inmate running the asylum Posted February 6, 2004 Share Posted February 6, 2004 Hmm. Marvin Lewis says that Clarett is a "little guy"??? He's 6-0 230 lbs. I wonder what a big guy is to Lewis? :laugh: Injuries, age make first-round selection unlikely Clarett's draft outlook By Neil Schmidt The Cincinnati Enquirer Back in the summer, Maurice Clarett was considered a favorite for the Heisman Trophy, awarded to college football's best player. Yet he now has such shaky standing, he would be lucky to be taken on the NFL draft's first day. A season away from the sport, durability questions, character issues and Clarett's age probably will keep the Ohio State running back out of the first round. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said Clarett would be a second-round pick at best. Jerry Jones, the former Mariemont druggist who authors The Drugstore List, projects Clarett to go late in the second round or in the third round. "He has not really proven durability," Jones said. "And with the off-field stuff (that caused a one-year suspension), there's going to be some serious questions." Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and leading OSU to the 2002 national championship. But he missed three games and most of two others because of injuries. He's listed as 6 feet, 230 pounds, yet the key figure could be his age: 20. Plus, he might be a target for some defensive players. "Because of the way he's done all these things, some people here see it as disrespectful," Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington said at the Pro Bowl. "I'm sure guys are going to break his tail, try to break him in. "Either he'll succeed, or he'll be a total bust. If he can make it that rookie year without being assassinated, he'll be all right." Clarett isn't the fastest back. His greatest attribute is an instinctive ability to find the hole and break tackles. Jones said the holes don't stay open as long in the pros. "I think he'll be blown away by the speed in the NFL," he said. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis talked to SportsIllustrated.com early Thursday, before the league told its teams not to discuss Clarett with the media. "He's a little guy. ... I've never even seen him on tape, but I just know that there haven't been too many little guys who made it big in the NFL at running back," Lewis told the Web site. "You could probably count them on two hands. Remember, Ron Dayne ran for a lot of yards in college." Clarett, at his news conference in New York, said he didn't fear the transition: "It'd be just like (the jump from) high school to college all over again," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 "He's a little guy. ... I've never even seen him on tape, but I just know that there haven't been too many little guys who made it big in the NFL at running back," Lewis told the Web site. "You could probably count them on two hands. Remember, Ron Dayne ran for a lot of yards in college." I don't know what Marvin's been smoking, but Clarrett isn't exactly a "little guy" and Dayne hasn't been little since he was born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Diggler Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 Inmate His numbers are pumped up due to the Ohio State propaganda machine. People who have seen him up close say he's more like 5'9" 215lb. That would not qualify as a "big" back. We'll find out soon enough when he's measured at the combine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingchris626 Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 I don't know if clarett size is going to matter in the NFL but he's sure is going to have a lot of pressure on him due to the fact that he beat the NFL in court. Now a lot of other sophmores are going to try to enter the NFL. Like Mike Williams and Matt Lienhart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ax Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 Somebody will draft him 3rd or 4th round, sign him for the rookie minimum, and ship him off to Europe. The playing time would be good for him since he's been out for a while. Anybody: What protections does a team have as far as rights to these (NFLE) players? What does a team need to do to retain those rights? How long does a team own the rights? Is it a length of contract type thing? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 Clarett, at his news conference in New York, said he didn't fear the transition: "It'd be just like (the jump from) high school to college all over again," he said. Oh boy, let me say that this kid is in for one MAJOR rude awakening with that statement. Right now, I'd say he is 50-50 on making it. We'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankbones Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 Originally posted by Dirk Diggler Inmate His numbers are pumped up due to the Ohio State propaganda machine. People who have seen him up close say he's more like 5'9" 215lb. That would not qualify as a "big" back. We'll find out soon enough when he's measured at the combine. :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: STOP IT, YOU GUYS ARE F'N KILLING ME! I HAVE STATED IT IN OTHER THREADS, i HAVE SEEN HIM IN PERSON RECENTLY, MO IS 6'0'' TALL, PROBABLY ABOUT 235 AND HE IS JACKED! THE OHIO STATE PROPOGANDA MACHINE???!!!! :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :shot: :shot: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 He will be a steal in the 4rd round and he may put up better numbers than Magahee this year. Now think before you to to refute this statement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atloldskin Posted February 7, 2004 Share Posted February 7, 2004 I would take him the 4th round in a heartbeat. We don't even have a #4 (yet). But I wouldn't count on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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