Clarett signs with Omaha team in UFL

[BernietheKid]

Clarett signs with Omaha team in UFL

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<!-- end: .hd --><CITE class=vcard>By ERIC OLSON, AP Sports Writer Eric Olson, Ap Sports Writer </CITE>– <ABBR class=timedate title=2010-08-30T12:44:19-0700>Mon Aug 30, 3:44 pm ET</ABBR>
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OMAHA, Neb. – Former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett has signed a one-year contract with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.

Clarett met Monday with team officials and UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue, who gave his blessing.

Clarett was expected to be on the practice field Monday night for his first football activity since he was a bust with the Denver Broncos and spent 3 1/2 years in prison for having a hidden gun and holding up two people outside a Columbus, Ohio, bar, in 2006.

"I am humbled by the opportunity the Omaha Nighthawks have given me and will dedicate myself on and off the field to prove that I can be a valuable member of the team and the Omaha community," Clarett said in a statement. "I am committed to working hard to earn the right for a second chance in football and more importantly in life."

Clarett, who is not scheduled to meet with reporters until Wednesday, went through a private workout and physical Sunday.

"The things you can't coach you can see were there — footwork, hands, those types of things. And he's in really good physical condition," general manager Rick Mueller said.

"Those were the things that jumped out more than anything else. He's done a pretty good job getting himself in condition to play football."

Clarett, 26, needed a judge's permission to leave Ohio to work out for the Nighthawks.

He was allowed to be out of state for 30 days. Nighthawks general manager Rick Mueller said he's confident Clarett will be allowed to stay the entire season in Omaha and that he won't be barred from traveling to road games.

Clarett ran into trouble after a sensational freshman year at Ohio State in 2002. He rushed for 1,237 yards and 18 touchdowns, the last one clinching a victory in the national title game against Miami.

He was suspended the entire 2003 season for taking gifts and lying to the NCAA. He later lost a court case challenging the NFL's rule requiring a player to be out of high school three years before becoming eligible for the draft.

The Denver Broncos drafted Clarett in the third round in 2005, but he was hindered by a groin problem, never played in a preseason game and was cut before the regular season.

His downward spiral continued with the robbery, which landed him in prison and then, for the last 4 1/2 months, in a community-based lockdown dormitory.

Huygue had said that he wouldn't allow Clarett to sign with the Nighthawks unless the team provided a strong support system. Ahman Green, a native of Omaha and four-time Pro Bowler with the Green Bay Packers, has agreed to serve as Clarett's mentor.

"I met with Maurice Clarett today and additionally reviewed all of the reports surrounding his circumstances," Huygue said. "I support allowing his return to football and believe he will make the most of this opportunity with the Omaha Nighthawks."

Clarett has the full support of his former coach, Ohio State's Jim Tressel. He said he received several calls from people associated with the UFL about whether Clarett would be interested in making a comeback.

"I think he kind of felt good that there was some interest," Tressel said.
Besides Green, the Nighthawks feature Pro Bowl quarterback Jeff Garcia and several other players with NFL.

"We're going to be patient with him," Mueller said of Clarett. "We have to be smart about it and so does Maurice. This kid is anxious to get out there and show what he can do, but it's no good if he's hurt.

"He's done everything he can personally, legally and physically to put himself in condition to be successful. Now we have to find out if he can get back."

Clarett signs with Omaha team in UFL - Yahoo! News

[Thaak]

It will be interesting, with this resurrection, if Rich can finally win his bet with Zombo.

[AdaM]

Hell, if you think about it he may have finally grown up. He's still not at his physical prime and he doesn't have a lot of wear and tear on his body. If he can live up to his former potential a little he might even make it back to the NFL. The only roadblock now is his age will become a factor regardless of the fact he's not taken too much punishment outside of the showers.

[Flugel]

Rich nails another prediction! Mo Trouble Clarett is playing pro football. It doesn't matter if it's semi pro or quarter pro. Talk about "The Longest Yard." Is he still wearing the ankle bracelet required by law?

He better start or our Rich is gonna give us the Ostrich pose. Last time I heard he was this serious about re-committing to football he showed up to Denver's training camp with jello abs.
- Tom F. <!-- end: .tools -->

[grimmreaper3]

Well, it looks like the end to this story is somewhat...

*sunglasses*

Corny


YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH Hh

[Tobalaz]

Rumor has it he's shaved half a second off of his 40 time and overcame the fumbling problem since he had to outrun the rapings and hold on to the soap in the shower.

[Jax Dawg]

Originally Posted by Tobalaz

Rumor has it he's shaved half a second off of his 40 time and overcame the fumbling problem since he had to outrun the rapings and hold on to the soap in the shower.

All valid points!

In some weather beaten trailer in backwoods North Carolina our never wrong prognosticator is claiming "another pick corectomundo."

[Vegasdogg]

I believe in 2nd chances. That kid was a big reason we won it all that year. Everyone makes mistakes but we all should be allowed to turn it around. There is no shame in being knocked down, only shame in not getting back up. Good luck to him.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Vegasdogg

I believe in 2nd chances. That kid was a big reason we won it all that year. Everyone makes mistakes but we all should be allowed to turn it around. There is no shame in being knocked down, only shame in not getting back up. Good luck to him.

2nd chances or 52nd chances?

The biggest thing I remember about Clarett at Ohio State is him getting injured late in the year. Then he became a HUGE distraction right before the National Championship where he kept putting I before team. There's no doubt he was a talented player; but he sort of had a Terrell Owens effect. Once he crowned himself Diva - it got a lot more challenging to root for him.

And after he left - he threw some accusations at Tressel for running a corrupt program. Tressel handed Mo a full ride and one of the best NFL audition stages a youngster could ask for and he's gonna shit on Tressel?

- Tom F.

[mohican]

Originally Posted by Flugel

Rich nails another prediction! Mo Trouble Clarett is playing pro football. It doesn't matter if it's semi pro or quarter pro. Talk about "The Longest Yard." Is he still wearing the ankle bracelet required by law?

He better start or our Rich is gonna give us the Ostrich pose. Last time I heard he was this serious about re-committing to football he showed up to Denver's training camp with jello abs.
- Tom F. <!-- end: .tools -->

He (Mo Clarrett, not Rich) did have to get permission to leave the state.

[NebBrownsFan]

Living just outside of Omaha and being a Buckeyes fan, I must say I am looking forward to seeing what he can do on the field. I always hated his me-first attitude and sense of entitlement but the kid definitely had talent.

[grimmreaper3]

Originally Posted by Flugel

Tressel handed Mo a full ride and one of the best NFL audition stages a youngster could ask for and he's gonna shit on Tressel?

I agreed with more or less everything you said. He has had a second chance. And a third. Etc. Doesn't mean he shouldn't get another one (it's better than having talent waste away in prison), but it's not like this is one eff-up he committed. He's got a bit of a track record for idiocy.

That said, I can't agree with this quote. Tressel didn't 'hand' him that. The scholarship wasn't an act of charity. Chances are, and note that I don't remember exactly how highly-touted he was, that any other major program would have done the same. It's a mutual agreement. Clarett gets to showcase his talents for the NFL, tOSU gets his talents for 3-4 (or, in this case, one) year(s).

Clarett playing for us (I can say us, I attend tOSU) doesn't make him a martyr, certainly. It's not like he made a huge sacrifice to play at tOSU. But it's a symbiotic relationship between player and program. The player, going into the NFL, has the force of tOSU's past successes to propel him up the charts, and the program has the de facto rights to use the player's future successes to bolster standing and recruiting. The program benefits just as much as the player from offering them a scholarship.

And now I'm done talking about Midichlorians.