Tribe Transactions: Masterson to Rotation, Jess Todd to the Big Leagues
August 5, 2009The Fall of Kelly Shoppach
August 5, 2009
Sentenced to seven and a half years in jail following his arrest in late 2006, Maurice Clarett has been allowing us into his Mind via the blog format. Which is why I cannot wait for his next post, only to see his thoughts on the most recent news attached to his name. Via the AP…
Former Ohio State football star Maurice Clarett has withdrawn a request for early release from prison that he said would allow him to pursue an NFL career.
The former Ohio State running back has long talked about making another attempt at the game off football. This past May, Clarett discussed his feelings about the game and how he could “not accept how things ended.” Shortly thereafter, Clarett filed for an early release from prison so that he could pursue a career on the football field, or one as a motivational speaker.
While the sentence was longer, the mandatory time that had to be served by Clarett is three and a half years – a period that has not been eclipsed to this point. Upon receiving the clemency request, the Franlin County Prosecutor had the following:
“He had an AK-47 with 30 live rounds in the magazine and three pistols in his vehicle, and was wearing a Kevlar bullet-proof vest … an open bottle of Grey Goose vodka and a hatchet,” O’Brien told Strickland. “Those facts do not suggest the kind of conduct that warrants the intervention of executive clemency.”
Why would he leave out the lint roller? While I clearly remember the morning after the incident, when the news hit the wire, just reading this again makes one realize what sort of damage really could have been done. While there is no doubt in my mind that Clarett has grown up (perhaps not by choice) while in prison, one can understand why his request was not granted at this time.
The three and a half year mark would be approximately March of 2010. I wouldn’t be surprised if Clarett and his camp file for another early release. But I would be very surprised if there was an NFL team willing to give him another shot at the game of football. Hopefully his new found love of education will provide him with a fallback plan that ultimately keeps him out of the same predicaments which were all too common back in the early part of the decade.
11 Comments
The lint roller wasn’t loaded. My favorite part about that story was the hatchet. It just makes sense as a backup in case the 3 pistols and AK don’t work.
With Mo trying to get himself back in the news, I remember thinking a while back that it might actually be exciting seeing him back in uniform. Now, after reading this, I remember exactly how bad it was back then. What team could possible want to take a chance on him? The guy was armed like he was ready to take part in a small war.
Here’s a few thoughts I had regarding this situation:
-The fact that he tried to leave for the NFL after one year of college was a bad choice back then, and obviously still was. I think cases like this, and others like it, prove that student athletes should be mandated to complete at least 2 years, if not all 4, before turning pro.
-With Michael Vick bound to sign with an NFL team, I’m sure someone will at least invite Clarett to camp, if not sign him when he’s released from the pen. It makes me a little sick to my stomach knowing pro athletes can break the law, and then resume their careers after “paying their debt to society”. I really hope Stallworth never returns to the NFL after killing a man while drunk driving.
Jay, do you really think any team would waste their time with this bum? If you think any team would spend more time on this guy than it takes for them to read that he’s getting out of prison, you’re nuts. The only team that even wanted him in camp 3/4 years ago was the Denver Broncos. They just hoped they could work some Denver RB magic on the kid. They ended up cutting him in camp because he was out of shape and a character concern. Michael Vick was an established NFL quarterback and only gone for 2 years and teams are hesitating. Clarett will have been out for at least 7 years after having only playing 1 year of college ball and never even making an NFL roster. I cant believe I took the time to respond to that, but I am at work and really bored
When I read this I thought it was funny how well it coincided with the bankruptcy of the AFL. Maybe his professional football goals are a little more realistic and Maurice figured he might as well wait out the reorganization on the state’s dime.
go mo – i hope you prove these racist pigs all wrong!
I understand that this doesn’t always work, but isn’t the point of the prison to provide punishment/discipline for the offender? Having said that, shouldn’t someone who serves their time gets a chance to earn a living in their trade once they are out of prison?
I’m not condoning the actions of Clarett or Stallworth…I’m just trying to see things from their point of view.
Jon- I agree. But I also think that he should have to at least serve the minimum set forth.
@ Jon – seeing from Mo’s point of view probably looks like this:
@Scott: I agree. I guess I didn’t spell that part out.
@Denny: lol nice. Wait, is that a shank?
No its a lint roller