Maurice Clarett lost his second court case in just four days as his bid to enter this weekend's NFL draft was turned down by the Supreme Court on Thursday. Clarett has no serious options left and will not be in this weekends event.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she saw no reason to overturn a lower court's stay from Monday, which prevents Clarett from being eligible for this weekends draft. She cited the league’s willingness to hold a supplemental draft this summer should Clarett ultimately prevail in his lawsuit challenging the NFL's age requirement.
Clarett immediately filed a second emergency appeal but that was quickly turned down by Justice John Paul Stevens. Clarett could ask any of the remaining Supreme Court justices to look at his case, but his lawyer Alan Milstein said a third appeal was not planned.
"From the NFL's perspective this was never about Maurice Clarett. It was about a rule that has served the NFL well, served fans well and served players well for many years," said NFL attorney Gregg Levy.
A former Ohio State Buckeye, Clarett helped lead the program to a national championship in 2002, rushing the ball for 1,237yards and 16-touchdowns. He was ruled ineligible the following season after accepting money from a family friend and lying about it to NCAA and university investigators. Clarett was also accused of filing a false police report last year after exaggerating the value of items stolen from his car. Eventually he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
The courts decision also weighs heavily on another true sophomore, wide receiver Mike Williams of Southern California. Taking advantage of the first court decision back in February, which originally allowed Clarett into the draft, Williams decided to follow suit less than a month later.
"The NFL may have been successful in keeping them out of Saturday's draft, but there's always the possibility of the supplemental draft," said Williams' agent, Mike Azzarelli. Earlier in the week Azzarelli sounded hopeful Williams would get a spot in Saturday’s draft based on an individual lawsuit filed on his behalf.
Both Williams and Clarett could appeal for reinstatement with the NCAA and have some college eligibility restored but that is a long-shot.
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