NFL.com wire reports
WASHINGTON (April, 22, 2004) -- Maurice Clarett's bid to enter the NFL draft this weekend was turned down by the Supreme Court on Thursday, delaying for now his attempt to get into the league.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she saw no reason to overturn a lower court's stay preventing the former Ohio State running back from being picked.
The 20-year-old Clarett is fighting the NFL's requirement that players wait three years after high school before turning pro.
Ginsburg said she would not intervene given the NFL's "commitment promptly to conduct a supplemental draft" if Clarett eventually is determined eligible.
The NFL had said Clarett could participate in training camps this summer, if he wins his case in a lower court.
"Today's decision confirms the judgment of the court of appeals and allows us to turn our focus from the courtroom to the draft room," Jeff Pash, the NFL's in-house attorney, said in a statement.
Calls to Clarett's attorney were not immediately returned.
The decision also keeps wide receiver Mike Williams of Southern California out of the draft.
Williams, who entered the draft after the original decision allowing in Clarett, would have been a first-round pick while Clarett likely would have gone in the second or third round.
Clarett was appealing a stay issued by the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, putting on hold a lower-court ruling that said the NFL can't enforce its three-year rule.
Ginsburg issued the decision because she oversees appeals from New York, which is where the NFL is based.
Clarett led Ohio State to a national title as a freshman, but was ruled ineligible as a sophomore for accepting money from a family friend and lying about it to NCAA and university investigators. Clarett, out of high school two years, would be eligible for the 2005 draft under the current rule.
Clarett's attorney, Alan Milstein, had told Ginsburg the player would "suffer substantial irreparable injury" if he was not allowed in the draft.
Clarett could refile his request with another justice, but the outcome likely would not be different.
Most emergency appeals are rejected by the court.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel had said it was "far-fetched" that Clarett would return to play for the Buckeyes. He dropped out of classes at Ohio State after the winter quarter.
"From an academic standpoint, unless the NCAA really changes its posture about academics, I think it would be difficult," Tressel said.
Linear Mode
