Interesting thoughts from other nfl players on clarretts ruling. This came from cbssportsline article. Thought you all may be interested on this. HONOLULU -- Colts head coach Tony Dungy stood before the elite of the AFC earlier this week and informed his squad of All-Stars of an alarming decision. A judge had just ruled in favor of Maurice Clarett, giving the Ohio State youngster and all others the right to enter the NFL Draft. "That poor kid," one player immediately belted out. Every year, the fine folks at SportsLine.com banish me to Hawaii to get a pulse of a burning issue or two to head into the offseason with. This year's topic couldn't have been more hotly talked about. This year's Pro Bowl is a bit different than in years past. Rather than the typical stress-free week where the NFL's cr?me de la cr?me can congregate together and talk about football on its highest levels, the week was marred. In fact, all week long, NFL players -- after forgetting about the nipple shot heard round the world -- reacted with outrage and couldn't let it go even days after the Clarett decision was rendered. "I would hope whoever the first one to try it, the teams would send them a message that this is not what the NFL is about," Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said regarding a boycott of drafting such a youngster. "I've never faulted a kid in college from coming out early when he has been eligible. "You have to go to college for three years and get an understanding of what life is about. You have to be ready or you'll never get over the hump." The most outspoken person during the week was Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington, who has talked about targeting any premature draftees in order to send a message. "It gives people a false impression that they can be bigger than the league, bigger than the game," Arrington said. "This is some serious stuff here. There are some serious killers in this game, grown men who try to knock your head off every single play. "They have grown-men bodies and speed you've never seen before. You have to learn what's going on physically and emotionally. The NFL is not for kids." Arrington and Manning's sentiments were heard from corner to corner of both Pro Bowl locker rooms. The league's stars talked all week about cheapening the game and most actually took it personally. Their biggest concern isn't so much the college sophomore, but the fear of a world of LeBron Jameses trying to infiltrate the NFL. "It's a slap in our face to have a high school kid come out and think he could step up to a league where 100 percent of the combatants are men," Miami LB Zach Thomas said. "This is a whole different story on this level. I'm really against this." "Pay your dues like everyone else before you, and do the right thing," Arrington said. "All this is doing is taking our game and that one single person can devalue everything. That's fine though because at one point in time we'll have a chance to see what he's about out there anyway." "This isn't basketball, where your goal is to come out and throw a ball through a hole," Ravens LB Ray Lewis said. "Every other sport is different from ours, because our sport revolves around such physical activity. You bring in a kid who is 18 years old, I don't think they're that grown. "The body has to go through years of maturing against injury. You might catch a phenomenon coming out, but it'll hurt more than it helps. Maurice is a good friend of mine, but at the same time, the longevity of what they are trying to execute is impossible." The wide-ranging ramifications of the Clarett decision for the league were cause for conversation at practice, at the pool, on the golf course, in between sips of Mai Tais. Each Pro Bowler has his own take on what could be a terrible tailspin for professional football. "It's going to be a big mess, just like basketball," Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson said. "Kids will start making crazy decisions to chase the money instead of chasing their goals in a sport that they should be chasing. "It's not good for our sport. I just hope that it doesn't send our sport in a negative direction, because it could bring a class of young, mentally immature kids into the league, and that won't be good." "It hurts the entire fabric of our sport," Thomas said. "Now agents are going to start going after kids in high school. How many of these kids will be lured in by $1,000 bonus by some agent. They are too immature to deal with this right now." Giants DE Michael Strahan also added his opinion: "The courts have done these kids a great injustice. I actually feel bad for these kids, because they are going to change their lives due to a false impression about something. I don't care how physically gifted a kid thinks he is, the mental and maturity aspect of the game will engulf you. "The level of maturity needed to play in the NFL is incredible, and if they mess that up, it'll be too hard for them to recover." Even some of the agents (who might stand to the gain the most from this decision) present at the Pro Bowl were disappointed by the decision. Ralph Cindrich asked at what point does he and his cohorts now have to start looking at talent? Early high school years? "It's going to be a mess," Cindrich said. "When you go to college and have two years away from home, they can mature a little bit," Jets center Kevin Mawae said. "It's not a game for a bunch of 18-year-old athletes to run around out here. This isn't AAA state championship, it's the real deal." "You may be able to have someone come out with the physical ability to compete, but nobody will be able to handle the mental complexity of and the scrutiny of it," Manning said. "The difference between a college playbook and a pro playbook is astronomical. The difference between a high school playbook and the NFL? It's not even a conversation. "It's disappointing. Someone will try to do it, and the chances of that kid succeeding are very slim." Players also asked if there was something the NFL could eventually do to prevent their fears from coming true. Gene Upshaw, the NFLPA head, and league officials both said they would take steps to shut the window. "I was surprised to see the ruling, and I thought we had something different from other leagues," Manning said. "I've never liked how the NBA and the major leagues set up their situations. Hopefully there is something that the players union and the league can still do." Hopefully, because Hawaii isn't supposed to be this stressful.
