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The Denver Broncos drafted Maurice Clarett on Saturday, using a third-round pick to take a surprising gamble on one of the most divisive players in the history of college football.
"It's funny to finally get to this point," Clarett said.
The one-time Ohio State star led the Buckeyes to the 2002 national title, scoring the winning touchdown as a freshman in the Fiesta Bowl, but his fortunes turned downward from there.
He got in trouble with the law, got suspended for the 2003 season, sued to become eligible for the draft and eventually lost that case. Then, he turned on Ohio State, alleging coach Jim Tressel arranged for him to get passing grades, cars and money for bogus summer jobs.
Despite the problems, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan deemed bringing Clarett in as a risk worth taking.
"First of all, I think you don't get too caught up in that," Shanahan said. "I know the situation, what's happened. His slate is clean and we're giving him an opportunity."
After sitting out two seasons, Clarett was a bust during NFL tryouts, and very few thought he was worth much higher than a fifth-round pick.
Shanahan took a chance based on the recommendation from running backs coach Bobby Turner, who stayed in touch with Clarett during his two years of inactivity and was impressed both with the tailback's attitude, and his physical skills.
"I think it's a clean slate," Clarett said. "Coach Turner knew me, went to bat for me. He told Coach Shanahan he would take a bet on me."
And so, the Broncos took the chance on the troubled tailback, even though that was one of the positions at which they had no urgent need. They have Tatum Bell, Mike Anderson and Quentin Griffin and signed Ron Dayne during free agency.
"We feel like we know running backs pretty good," Shanahan said. "We've had some success with them and we feel he'll fit into our system very well."
Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman at Ohio State despite missing three games with injuries. After that year, he was considered one of the best college players in the game, but couldn't be drafted because of NFL rules stating players must be in college three years before going pro.
The Broncos have a rich past of turning mid-round picks into 1,000-yard rushers. Anderson, Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary and Reuben Droughns have all done it during Shanahan's time in Denver.
Last week, his agent Steve Feldman said Clarett's image as an arrogant kid who was going to sue his way into the NFL had passed. He thought any of 32 teams could draft him this weekend.
"They're getting a feel for the fact that his biggest fault was he took extra benefits," Feldman said. "He just wants a job. He wants to prove that he has first-round talent."
Source: AP
"It's funny to finally get to this point," Clarett said.
The one-time Ohio State star led the Buckeyes to the 2002 national title, scoring the winning touchdown as a freshman in the Fiesta Bowl, but his fortunes turned downward from there.
He got in trouble with the law, got suspended for the 2003 season, sued to become eligible for the draft and eventually lost that case. Then, he turned on Ohio State, alleging coach Jim Tressel arranged for him to get passing grades, cars and money for bogus summer jobs.
Despite the problems, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan deemed bringing Clarett in as a risk worth taking.
"First of all, I think you don't get too caught up in that," Shanahan said. "I know the situation, what's happened. His slate is clean and we're giving him an opportunity."
After sitting out two seasons, Clarett was a bust during NFL tryouts, and very few thought he was worth much higher than a fifth-round pick.
Shanahan took a chance based on the recommendation from running backs coach Bobby Turner, who stayed in touch with Clarett during his two years of inactivity and was impressed both with the tailback's attitude, and his physical skills.
"I think it's a clean slate," Clarett said. "Coach Turner knew me, went to bat for me. He told Coach Shanahan he would take a bet on me."
And so, the Broncos took the chance on the troubled tailback, even though that was one of the positions at which they had no urgent need. They have Tatum Bell, Mike Anderson and Quentin Griffin and signed Ron Dayne during free agency.
"We feel like we know running backs pretty good," Shanahan said. "We've had some success with them and we feel he'll fit into our system very well."
Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman at Ohio State despite missing three games with injuries. After that year, he was considered one of the best college players in the game, but couldn't be drafted because of NFL rules stating players must be in college three years before going pro.
The Broncos have a rich past of turning mid-round picks into 1,000-yard rushers. Anderson, Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary and Reuben Droughns have all done it during Shanahan's time in Denver.
Last week, his agent Steve Feldman said Clarett's image as an arrogant kid who was going to sue his way into the NFL had passed. He thought any of 32 teams could draft him this weekend.
"They're getting a feel for the fact that his biggest fault was he took extra benefits," Feldman said. "He just wants a job. He wants to prove that he has first-round talent."
Source: AP
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