DENVER -- 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.
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,"
he 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.
The Broncos thought differently, though, taking a chance on the
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."