Sounds like Union scum acting Unamerican! Merit is the only way. If a 18 yr old is good enough to earn a job and do it well, he should get the job. It's simple ... It's the American way.
Please. I'll listen to the people who know and live it everyday. If someone like Peyton Manning is that against it then you know somethings wrong. There is no 18 year old that can play in the NFL and it's not Unamerican to protect KIDS from getting seriously injured or mentally scarred for life. Clarett has at least gone to school for one year and had some time to grow up but we'll see if he has had enough time if he is drafted. I'm sure some team will draft him but I'd rather see the league take a stand and not draft him.
PLEASE!!! You'll listen to people who are in collusion to protect their OWN interests at the expense of others? The NFL wants to keep it's Farm System in tact and the Union wants to lock out competition. If you're old enough to die for your country then your old enough to get a shot at making an NFL team. I'm not a Maurice Clarett fan, but if he's not picked by the end of the 2nd round someone should go to jail. I can't believe anyone would be dumb enough to buy the NFL's line of bullshit on this subject. "Protecting kid's from serious injuries and mental scares"! LOL Pats37=John F'in Kerry (LIAR)
the rule should be IMO, there is no rule that once u hire a agent, u cannot go back to the NCAA, or that u dont need a agent untill after the draft, so this way players that dont get drafted can go back to the NCAAFL and play some more. or. . .. ... .... ... .. . there could be a workout like the combine, that players under the 3 years past HS graduation deadline can go to to see were they stand in line with the pros. just some ideas
i dont know, it seems to me that if the complexity of the job is so high, require a College diploma for consideration for the job, 100's of other companies do it, it is a requirement for them to accept your application, applicants without college diplomas wont be accepted, that simple. i know they have that requirement to get job as doctors, so why not football players, and it is legit, they need people who have proven they can study, i.e. for studying a playbook, and diploma proves that. it would eliminate early entries all together, and as far as risk of injuries goes, there is no rule saying they have to play football to get college diploma.
Thank You Bearsfan cus it seems Zackman is in favor of turning the NFL into a mindless game based on 18 year olds like the NBA. The sad thing is the lawyers and anyone who refuses to hear what players have to say on this matter will continue to not realize the complexity of the NFL an the accountability that is put on every player. In the NBA you can turn the ball over 6, 7, 8 times a game and still be a star but in the NFL you make one mistake and it can cost you team the game and in a 16 game season it could cost your team everything. When that happens the 18 year old doesn't get a pat on the back and a "it's ok you'll get em next time", he gets a foot in the ass then and ass on the bench and at that age I don't care how talented you are cus your confidence could be shattered and you may never make it off that bench. When you are good enough in high school to even be considered a NFL prospect you probably haven't seen many players that can even challenge you and you don't learn humility or how to be resillant cus everything to that point has come to easy to you. As far as I'm concerned those two traits are a key to success in the NFL and are almost as important as talent. That can happen in college as well but on a much smaller level since there are only a few who dominate in college. Thats one of the reasons you see late round picks becoming stars in the NFL. For the most part those late rounders had to work harder than the next guy to succeed in college and will take that attitude to the NFL and thats why a Troy Brown or a Tom Brady become stars before a 1st round pick like Ryan Leaf. Leaf had a high school attitude and had he stayed in college maybe he would have grown up. I'm sorry but I have no problem with the NFL using the NCAA as it's farm system because it's that process that makes these players and the league great.
