INDIANAPOLIS -- When running back Maurice Clarett met the media earlier this week, he said he was in the best shape of his life, that he would do all the workouts at Saturday's NFL scouting combine and that he'd make an impression on NFL coaches and scouts.
"I'm going to slap on my shoes," he promised, "and whatever I run I'm going to walk away."
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| Maurice Clarett rumbles across the finish line. (AP) |
Clarett bombed out at Saturday's workout by running two 40-yard dashes that could have been clocked by sundials. Then, as promised, he walked away. He didn't do the cone drills or agility drills or bag drills or passing drills that should have followed. He simply quit the field without an explanation.
"I guess he was tired," said one scout in mock jest.
One NFC coach said he was "shocked" by Clarett's performance. You would be, too, if you saw him run two 40s in 4.72 and 4.82 seconds. Those were the unofficial times of the NFL Network, which televised the workouts, and they were generous. One club had his fastest time at 4.78, while another clocked him at 4.91.
It doesn't make much difference whom you believe. All times are slow, too slow for a running back you might have considered taking in the first day of the April draft.
"Shoot," said one NFL official, "if a guy works out a year and I can beat him, he's not very good. He just went from a possible third-rounder to a possible free agent. Somebody will give him a shot, but he just cost himself a lot of money."
Clarett didn't run at last year's NFL scouting combine and, judging by Saturday's results, that was a smart move. But he had no choice this time around, especially with not playing the past two years, and he promised to do whatever he could to convince clubs he was in mint condition and serious about making it to the pros.
Well, he failed.
"This is a business," said one scout, "and he understands it more than anyone now."
That doesn't mean he can't recover. He has another workout scheduled for March 8, but how much faster do you become in two weeks? I don't know, either, but for Clarett's sake it better be faster than he is now. Just a hunch, but look for him to push back the date to maximize his chances for improvement.
"Obviously, we're disappointed with him," said Clarett's agent, Steve Feldman, "but we will have a private workout, and there will be improvement."
