from the 2nd Circuit, which ruled that federal labor policy allows NFL teams to set rules for when players can enter the league.
Permission granted
In February, a lower court judge ruled Clarett eligible for the draft, saying the NFL was violating federal antitrust laws by blocking Clarett's entry into his profession with a rule barring eligibility until a player was three years out of high school. Clarett is only two years out of high school.
Since that ruling, Clarett has lost several attempts to force his way into the NFL.
The 2nd Circuit blocked Clarett from being included in the NFL draft last month, and two U.S. Supreme Court justices also turned him down.
Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and scored 16 touchdowns as a freshman in 2002 at Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to the national championship. He was suspended last fall for accepting money from a family friend and lying about it to NCAA investigators.
The ruling Monday declared Clarett ineligible for a supplemental draft, forcing him to wait for the 2005 NFL draft.
What now?
Clarett's options are narrowing. Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger has said there is no scenario in which Clarett -- who dropped out of classes this spring -- might return to play for the Buckeyes.
If Clarett is shut out of a supplemental draft, one of his few alternatives on the field would be to go to the Canadian Football League. The Montreal Alouettes retain the CFL rights to Clarett.
A message seeking comment was left Tuesday at the Alouettes' training camp for general manager Jim Popp.
Clarett's plight in the courts also affects Southern California wide receiver Mike Williams, who hired an agent after playing his sophomore season last fall. Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll said Monday that the university would seek to have Williams reinstated.