Clarett Loses In Court One More Time

Maurice Clarett lost at the Federal Appeals Court level today. The court said that the NFL - and the NFLPA as its partner in labor agreements - have the right to set working standards and entry standards for the league and that this is consistent with Federal labor policy. The Appeals Court overturned the ruling of a District Court judge who held that the NFL's rule violated anti-trust laws.

Clarett has one chance left and it is a real long shot. He can get the US Supreme Court to hear his case and he might prevail at that level. However, two justices on the Supreme Court have already heard his lawyer's arguments and said that they were not going to intervene and do something before the Appeals Court had a chance to rule. Translation: the two justices were underwhelmed by the arguments for Clarett's lawyers.

Interestingly, the lawyer for Clarett is one of the brothers who was trying to buy the Redskins with Danny Boy as the minority partner but the NFL rejected their bid. They sued the NFL and the Cooke Estate and everyone else in creation, but you will notice they did not win that case either. I suspect that the NFL is REALLY enjoying this decision...

Clarett has five options at this moment:

1. You can appeal to the Supreme Court. Not likely to get the Court to hear his case.

2. You can appeal to NCAA to reinstate you and enroll at an NCAA school. Given your admission that you took money from a booster and your plea bargain involving filing a phony police report to get extra insurance money, this is not a sure shot for success.

3. You can enroll at a NAIA school and play really low grade football.

4. You can play in the CFL. I think Montreal owns your rights. Maybe you can earn $100K Canadian - if you're not a greedy pain in the ass during the negotiations.

5. Here is the most sensible option: Don't get fat; don't get into any trouble with the police and get ready to work out for scouts prior to the next draft. But get the "big time" nonsense out of your head, because your days where you call the all the shots are behind you. YOu work out when it's conveneint for others, not for you! The next time you will get to be the loudest voice in the choir is after you are drafted and you gain 1500+ yards in a season and you happen to become a free agent that year. Until then, welcome to Earth.

I still think whoever gets Clarette in the third round on got one hell of a steal. This kid is a player.

Clarett has to do somthing between now and next year. He cant just sit back and not do a damn thing football wise. I dont care if hes in the CFL, playing College Football at a DII or III school, or just traiining with an NFL Level Trainer, he cant sit back and just chill. The longer he is away from the game, the more its gonna hurt him.

I think that he will end up spending a year in the cfl.He came out of college to make money and that is his best chance to get it.Can you imagine how much the cfl is licking there chops right now?

anyone know how much a good CFL player makes? He does need to play at some level, atelast so he can prove that he can play. One good year in college doesnt make up for two years of tv watching

This entire court battle is far from over....stay tuned. :doh:

This entire court battle is far from over....stay tuned. :doh:

Agreed, the NFL won the battle, but I think clarett will win the war.

Agreed, the NFL won the battle, but I think clarett will win the war.

How?? The decision costs Clarrett this season. There is no way he gets an better rookie deal next year than he would have this year - CFL or no.

At best, a decision by the court sitting en banc will come out in late June, early July. If the NFL loses the en banc appeal (Which I sincerely doubt. For the reasons stated by the appellate court, I always felt the lower court was dead wrong), do you think the NFL is then going to create a rush supplemental draft for Clarret between the ruling and training camp? I don't think so. If the NFL loses teh en banc appeal, they will then appeal to the Supreme Court and request a stay of the Circuit Court Decision. All they need do is delay the procedure a week or two and training camps will already have started. After that, no way he gets drafted higher than the 4th round of a supplemental draft. Oh by the way, he still has to negotiate a contract.

MAYBE, if he is as good as he thinks he is, he signs a contract next year. Serves his 3 years and cashes in as an RFA or UFA the following year.

Clarrett screwed himself by failing to play by the rules (any rules - NCAA or NFL) and his multi million dollar talent is going to get him a job which requires him to learn one line and one line only -- "Would you like fries with that??"

How?? The decision costs Clarrett this season. There is no way he gets an better rookie deal next year than he would have this year - CFL or no.

At best, a decision by the court sitting en banc will come out in late June, early July. If the NFL loses the en banc appeal (Which I sincerely doubt. For the reasons stated by the appellate court, I always felt the lower court was dead wrong), do you think the NFL is then going to create a rush supplemental draft for Clarret between the ruling and training camp? I don't think so. If the NFL loses teh en banc appeal, they will then appeal to the Supreme Court and request a stay of the Circuit Court Decision. All they need do is delay the procedure a week or two and training camps will already have started. After that, no way he gets drafted higher than the 4th round of a supplemental draft. Oh by the way, he still has to negotiate a contract.

MAYBE, if he is as good as he thinks he is, he signs a contract next year. Serves his 3 years and cashes in as an RFA or UFA the following year.

Clarrett screwed himself by failing to play by the rules (any rules - NCAA or NFL) and his multi million dollar talent is going to get him a job which requires him to learn one line and one line only -- "Would you like fries with that??"

Excellent post.

The key phrase here is with the contract negotiation. Say, for, example, that your Washington Redskins decide to take a flier on Clarett when a supplimental draft occurs (be it in August, November, or whenever). He could be drafted anywhere, but let's again say hypothetically, the third round. What cap space is available for him to make a roster? Very few teams will have the available cap space to sign a player of questionable conditioning and character to anything less than a minimum salary contract.

Others have clearly stated what Clarett needs to do in order to play in the league - get in shape and play the game at some level (CFL, Arena, etc.) to be a football player and not a litigant. The question is , will Clarett do that, or will he resign himself to the dungheap of wasted talent? I'm afraid we already know the answer.

Well, as stated in the original article, the court battle really IS over. Supreme Court? I don't THINK so...

And as far as Clarett being a "player" - maybe... maybe not. One good season at the college level does not prove a thing. That is why no one would have jumped at him in the first two rounds. Wherever he goes he is a big gamble for a couple reasons: his talent is unproven, and he has ALL the earmarks of being a perrenial pain in the rear for any team that signs him. This is certainly not the stuff of sure-fire NFL success. Can you say Joe Don Looney??? (There are many other examples that more of you would remember, but this one is prime, and his last ditch shot was with the Redskins!!)