"In an interview with ESPN The Magazine, Clarett wanted to "clear his name" with NFL general managers and owners, to help his case when it comes draft time next April."
It goes to show how stupid Clarett is, because the NFL doesn't care that much about a college player's off-the-field actions. Sometimes an NFL team will pass on a player, because of a character flaw, but that just means another team gets the player. If anything, Clarett's actions this time lowers his NFL stock, because it shows, once again, just how selfish Clarett is.
The NFL cares about height, weight, strength, and speed. The NFL might put a little importance on intelligence. If Clarett wants to impress the NFL gengeral managers, he better get into shape and show up this time at the NFL Combine.
"At the NFL Scouting Combine, a player's stock can rise or fall as suddenly as the Wall Street Stock Market. It is the one time when you have the opportunity to perform in front of the owners, general managers, directors of player personnel, and coaches from every single team in the league."
NFL general managers care whether or not Clarett can take a hit. Clarett missed a few games in his only season at OSU because of an injury or injuries. I think he was injured a lot in high school too.
An NFL team that doesn't need a runningback will select Clarett as a project. I can't see Clarett being a top draft pick. And that's not because of what he's saying now. It's because of playing only one incomplete season at OSU, which is now two years ago. He's not physically and mentally ready for the NFL.
When Clarett is selected low in the draft, he will most likely cry foul. That's his style. He's a big baby and a chronic whiner. Clarett believes nothing is ever his fault. Someone else is to blame for Clarett's problems.
posted by jr at 10:28 A.M. EST on Wed Nov 10, 2004 #
Clarett is a goon, but the things Clarett mentions do happen in college sports, especially for football and basketball players. Some schools get caught and some don't. Is Ohio State or Tressel guilty? Would you be surprise if Clarett's claims were true? I think the surprise would be that OSU finally got caught.
Anyway, here's an October 2, 2003 story by a writer who is no fan of the person he calls "Teflon Tressel."
"The Buckeye Nation's navigator may not be dirty, but he's not as Tide clean as believed."
"Yes, Clarett is at fault for his actions leading to his suspension. Yes, he deserves to be painfully punished -- either by the NCAA, or if he continues his laughable lawsuit, by the Baltimore Ravens' Ray Lewis. Yes, he should take responsibility for his actions and abandon NFL dreaming with such a fragile body."
"However, just as I thought, this isn't the first time Teflon Tressel has been involved with an athlete gone bad and professes to know nothing about it. It's the second time."
"A recent story by Tom Archdeacon -- a national award-winning sports columnist for the Dayton Daily News -- reported while Teflon Tressel was the head coach at YSU, he had a player similar to Clarett in talent -- on-and-off the field."
"Ray Isaac, a quicksilver quarterback, led YSU to a Division I-AA national title in 1991. Later, it was disclosed, he had one of his hands wrapped around ill-gotten money; the other around the steering wheels of ill-gotten vehicles."
"On Feb. 16, 2000 -- while Teflon Tressel was YSU's head football coach and athletic director - the NCAA released a Public Infractions Report indicating while Isaac was a YSU student, he was driving cars "all former (YSU) players interviewed but one," had some knowledge of."
"Like in the Clarett case, the cars were not bought by Isaac. It appears Isaac -- like Clarett -- had a father-mentor-pimp figure in his life catering to his needs."
"The report also indicates a "former director of enforcement" told YSU officials about the possible NCAA violations -- including at least 13 football players were employed during the season and money was given to non-scholarship football players -- and were asked to investigate."
"With the NCAA investigating YSU -- the NCAA was looking at lack of institutional control charges which could have stripped the university of its national title -- Teflon and the athletic administration claimed to know nothing about Isaac's illicit gifts."
"Buckeye Nation remove your scarlet-colored glasses and remember Teflon Tressel said he never read the New York Times' article about the alleged academic fraud on his OSU team. He said he didn't know about the car Clarett was driving; after all, he never read the police report Clarett filed. His secretary did. Teflon Tressel knew nothing about what Isaac was doing either."
posted by jr at 10:48 A.M. EST on Wed Nov 10, 2004 #
Here's a "related" non-story:
"Sixty-four car dealers are enrolled in a program to give free cars to Ohio state coaches and athletics staff in exchange for access to great season ticket seats and other perks. The NCAA allows free-car programs at Division I universities. The practice is standard in the competitive Division I world."
The media is desparate for a scoop, a scandal where one doesn't exist. The Dispatch should focus on the real story, which is money and cars for athletes.
"NCAA investigators will return to Ohio State University Monday to take another look at the football program after the latest round of allegations made by former players."
posted by jr at 12:20 P.M. EST on Mon Nov 15, 2004 #
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