c-ap

NEW YORK (AP) -- Maurice Clarett lost yet another court
decision in his attempt to play in the NFL next season. An appeals
court said Monday that federal labor policy allows NFL teams to set
rules for when players can enter the league.
The decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was
consistent with the appeals court's refusal last month to permit the
former Ohio State running back into the NFL draft.
A lower court judge in February ruled Clarett eligible for
the draft. It said the NFL was violating federal antitrust laws by
blocking Clarett's entry into his profession with a rule barring
eligibility until a player was three years out of high school.
Clarett is only two years out of high school.
After the appeals court blocked Clarett's entry, saying it
believed it would rule against him, the 20-year-old athlete sought
help from the U.S. Supreme Court. Two justices turned him down.
On Monday, the appeals court said Clarett was "no different
from the typical worker who is confident that he or she has the
skills to fill a job vacancy, but does not possess the
qualifications or meet the requisite criteria that have been set."
It said ruling in favor of Clarett would be deciding that
professional football players were entitled to advantages under
federal labor laws that transport workers, coal miners or meat
packers do not enjoy.
The draft was held on April 24-25, and Clarett was
ineligible for it. This ruling means he will not be eligible for a
supplemental draft and will have to wait for the 2005 draft.
Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns as a
freshman in 2002, leading the Buckeyes to the national championship.
He was suspended before the 2003 season for accepting money from a
family friend and lying about it to NCAA and Ohio State
investigators.
He also pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor after
exaggerating the value of items stolen from a car he borrowed from a
Columbus used-car dealer. He was fined $100.
Clarett lawyer Alan Milstein on Monday did not immediately
return a telephone message seeking comment.
NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash said in a statement
that the appeals court ruling Monday "leaves no doubt that legal
challenges to the NFL's long-standing eligibility rules have no
basis whatsoever."
"We are grateful for the court's prompt attention to our
appeal, but not at all surprised by the result, which represents a
complete victory for the National Football League," he said.
In its Monday ruling, the appeals court said Clarett's case
was not an instance "in which the NFL is alleged to have conspired
with its players union to drive its competitors out of the market
for professional football."
The lawsuit instead "reflects simply a prospective
employee's disagreement with the criteria, established by the
employer and the labor union, that he must meet in order to be
considered for employment."
The ruling also affects Southern California wide receiver
Mike Williams, who applied for entry in this year's draft after the
lower court ruling in favor of Clarett. Williams lost his NCAA
eligibility when he hired an agent.
Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll said the school will seek
the All-American's reinstatement.
"We've been preparing for this outcome for a while," Carroll
said. "Mike was aware of this possibility. He'll now look to get
reinstated into college by the NCAA. The process is underway, but it
will take a while.
"We're counting on the NCAA to understand the uniqueness of
this situation and give Mike the opportunity to come back to
school."

c-ap

NEW YORK (AP) -- Maurice Clarett lost yet another court
decision in his attempt to play in the NFL next season. An appeals
court said Monday that federal labor policy allows NFL teams to set
rules for when players can enter the league.
The decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was
consistent with the appeals court's refusal last month to permit the
former Ohio State running back into the NFL draft.
A lower court judge in February ruled Clarett eligible for
the draft. It said the NFL was violating federal antitrust laws by
blocking Clarett's entry into his profession with a rule barring
eligibility until a player was three years out of high school.
Clarett is only two years out of high school.
After the appeals court blocked Clarett's entry, saying it
believed it would rule against him, the 20-year-old athlete sought
help from the U.S. Supreme Court. Two justices turned him down.
On Monday, the appeals court said Clarett was "no different
from the typical worker who is confident that he or she has the
skills to fill a job vacancy, but does not possess the
qualifications or meet the requisite criteria that have been set."
It said ruling in favor of Clarett would be deciding that
professional football players were entitled to advantages under
federal labor laws that transport workers, coal miners or meat
packers do not enjoy.
The draft was held on April 24-25, and Clarett was
ineligible for it. This ruling means he will not be eligible for a
supplemental draft and will have to wait for the 2005 draft.
Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns as a
freshman in 2002, leading the Buckeyes to the national championship.
He was suspended before the 2003 season for accepting money from a
family friend and lying about it to NCAA and Ohio State
investigators.
He also pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor after
exaggerating the value of items stolen from a car he borrowed from a
Columbus used-car dealer. He was fined $100.
Clarett lawyer Alan Milstein on Monday did not immediately
return a telephone message seeking comment.
NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash said in a statement
that the appeals court ruling Monday "leaves no doubt that legal
challenges to the NFL's long-standing eligibility rules have no
basis whatsoever."
"We are grateful for the court's prompt attention to our
appeal, but not at all surprised by the result, which represents a
complete victory for the National Football League," he said.
In its Monday ruling, the appeals court said Clarett's case
was not an instance "in which the NFL is alleged to have conspired
with its players union to drive its competitors out of the market
for professional football."
The lawsuit instead "reflects simply a prospective
employee's disagreement with the criteria, established by the
employer and the labor union, that he must meet in order to be
considered for employment."
The ruling also affects Southern California wide receiver
Mike Williams, who applied for entry in this year's draft after the
lower court ruling in favor of Clarett. Williams lost his NCAA
eligibility when he hired an agent.
Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll said the school will seek
the All-American's reinstatement.
"We've been preparing for this outcome for a while," Carroll
said. "Mike was aware of this possibility. He'll now look to get
reinstated into college by the NCAA. The process is underway, but it
will take a while.
"We're counting on the NCAA to understand the uniqueness of
this situation and give Mike the opportunity to come back to
school."