Ohio State's Maurice Clarett Sues NFL

ABC/ESPN Breaking News ^ | September 23, 2003 | staff writer

[rftc]

Suspended Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett sued the National Football League today in an historic attempt to gain entry into the league.

Under the current rules, Clarett is not eligible for entry until 2005.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The league has the right to establish minimum requirements.

Whatever groups Maurice Clarett associates with (underage people seems to be salient in this case) must not be discriminated against!</sarcasm>

[rftc]

The Spencer Haywood NBA case should strike the NFL rule down.

[Phantom Lord]

The kid is legally 18 years old and should have a right to earn a living, either in Europe, the CFL or NFL..

I am over 18. Can I sue the NFL, European NFL, or the CFL because they have violated my rights to make a living playing in one of their leagues?

No one has a right to play in the NFL. No one.

[Bikers4Bush]

That's the problem. They are not competing employers they are all one entity. There is a certain amount of revenue sharing that goes on which ties them to one another more than it divides them.

[discostu]

There's a difference between the right to earn a living and demanding someone be hired. He HAS the ability to earn a living, there are semi-pro leagues and internaitonal leagues with no ties to the NFL that have no age rule or different age rules (including the CFL). Or he can leave football entirely. What he does not have, what NO PERSON has, is the right to FORCE someone to hire him.

[jonalvy44]

See Spencer Haywood. He sued the NBA, now the gates are open. I'm thinking about submitting my 14 yr old daughter's name for the draft next year...we need some cash. haha

[Stone Mountain]

Sorry the NFL is a private organization and they can set the rules in who to take and not to take. Also there is no right to earn a living.

Didn't the NBA lose a similar case around 10-15 years ago?

[mhking]

Funny enough, the judge who has drawn the case is legendary OSU coach Woody Hayes' son.

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[Bikers4Bush]

To my knowledge the NBA teams do not have a revenue sharing system set up, or at least did not at the time of that case.

[ContemptofCourt]

He is not going to lose...see MLB and NBA.

Noone has ever challenged the NFL because the issue will be moot by the time they are elgible for the draft...

[Bikers4Bush]

Doesn't apply, different entities.

The NFL has revenue sharing and I don't believe that the NBA had it at the time of that case or has it now.

[discostu]

From an employment perspective NFL teams are not competing employers. They are franchises, just like different McDonalds stores, they are functionally ONE employer with numerous sites but a common set of rules.

[bigfootbob]

I don't think it much matters what happens in court. This kid if he gets into the NFL will either become the bad ass of the gridiron and smash everyone who takes a shot, which will be all of them including teammates, or he'll washout. I choose the latter.

[Stone Mountain]

To my knowledge the NBA teams do not have a revenue sharing system set up, or at least did not at the time of that case.

Perhaps, but how is that relevent to the case? Are you saying that the courts made this decision to let younger players in specifically because of the revenue system that was in place at the time?

[rftc]

You think that was by chance? (that Woody Hayes's kid is the judge hearing the case-lol! )

[misterrob]

What's the minimum standard? They already have juniors coming out early and let's face it, requiring college degrees for football players is well...... impractical to say the least given the reason the universities recruited them there to begin with. A job that requires some level of education is fine but what does that have to do with football? The NFL loses on this basis.

I don't see the NFL winning on this long term. Clarett may wind up in court for two years or more (The NFL is a big time hitter when it comes to litigation) but eventually, they are going to have to accept underclassmen.

[Orangedog]

Friggin' marvelous! Local talk radio will be worthless with buckeye BS all week instead of just the day before and after the next game.

[sean327]

This kid needs to sack up, suck it up, and take responsibility for his actions. If he doesn't want to stay in school he can go play in the CFL. The NFL should not have to change it's rules to accomodate this kid. He has already proven he is irresponible, imagine what happens when he gets money and has his crew hangin' with him.

[rftc]

How does revenue sharing address the issue of Maurice being of legal age and not being able to compete in the NFL?

[mhking]

The kid is legally 18 years old and should have a right to earn a living, either in Europe, the CFL or NFL..

Nobody is denying him the opportunity to earn a living. His "rights" are not being infringed.

The NFL, for what it's worth, has the right to put certain limitations on those who they employ. No different from the military or police or other organizations putting lower and upper limits on the ages of those who apply for their employ.

There might be a fight, but ultimately, the League and it's member teams can hire who they want. If he wants to play pro so bad, the CFL or Arena League could always use him.