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.

[Bikers4Bush]

This will be the first court beating he takes.

Followed by his lawsuit against OSU.

The league has the right to establish minimum requirements.

[r9etb]

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

I hope this gets tossed out with prejudice. It probably won't, of course.

[Semper Paratus]

Don't think this has yet been challenged in court.
If he wins it could be the end of the salad days of the NFL.

[rftc]

Will Jim Brown still be representing the family?

[midwestmidnight]

If the NFL keeps this tied-up in court until after the draft in April, doesn't Clarett's lawsuit become moot?

[rftc]

I think the courts may strike down the NFL's rule.

Maurice may be long past eligible before this is ever resolved.

[misterrob]

The question is, is the NFL practicing a form of age discrimination against him? I think they are and they are also, in fact, limiting his right to earn a living. They may claim that they want to "protect" him but to me that sounnds like BS. Him bypassing the NCAA will result in the weakening of college football which is nothing but a farm system for the NFL. Him getting to the NFL early means that fewer jobs are available which means expansion and/or dilution of the league.

On the other hand, are you willing as a coach or owner to waste a high draft pick on a kid with his history?

[Bikers4Bush]

No way. The league has a right to establish minimum rewuirements just as any employer has a right to require a college degree for certain jobs.

Maurice will lose this case.

[rftc]

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

[trad_anglican]

The question is, is the NFL practicing a form of age discrimination against him? I think they are and they are

If you're thinking about the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, then it may be age discrimination, but it isn't illegal age discrimination. The ADEA only protects people over 40 years old.

[KevinDavis]

The question is, is the NFL practicing a form of age discrimination against him? I think they are and they are also, in fact, limiting his right to earn a living. They may claim that they want to "protect" him but to me that sounnds like BS. Him bypassing the NCAA will result in the weakening of college football which is nothing but a farm system for the NFL. Him getting to the NFL early means that fewer jobs are available which means expansion and/or dilution of the league.

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.

[Bogey78O]

Of course, but he's not entitled to a job with an employer who he doesn't qualify for.

[Bikers4Bush]

He's free to go to Canada. The NFL is not stopping him from making a living.

He will lose.

[discostu]

It's not age descrimination, it's establishing a minimum standard for players. All professional sports leagues have rules on minimum capabilities for their players, which often includes age. It's also not limiting his right to earn a living, he's free to go play for any of the semi-pro leagues or even the CFL.

They're protecting themselves from stupid young players that do stupid young things. Look at what's happened to the NBA since they started letting in teenagers, ratings down, scores down, attendance down, revenues down, quality of the game way down. Expect the same thing to happen if the courts don't allow the NFL to maintain their rules.

[trad_anglican]

The kid is legally 18 years old and should have a right to earn a living

Of course he has a right to earn a living. The question is, does he have a right to impose his will on the wills of the NFL owners?

[triplejake]

I imagine this is an antitrust case, not age discrimination -- individual employers might be able to set minimum age standards, but competiting employers can't jointly agree not to compete in hiring certain employees.

[Stone Mountain]

The league has the right to establish minimum requirements.

I'm not so sure about that. What makes the NFL different from the NBA which was forced to lower their age of acceptance?

[x1stcav]

He has every right to earn a living. Maybe it won't be as a mulit-million dollar football star.

There are many forklift driver/warehouseman positions open. You know, honest labor.

[Dog Gone]

Are businesses that only hire college graduates illegally discriminating? Or do high school graduates have a right to be hired by them?