DENVER -- True to his word, Maurice Clarett will be on time for training camp, and once he reports to the Denver Broncos, he'll have a chance to make some big-time money.
According to a report, the oft-embattled tailback, a third-round draft pick by the Broncos, signed a deal Thursday full of incentives that could earn him up to $7 million over the life of the four-year contract.
Clarett's representatives, Steven Feldman and David Kenner, did not immediately return messages left at their offices by the Associated Press. The Broncos do not release terms of contracts.
To get his chance at the bonus money, Clarett decided to forgo the signing bonus most players usually take when they sign a contract. Clarett was a third-round draft pick who would have gotten around $400,000. That money was instead written into Clarett's contract as workout bonuses for 2006-08.
He would, of course, need to make the team to receive those bonuses, and if he does, they might seem small compared to what he could earn. He could earn $1 million if he rushes for 1,000 yards. Other clauses could bring his earnings up to $7 million.
The Broncos have a history of turning low-round picks at tailback into stars. They took a chance on Clarett, who hasn't played any football in the last two years.
After leading Ohio State to the 2002 national title as a freshman, Clarett was suspended for the next season for accepting improper benefits and lying to investigators. Forced to sit out, he sued the NFL over its rule that a player must be out of high school for three years before becoming eligible for the draft.
That led to another year off the field and plenty of time in court, with the U.S. Supreme Court eventually deciding not to reverse an appeals court's decision to declare him ineligible for the draft.
When the Broncos surprisingly picked him with the last pick of the third round, Clarett said he was glad to be part of a team again and promised he wouldn't miss any training camp.
He was true to his word, but just barely. Negotiations on his complex deal went well into Thursday. Players reported to camp Thursday afternoon and their first practice is Friday.
Sixth-round pick Chris Myers, an offensive lineman, also signed in the afternoon to ensure the Broncos will have all their draft picks on the field for the first practice.
Earlier in the day, second-round pick Darrent Williams signed a four-year deal with a signing bonus in the "high $1.2 millions," according to his agent, Jeff Griffin.
Broncos314 