The NFL could require a college a degree, it would be legal, and I think they should....even if the degree is jsut an associates degree, that takes 2 years for a college student, and it can be accoumplished at a Community College, just to prove they have the mental capacity to study and pass the courses...nothing wrong in my opinion with making college manditory for NFL entry
I agree get a college education first and then play football. Then you at least have something to fall back on if something happens.
Yep i agree with the players on this everyone must pay there dues. Yes a requiered diploma would work, just for the fact it would keep maurice in school his full two seasons. It is funny how lebron james was one of the richest kids in the nba, and he didnt even shot yet. Nike offering him 100 million dollar show contract. All this and he is project in the pro level. Same with clarrett its much harder in the nfl level. Like pats said if you mess up you can cost your team the season. However in the nfl there is no room for error. If you make to many errors you end up without a job in the nfl. As for clarrett this kid we only seen him play a little more then half season at ohio st. Is he the best rb to come out of college early to land a job in the nfl. Nope not close. i take rbs like jackson,jones,g jones,t bell,c howard over him. I think the nfl will win this appeal, but not in time to prevent clarrett from playing in the nfl. I hope he hears the nfl players and coaches on this and goes back to school. The nfl doesnt need to be bruised from this. The nfl has been fine the way things were.
I've written this post three different times now, and I've flip flopped on the subject many more. One thing I am sure of.....I don't really want the young players in the league. What I am flip-flopping on, however, is whether they (or how they) should be kept out. At first I didn't understand how the NFL could legally keep Clarett out. This is the way I am going to end it. Why can't a 24 year old golfer join the senior circuit of the PGA? Because of age. You have to be 50. Why does that fly? Because that 24 year old golfer has alternatives.....or at least I assume that is the case (please correct me if I am wrong). If that is the case, then Clarett should not be allowed to play...assuming that the CFL or the Arena league allows younger players. He would then have the opportunity to play professional football and earn an income within his trade. Is it the best opportunity? No, but it is an alternative. I can't imagine the 24 year old isn't safe on the senior tour, so I don't know why the NFL doesn't have a leg to stand on. If I need to hire an actor for the leading male in a movie, I am going to hire the male. A female could be upset because she can't get the part, but that is what the part calls for. Maybe she can't make as much money as a female lead than a male lead, but she has an alternative. I'm sure there are example for race too. I think equal opportunity is a good thing, but it can be taken too far. There can be some grouping and segregation. Look at girls high school sports. Should a high school girl be allowed to play football? I think not, but I could be convinced otherwise. However, what happens if you allow 6'5 boys to play in the girls world of volleyball. The girls lose their opportunity to play most likely. Segregation, to some extent then, is good. That's why I think you should be able to set up boundaries. At first, I thought it would be hypocritical for the owners to draft Clarett (and others) if they don't want him in, but I have since changed my mind. I am open to listening to the opposing side!?!?
Nice post Cowboy and I have often wondered the same thing about men and women in sports. Some of it is basiclly reverse sexism (if thats not a word you know what I mean). Why can't the lesser male players that got cut from their respective NBA teams just go out for the WNBA when the LPGA is invading the PGA and when someone speaks against it they are immediately labled a sexist. realisticly noone would even try it but it's wrong that the NFL can't have an age limit.
Pats37 likes to use the NBA as his example of why 18 yr olds can't make it in the big time. What about Kobie? Moses Malone? How bout MLB and the NHL? It's a violation of a workers rights to not allow someone to apply (Try out) for the job. If you don't like young players don't sign them. But you can bet we'll see HOFer's signing at 18 and 19 yrs. old. The reasons the NFLPA and the owners give are total bullshit. I will argue that more than 40% of college football players have no business being in college to start with. It would be great in my opinion, if only students that are able to qualify for college with a level enrollment policy (No points for skin color or athletic ability) be allowed to play college sports. The current system makes a total joke of our higher education system. Degrees for all NFL players???? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you guys for real?
If the NFL can't get this ruling overturned, they'll just pass a rule that makes it nearly impossible for an NFL team to sign a player out of high school or who doesn't meet the current requirement. They can always make up some "luxury tax" or some "salary cap hit" or something that makes it all but impossible for a team to sign a guy. That way they can tell the judge, "Hey...you CAN sign a player like Clarett, but here's why the teams WON'T sign him." I think that not only should the NFL keep their rule in place, the NBA should adopt it as well. As should all pro sports.
