Maurice Clarett Episode II

[offiss]

Originally Posted by PSUSkinsFan21

Well, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I just don't see it. The guy had injury concerns coming into college and then missed 3 full games and 2 partials because of various injuries (shoulders and knees). If he can't handle a 12 game college schedule, what is he going to do when guys like Lavar and Ray Lewis get a hold of him?

And the personal shot by Daseal was addressing me personally and comparing LJ to Clarrett (more less saying he's two times the back......which I'm still waiting to see some support for), and bringing up the "crybaby" comment made by Vermeil. A relevant comparison to this thread would have been Clarett versus any other RB in this year's Draft. But Daseal knows I am steadfastly loyal to my PSU boys, and he doesn't like me, so he took a shot at getting under my skin. Anyways, completely off topic here....

I'll just maintain that I don't think Clarett has shown anything to indicate he can be a good, dependable RB in the NFL. His body is suspect, his speed is suspect, his character is suspect, and he's two years removed from playing football (these concerns are consistent among all scouting reports I've seen on him). And I think he's actually as far from a Gibbs-type guy as you can get. But, that's just my opinion.

As for the NCAA: Rules exist for a reason, and you have to play by them. You want a few million bucks when you are 21-22 years old for playing professional football? Then play by the NFL's rules. You want to make it to the NFL and maybe get a free education at the same time (although apparently not at Ohio State), then you have to play by the NCAA rules. People who don't like to play by the rules aren't people I want on my football team. Guys like Clarett think they are entitled to something, or that the world owes them something, and, therefore, don't think the rules apply to them. Well guess what, the rules do apply to Maurice, and every other player that has come to the NFL for the last few decades (agreed, M. Williams was stuck in no-man's land......but if it was me, I'd have waited for the appeal). I don't feel sorry for anyone who bucks the system and burns their bridges because they think the rules shouldn't apply to them. He said FU to OSU, he said FU to the NFL, and they said FU right back. I'm cool with that. Nobody forced Clarett to make the decisions he made. They didn't create a monster. If it was OSU, the NFL, and NCAA's fault that Clarett turned out the way he did, then why do the other thousands of NCAA atheletes not act the same way? Sorry, but I'm big on personal responsibility. Not a fan of excuses and pointing the finger at others for your own shortcomings, and that's what Clarett has done as far as I can tell.
The NFL and NCAA want to make money off of players? So be it. In return they are getting the training they need to be physically and mentally ready for the NFL.
Ironically, if Clarett had played by the rules at OSU and entered the draft this year after three years at OSU, he'd probably be a first rounder, make millions more than he will be making, so hopefully lesson learned for his sake.

The reason they don't apply is because many are not physically ready for the NFL. Rules? Who play's buy the rules in college? Almost everyone one of these colleges circumvent the recruiting policies one way or another, why? because they treat it like a buisness not an education why else would they cheat when it comes to recruiting? Why else would they provide the kind of assistance that would allow a person like D.Manley to graduate when he couldn't read, college has nothing to do with education when it comes to many of these kids. To challenge a rule that for all tense and purposes goes against the laws of the land is not anarchy, how many people in our countries history have challenged laws that were just plain wrong and had them overturned, let alone what policies the NCAA or the NFL has come up with, It's funny how these kid's can be drafted into baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer, and any other sport you can name and yet are not allowed in the NFL.

I don't see how applying for the NFL is burning your bridges? Clarett was more than content to leave OHU behind without retribution OSU and the NCAA are the ones who were slaming and painting him as some kind of criminal, that is what they call BLACKBALLING! Take a look at what we have playing in the NFL, and what has played in the NFL, from Ray Lewis to Ray Carruth and all the in betweens, and we have to be told that CLARETT is the bad guy, what crimes has he committed? What drug tests has he failed? Yes the NFL and NCAA calling Clarett a bad guy, what a joke!

[PSUSkinsFan21]

Originally Posted by offiss

The reason they don't apply is because many are not physically ready for the NFL. Rules? Who play's buy the rules in college? Almost everyone one of these colleges circumvent the recruiting policies one way or another, why? because they treat it like a buisness not an education why else would they cheat when it comes to recruiting? Why else would they provide the kind of assistance that would allow a person like D.Manley to graduate when he couldn't read, college has nothing to do with education when it comes to many of these kids. To challenge a rule that for all tense and purposes goes against the laws of the land is not anarchy, how many people in our countries history have challenged laws that were just plain wrong and had them overturned, let alone what policies the NCAA or the NFL has come up with, It's funny how these kid's can be drafted into baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer, and any other sport you can name and yet are not allowed in the NFL.

I don't see how applying for the NFL is burning your bridges? Clarett was more than content to leave OHU behind without retribution OSU and the NCAA are the ones who were slaming and painting him as some kind of criminal, that is what they call BLACKBALLING! Take a look at what we have playing in the NFL, and what has played in the NFL, from Ray Lewis to Ray Carruth and all the in betweens, and we have to be told that CLARETT is the bad guy, what crimes has he committed? What drug tests has he failed? Yes the NFL and NCAA calling Clarett a bad guy, what a joke!

I hear you. I understand what you're saying about the NCAA and NFL. And while I don't necessarily agree with it and while I'm not quite as cynical about our colleges, I do understand the argument.

As for the bridges he burned, I was referring to the whistle-blowing and numerous accusations he made about OSU on his way out. The investigation is ongoing, so I won't speculate as to the truth of those accusations, but the point stands that the minute he decided to leave for the NFL early, he also started burning all of his bridges behind him. By coming out publicly and ripping OSU like he did, he ensured that he would not have a place to go back to if the court ruled against him. That, to me, is poor judgment.

And he is certainly no Ray Carruth or Ray Lewis (at least not yet), but I (and many other scouts and coaches) still have concerns with his character. Setting aside the character concerns, he still doesn't really strike me as a guy that has what it takes to be an NFL back. And if he did, he wouldn't be projected as a 5-7th rounder right now. Character concerns alone are only ever going to drop a guy one or two rounds at most, and usually less than that (see William Green, Fred Smoot).

[offiss]

Originally Posted by PSUSkinsFan21

I hear you. I understand what you're saying about the NCAA and NFL. And while I don't necessarily agree with it and while I'm not quite as cynical about our colleges, I do understand the argument.

As for the bridges he burned, I was referring to the whistle-blowing and numerous accusations he made about OSU on his way out. The investigation is ongoing, so I won't speculate as to the truth of those accusations, but the point stands that the minute he decided to leave for the NFL early, he also started burning all of his bridges behind him. By coming out publicly and ripping OSU like he did, he ensured that he would not have a place to go back to if the court ruled against him. That, to me, is poor judgment.

And he is certainly no Ray Carruth or Ray Lewis (at least not yet), but I (and many other scouts and coaches) still have concerns with his character. Setting aside the character concerns, he still doesn't really strike me as a guy that has what it takes to be an NFL back. And if he did, he wouldn't be projected as a 5-7th rounder right now. Character concerns alone are only ever going to drop a guy one or two rounds at most, and usually less than that (see William Green, Fred Smoot).

From what I can remember maybe I need a refresher here is he really didn't come out and slam them until he officially new he was out of the NFL, then he started in on I believe Andy Geiger and co. but I am not positive of the timing.

As for bad charactor or criminal tendancies dropping a player only a couple of round's? Not if the Ravens or Cowboys are drafting!

[PSUSkinsFan21]

Originally Posted by offiss

As for bad charactor or criminal tendancies dropping a player only a couple of round's? Not if the Ravens or Cowboys are drafting!

Now there's something we can all agree on! LOL