It seems a bit silly, with all the important issues that need thoughtful consideration by wise people these days, to bother the U.S. Supreme Court with a question about football. But significant money and not a little legal principle are involved in the question of Clarett vs. the NFL.
The National Football League is holding its annual draft of new players this weekend. Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett as well as Southern Cal receiver Mike Williams, don't want the party to start without them.
The two cases are separate.
ESPN's Sal Paolantonio says that Williams filed a suit in federal court in Manhattan. He completed his sophomore year at SoCal but claims that the NFL gave conflicting information about his eligibility for the draft. He says that caused him to give up his final two years of college eligibility and so should be let into the draft. If he does get in, Williams is said to be likely to go in the first round.
Clarett, on the other hand, is not likely to go until rounds two or three. He did not boost his stock any by refusing to work out at the combine in February.
He led The Buckeyes to the national title as a freshman, then had to sit out his sophomore year over issues of violating NCAA eligibility rules and lying about it to the NCAA and Ohio State investigators.
He dropped out of school after winter quarter and wanted to join the NFL.
But the league has a rule that keeps players out until three years after their high school class graduates. He would be eligible under that rule next year. A lower court ruled in Clarett's favor and he declared for the draft. Then the NFL appealed the decision and the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in the league's favor.
Clarett's attorneys have now gone to the U.S. Supreme Court to ask for an emergency ruling to stop execution of the appeals court ruling. In these situations, the matter is assigned to an individual justice. In this case, it went to Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg.
Paolantonio says she could do one of three things. She could side with Clarett, she could side with the league, or she could ask the NFL's attorneys to respond and then decide or refer it to the entire court.
By the time you read this, her decision has been made and we know whether or not Clarett and Williams are in the draft this weekend.
Why all this messing around?
Maurice Clarett ruined his college football career ... the college career he was counting on to grease the skids and make it easier for him to earn millions of dollars playing professional football. He blew it by not being willing to follow the rules and now is trying to avoid the consequences and waiting until he meets the requirements.
His attorneys are claiming that the rule denies him the right to earn lots of money. That argument is stupid. He still has that right, if it exists at all, but, because of his own choices, has not been able to enjoy the fame and accolades he would have gotten if he had followed the rules of the NCAA and Ohio State.
Instead, he had to remain off the field, out of the limelight and waiting for his turn according to the rules.
It's apparently not something he is used to doing.