Clarett Loses In Court One More Time

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.

I think you missed my entire point. Believe it or not, my problem is with this rule and how the NFL tries to justify it. I DO NOT have a major ax to grind with the NFL/NCAA...NFL football is my favorite sport.
I do have a problem when the NFL makes a blanket rule like every adult under 21 is not ready for the NFL. There are many 21 year olds and older who are not ready for the NFL.
Also, I did not say the 'NFL /NCAA system has caused untold harm'. I was just responding to someone that was implying the NFL is pure and altruistic in its policies and ways. I was just pointing out the NFL in its past has not always been perfect, charitable and clean cut as it is today.

I am sorry you think these points to my argument are so radical to you. LOL
You act like it is treasonous for me speak out against the NFL, when in my opinion they did something wrong. This is still America right? I can speak out against the NFL when I think they are being unfair?
You do not need to attack me personally by calling my argument "so anti-NFL, and so bleeding-heart pitious (sp?)...(You go on to say) "Slavery has historically been the next step for players with this radical point of view. I was just pointing out the direction your remarks had taken."
Wow next you are going to call me a nothern-er/yankee.

You act like it is treasonous for me speak out against the NFL, when in my opinion they did something wrong. This is still America right? I can speak out against the NFL when I think they are being unfair?
You do not need to attack me personally by calling my argument "so anti-NFL, and so bleeding-heart pitious (sp?)...(You go on to say) "Slavery has historically been the next step for players with this radical point of view. I was just pointing out the direction your remarks had taken."
Wow next you are going to call me a nothern-er/yankee.

WOW is right! Your statements keep getting farther out there, defenswins. Of course you have the right to speak out. But did you not realize that OTHERS also have the right to respond to you? Or that they WILL when you say something outrageous? The rest of us have those same rights. LMAO

Next correction: You apparently do not understand what a personal attack is. A personal attack is an attack on YOU, not your statements. I only made reference to your statments. If I make a personal attack on you, you will know it. An example of a personal attack would be closing out a post with a thinly veiled slur on someone because you believe they are "Southern". But I will let it slide this time, because, since you do not understand what a personal attack is, you obviously did not intend it.

But just to set the record straight for you: I was born in Bethesda, Maryland. I graduated from D.C.'s Archbishop Carroll High School with John Thompson. I graduated from D.C.'s Catholic University. I spent my first 50 years in the D.C. area. But my wife is from Alabama. I will pass your fine comment along to HER.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Correct, Skins. Sorry, I'm not doing a very good job of explaining myself this evening.