I Guess It's Time to Be the Dissenting Opinion Again...
So, it was announced today that the Denver Broncos will cut Maurice Clarett. Clarett, the enigma that helped Ohio State win a National Title, then tried to enter the NFL before spending 3 years out of high school (the NFL rule), was the 3rd Round Draft choice of the Broncos in this past year's draft. It was highly thought amongst experts that Clarett in Round 3 was a bit of a stretch, but with their history with running backs, and the knowledge that their next pick was in Round 6, Denver took a chance on him. Today's cut makes all those experts smile.
I'm not sure why, all they did was predict the downfall of a confused 21 year old man. Now, let's not dwell on what may or may not have happened at Ohio State, whether or not Clarett was given cars and money, whether or not he ever went to class. Instead what we should look at now is how he was summarily disregarded by everyone related to the NFL and the possibility that this cut was just part of a massive blacklist against Clarett.
Obviously everything written here is just my opinion, I have no proof that the NFL would blacklist Clarett, just speculation. Admittedly, Clarett did not perform well in this, his rookie camp, and didn't make it past #4 on the depth chart. But here's the thing to remember, the kid hasn't played football or even really practiced football in over 2 years. What was expected from him? Did Mike Shannahan think he was going to get a superstar who could put on pads in game situation for the first time in years and be productive? I would hope he's smarter than that. But the saddest thing about all of this is that not only did no one give him his chance in the right way, but it seems like everyone is happy that he failed.
Here is a kid who challenged the system. He challenged a rule (that in my opinion is wrong), intially won, then had the had the ruling reversed. The NFL did not want this kid in the league. He didn't play by the rules and they needed to make an example of him. Not one member of the NFL media truly came out on his side. Not one of them thought he would be successful in the NFL. So what happens to Clarett? He ends up getting drafted at a position that everyone seems to agree is too high for him. But he gets taken by a Running Back Factory, where no matter who gets the ball, it seems like they end up with a 1500 yard season (and a career ending knee injury), so it's easily the best place for him to go right? Well, not when the team has 4 other backs who have each spent time as an NFL team's feature back. And people wonder why he couldn't crack the top 4. HE HASN'T PLAYED FOOTBALL IN 2 YEARS!!! I don't understand how anyone could have drafted him and not realized that he was going to need a little extra time. Even worse for him now, is that teams will look at his inability to learn and get back into football mode quickly in Denver and think he'll never be able to get it. This is a kid who deserves a chance, he deserves some time.
And if he fails with the proper chances, THEN people can talk about how much he sucks.
I'm not sure why, all they did was predict the downfall of a confused 21 year old man. Now, let's not dwell on what may or may not have happened at Ohio State, whether or not Clarett was given cars and money, whether or not he ever went to class. Instead what we should look at now is how he was summarily disregarded by everyone related to the NFL and the possibility that this cut was just part of a massive blacklist against Clarett.
Obviously everything written here is just my opinion, I have no proof that the NFL would blacklist Clarett, just speculation. Admittedly, Clarett did not perform well in this, his rookie camp, and didn't make it past #4 on the depth chart. But here's the thing to remember, the kid hasn't played football or even really practiced football in over 2 years. What was expected from him? Did Mike Shannahan think he was going to get a superstar who could put on pads in game situation for the first time in years and be productive? I would hope he's smarter than that. But the saddest thing about all of this is that not only did no one give him his chance in the right way, but it seems like everyone is happy that he failed.
Here is a kid who challenged the system. He challenged a rule (that in my opinion is wrong), intially won, then had the had the ruling reversed. The NFL did not want this kid in the league. He didn't play by the rules and they needed to make an example of him. Not one member of the NFL media truly came out on his side. Not one of them thought he would be successful in the NFL. So what happens to Clarett? He ends up getting drafted at a position that everyone seems to agree is too high for him. But he gets taken by a Running Back Factory, where no matter who gets the ball, it seems like they end up with a 1500 yard season (and a career ending knee injury), so it's easily the best place for him to go right? Well, not when the team has 4 other backs who have each spent time as an NFL team's feature back. And people wonder why he couldn't crack the top 4. HE HASN'T PLAYED FOOTBALL IN 2 YEARS!!! I don't understand how anyone could have drafted him and not realized that he was going to need a little extra time. Even worse for him now, is that teams will look at his inability to learn and get back into football mode quickly in Denver and think he'll never be able to get it. This is a kid who deserves a chance, he deserves some time.
And if he fails with the proper chances, THEN people can talk about how much he sucks.
posted by el123chico at 7:02 PM
1 Comments:
No way Denver cut him as some part of a blacklist. You think Shanahan wanted everyone to give him the "I told you so - you are a fool for wasting a 3rd rounder on that guy"? The stories that were in the Denver papers indicate that Clarett had a meeting with Shanahan in which he bitched and moaned about being #5 on the depth chart. When Shanahan refused to move him up, Clarett then appears to have started dogging it/exaggerating the effects of a minor groin strain. Obviously, these things did not go over well with Shanahan (nor would they with any NFL head coach), and he cut Clarett, knowing full well he would have to endure the chorus of "I told you so's." Bottom line, if you are perceived (fairly or unfairly) as a problem guy, and it is your first NFL camp and you've been away from the game for 2 years, you better well make damn sure not to rock the boat if you want to get your shot. Bitching out the head coach, the guy who took a chance you against the voices of all the critics, is just not a bright career move.
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