Judge Rules in Favor of Clarett

Bucknuts.com ^ | 2/5/2004 | By Bucknuts.com Staff

[markman46]

well so much for rules and reg's that businesses want to use

[smith288]

Scheindlin sided with Clarett because he was fighting a policy that excludes all players in his position from selling their services to the only viable buyer, the NFL.

*cough* CFL *cough*

[dyed_in_the_wool]

This is going to ruin the NFL.
Just look at the NBA.

[Petronski]

I don't agree with the decision, but it has always seemed to me inescapable under Antitrust law, and I don't think the CFL is a viable alternative.

[smith288]

The rule is somewhat goofy in that a 15 yr old scholar who graduates early from High School can enter a draft but a 20 yr old soph in college cannot. But this is still very harmful in my opinion.

[Lost Highway]

I just don't understand why the NFL wants this rule. Why don't they let the freedom of competition decide wether someone is able to play in the NFL.

[writer33]

"This is going to ruin the NFL."

What he said fifty times over!

[JohnnyZ]

Scheindlin sided with Clarett because he was fighting a policy that excludes all players in his position from selling their services to the only viable buyer, the NFL.

Could the little putz go to the Arena League?

[Petronski]

Oh, I also think Clarett is going to have a very rough time in the NFL. He's just not developed enough.

[Paradox]

Scheindlin sided with Clarett because he was fighting a policy that excludes all players in his position from selling their services to the only viable buyer, the NFL.

Here's what I dont get. Why are these laws used to protect a certain set of particular skills? Can't he always go and get an office job, a construction job, something else?

[PackerBoy]

Predictions: (Not wishes)

1. This will have little impact on the NCAA or NFL, as most players will still want to maximize their value in the draft by waiting until after their junior year to go pro.

2. MC will be drafted by a crappy team no higher than the second round, and will be injured before the regular 2004 NFL season starts.

[Lost Highway]

This is going to ruin the NFL. Just look at the NBA.

I don't think younger players ruined the NBA. What ruined the NBA was rules implemented that valued individual athletic ability over the knowledge of how to play team basketball.

[gdani]

It will be interesting to see which NFL team drafts such an often-injured, multiple lie-teller & high maintainence individual as Clarett.

I don't know how many good running backs are available this year but I bet he doesn't go in the first round. Even without all of the non-football BS, Clarett has been shown to be much too brittle -- and that's just in college ball.

[smith288]

viable in what term? its a viable option in that you can make a living for doing your job. So he cant live like a king for a year...whoopy.

[gdani]

This is going to ruin the NFL.

Just look at the NBA.

Yeah -- LeBron clearly isn't ready to compete in the NBA.

Nor was Moses Malone, Spencer Haywood, Darryl Dawkins, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Shawn Kemp, etc, etc

[connectthedots]

In trying to maintain the status quo, the NFL argued that Clarett should not be eligible because its rule resulted from a collective bargaining agreement with the players. Hence, the rule is immune from antitrust scrutiny, because Clarett cannot bring such a lawsuit and because its rule is reasonable.

Clarett was not a party to nor were interests represented in the collective bargaining agreement. That this was the best argument the NFL could present indicates the weakness of its case. Whether this decision is best for the NFL or college footbal is not the point; Clarett's rights are.

[Lost Highway]

Don't forget Carmello Anthony. If I am not mistaken he would have been inelligble under the NFL rules.

[rikkir]

The worst part? Once again an athlete gets rewarded for bad behavior. And we wonder why morals and standards are falling in this country.

[LisaMalia]

Related thread on this subject:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1072074/posts