I agree with Zack that college education requirements are out of the question. I still think they can stick with an age limit if they chose too. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zackman)</div><div class='quotemain'>Pats37 likes to use the NBA as his example of why 18 yr olds can't make it in the big time. What about Kobie? Moses Malone? How bout MLB and the NHL? It's a violation of a workers rights to not allow someone to apply (Try out) for the job. If you don't like young players don't sign them. But you can bet we'll see HOFer's signing at 18 and 19 yrs. old.</div> .....if you don't like the young players don't sign them. This is the one point I was having trouble with for awhile too. Like Zack says, it seems pretty hypocritcal that the same guys that don't want the young guys in will be the ones that draft and sign them. However, agree or disagree, I think the point a lot of people are trying to make with the NBA is this: * a league full of a bunch of 25-year old Kobes that came out when they were 18 is good * a league full of a bunch of 25-year old Kobes if they had waited until they were 22 to enter the league would be even better * but, an 18-year-old like Kobe is better than most 22 year-old options Therefore, it really isn't hypocritical to draft a guy you think should have waited. One or two quality individual making the jump from high school to professional sports will not hurt the sport. However, over time, I think it stands a better-than-average chance of watering down the talent. Otherwise, why stop at 18? Why can't a 16 year old be drafted if someone is willing to do so? If he is old enough to drive to the stadium.... If someone is going to offer me millions to try it, I'm in too. I don't blame these players. I would do it too. What's good for the NFL? Who knows. However, if the NFL wants to stay with an age limit, I don't see why they can't.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zackman)</div><div class='quotemain'>Sounds like Union scum acting Unamerican! Merit is the only way. If a 18 yr old is good enough to earn a job and do it well, he should get the job. It's simple ... It's the American way.</div> Ah; the magic word "IF". Lets be brutally honest. There are people who have been highly successful in College and have not not made it in the NFL. I do not have the stats but even if you are drafted in the 1st round is no stone cold lock for success. i.e. Ryan Leaf vs. Tom Brady. The NHL & MLB have a farm system where equal talent plays each other until said player is ready for the next level. Other than Kobe & Garnett, which High schoolers have had success in the NBA? It even took them a few years to become superstars. Bottom line; I am all for letting the market regulate itself. Caveat emptor. Clarett is letting his over inflated ego & greed drive this decision. Provided he gets drated & makes it on a roster, I can hardly wait until he has first reality check in the form of Arrington or Ray Lewis or John Lynch, or...? Well you know what I mean.
I liked how the rule currently was where you had to be atleast 3 years removed from high school. That being said, I dont really have a problem with that being changed, its just not that big of a deal to me. If a player with great ability proves himself over a few years then it will pay off with being a higher draft pick and more money. The one thing I'm really sick of hearing is that Clarett cant handle the physical nature of the NFL. Hes 230 pounds and I think hes more equipped to taking the pounding of a RB then lets say for example Travis Henry. Whats the big deal with being hit by Lynch or Lewis, theres 180 pound recievers left defenseless taking harsher hits from these guys than any RB. Yes he didnt stay healthy his whole rookie season but there have been RB's in the past that have had injury problems in college to go on and have great NFL careers.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pack Attack)</div><div class='quotemain'>If the NFL can't get this ruling overturned, they'll just pass a rule that makes it nearly impossible for an NFL team to sign a player out of high school or who doesn't meet the current requirement. They can always make up some "luxury tax" or some "salary cap hit" or something that makes it all but impossible for a team to sign a guy. That way they can tell the judge, "Hey...you CAN sign a player like Clarett, but here's why the teams WON'T sign him." I think that not only should the NFL keep their rule in place, the NBA should adopt it as well. As should all pro sports.</div> Problem is pack the nfl made this rule and it was surpassed by our own juducial system the fact is our system in courts dont always work. Its a shame!
Zackman the reason I use the NBA is because the infusion of high school talent has ruined the game and if you saw Magic and Barkley on espn yesterday they basicly said the NBA is terrible today becuase on the immaturity of the league.
it is and the facts back it up, i can think of maybe 4 players out of high school that were ready for the league when they came out of high school. Kobe, garnett, amare stougmire, and lebron, others like T-mac needed a few years to get ready for the league, hurt the game, but they got paid
