Clarett tests the waters

[Ytown Tribe fan]

He will never be mistaken for Curt Flood, but Mo Clarett is taking on the NFL, as of today.

What do you people think of this? Should he be allowed to play? WILL he be allowed to?

[JamesI]

the rule is questionable, so he's got a chance...

[Craig S.]

I think he will, and I think he should.

As a fan, I hate the implication of a successful challenge, because it will mean heavy turnover with little stability. I also dislike it because I know a lot of kids will jump early, before they're ready to go pro. However, I just don't see how you can deny a kid the chance to make a living in his chosen profession at a time of his choosing.

[TimmyB]

Clarett's class-room performance (?) and off-field behavior is a microcosm of what makes bit-time college sports so distasteful. Add to this, now that he has been disciplined, his reaction -- take responsibility? No, never! It's "Sue the NFL." *sigh*

However, the NFL's rule is self-serving and probably won't stand up in the courts.

No... Curt Flood he ain't.

[sweaver]

It's going to be hard to defend the rule legally. Then again, if one doesn't go to college, where else could he go?

[KCBOOMER]

In an interview several months ago David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, was asked about the NFL preventing players from entering the draft before they were 21. He said that since this is restriction was reached through collective bargaining that it would almost certainly stand up to a court challenge.

This is a point of view I have never heard anywhere else and I wonder if all the other "experts" are aware of this point or not. Most of the guys you hear yapping are simply "talking heads" or guest lawyers who spend most of their time in front of a camera instead of in a courtroom.

[TimmyB]

In an interview several months ago David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, was asked about the NFL preventing players from entering the draft before they were 21. He said that since this is restriction was reached through collective bargaining that it would almost certainly stand up to a court challenge.

This is a point of view I have never heard anywhere else and I wonder if all the other "experts" are aware of this point or not. Most of the guys you hear yapping are simply "talking heads" or guest lawyers who spend most of their time in front of a camera instead of in a courtroom.

Isn't that interesting -- I read an article a week ago or so that said that the language was vague on that in the NFL CBA. Of course, it was a reporter reporting it and not a league commissioner, who, one would assume, would know better.

[sweaver]

I don't know that a court will rule Clarett's rights are protected by an agreement between two other parties.

[WiredTiger]

I have always thought that players should be allowed to enter the draft anytime that they are ready. Furthermore I think there should be some provision that allows athletes to test the draft and then go back to college if they are not drafted in a good position.

It is very self serving of the pro leagues and colleges to limit athletes from making choices about their lives and careers. It is painful to watch a player like Marcus Taylor enter the NBA draft get drafted in the second round and then get cut.

I would propose that athletes be allowed to enter the draft and return to school if they are either not drafted or go lower than the fifth round in the NFL or lower than the first round for the NBA.

[Craig S.]

So he officially sued them today:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1621822

I wonder if it will lead to a court battle, or whether the NFL will concede that they've got little chance to win.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

It's funny -- Clarett's High School had a better team AFTER he graduated -- went undefeated and won the state title in a powerful division, something they failed to do while he was playing.

While I would hardly argue that OSU is better without him, they may become a better TEAM without him. At least Tressel is convinced of that. Whatever -- it sure beats hell outta forfeiting the season because of his infractions.

I hope he gets drafted by the Bengals next year. They deserve each other.