Given that many folks thought he wouldn’t get drafted at all, Maurice Clarett might have felt like he won the lottery when the Denver Broncos chose him in the third round.
Then, what did Clarett do? He passed on the guaranteed $400,000 signing bonus he could have taken, instead choosing an incentive-filled deal that could earn him first-round money … or leave him broke.
It was the kind of move that fits right in with the rookie tailback’s pattern of high-risk, high-reward decisions – leaving school, suing the NFL, quitting in the middle of the league’s scouting combine.
This latest gambit has sparked a debate between those who think he did a good thing – not asking for anything up front, instead seeking to earn every penny – and those who think he was foolish because if he gets hurt, or cut, or banished to the practice squad before the season begins, he will have no cash to show for his efforts.
“I don’t want to get into the contract thing with the public,” Clarett said Friday, after his first practice at training camp.
“It was just the best situation for me and the Broncos and the coaches. It’s just what my agent sat down and did.” Clarett’s agent, Steve Feldman, did not return messages left at his office by The Associated Press. In an interview with the Denver Post, Feldman said he and Clarett didn’t view the contract as a risk.
“This is an out-of-the-box deal, but we think it works well for Maurice and the Broncos,” Feldman said.
It could net Clarett up to $7 million over the life of the four-year deal if he reaches all the goals and triggers a number of escalator clauses written into the contract.
As it stands now, though, he has nothing. He is scheduled to earn the rookie minimum $230,000, but that’s only if he makes the regular-season roster.
Since contracts in the NFL are not guaranteed, it makes signing bonuses like the one Clarett passed on that much more important.
Instead of what would have been about a $410,000 signing bonus, Clarett’s contract calls for him to make that money in workout bonuses that would be spread over the final three years of his contract.
He’ll earn that money, of course, only if he’s on the roster.
Clarett said the decision to sign a unique contract had nothing to do with him trying to prove himself, a key issue for a player who has been through so much turmoil, and who hasn’t played a down since the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3, 2003.
“The contract is something else,” Clarett said. “I think I just need to come out here day-to-day and work to try to improve the team. I believe that if I come out and do everything I am supposed to do, stay healthy and keep competing, I will be all right and we can all win games.” Clarett reported to camp at 233 pounds, about three pounds above where the team wanted him, but a good 15 to 20 pounds lighter than what he weighed during his disastrous workout at the NFL scouting combine in February.
He worked out with the reserves through most of the first practice, which is where he’s expected to end up this season if he makes the roster.
Asked how Clarett looked in his first practice, coach Mike Shanahan spoke in generalities.
“You know, we’ve had these guys since the middle of May, so all the rookies have been given the chance to digest our system,” Shanahan said. “But this is the first time they get to do it full speed and do it in a setting where we are actually at camp.” Clarett said some things have come easier than others since he began working out with the Broncos in May. Working on blocking schemes at the pro level is difficult. Running the ball and finding holes is easier.
He said at the minicamps, he was thinking more about himself than the team.
Now, though? “I came in with a different attitude,” he said. “I think it was a little bit selfish at first, but once you get out here with the team and coaches, you realize that it is about something a lot bigger than you.” And while speaking the party line about “team” certainly will serve Clarett well with his teammates, nobody needs to succeed for personal reasons more than him.
“We all know that everyone has to get their reps and there are five running backs,” he said. “You figure out that you may get one rep all practice, so you better do your best in that rep and just continue to work on it on and off the field.”
Kanell’s quest takes on new color
Danny Kanell showed up to training camp as a blonde this year.
That’s not the only change.
Denver’s backup quarterback redoubled his efforts in the offseason, knowing how hard the Broncos worked in their ultimately unsuccessful quest to find a veteran to compete for his spot.
“You see what they’re trying to do,” Kanell said Friday on the first day of Broncos training camp. “You know you’ve got to come out and work harder.” The Broncos were unsuccessful in landing the veterans they sought as a possible backup to Jake Plummer. Among them were Jeff Garcia and Gus Frerotte. That left them with Kanell, who recently got married and, at his new wife’s suggestion, died his hair bleach-blonde for the start of camp.
“Only a married guy could get away with something like that,” receiver Rod Smith said.
Kanell’s first day of training camp was not great, especially not in the afternoon session, when he threw three interceptions and was part of an offense that got thoroughly dominated.
Still, one day won’t determine his future. He has the entire camp to try to outplay the handful of young, untested quarterbacks behind him, including Matt Mauck, Bradlee Van Pelt and Chad Friehauf.
Defensive afternoon
Who said the Broncos defense couldn’t create turnovers? In the Friday-afternoon practice, the defense dominated, creating five turnovers, including the three interceptions against Kanell. Last season, the Broncos created only 20 turnovers, fourth-lowest total in the league.
“We got beat up a little bit by the ‘D’ this evening,” Plummer said. “But we’ve got a great defense. They’re going to make us better. How we respond tomorrow morning is what counts. If we come out and do it again, then we have a problem.” Among the defensive standouts were second-round draft pick Darrent Williams, who had an interception and forced a fumble.
Linebacker Jashon Sykes and safety Sam Brandon also had interceptions.
“We have a lot of veteran guys out there and they make us all better,” Williams said. “This is what they drafted me for, to play the game hard.”
Foxworthy
Third-round draft pick Domonique Foxworth starred in the morning practice, making a nifty interception on the sideline and breaking up a couple of passes.
Foxworth, Williams and another third-round draft pick, Karl Paymah, are all vying for the nickel back spot, which is up for grabs.
Foxworth caught Shanahan’s eye.
“He had a big-time play,” Shanahan said. “So that was nice, not only to see him breaking for the ball but actually catching the ball. It’s about guys making plays. You get some young guys that are there, some older guys that are there, but they don’t make the play. Ultimately, the guys that make the plays play.”
Briefly
WR Jerry Rice sat out of the afternoon practice.
Shanahan said Rice was one of about a dozen veterans whose work would be limited due to injuries or simply to keep them fresh. …
The first play in the morning team session was a long completion on a crossfield throw from Plummer to Ashley Lelie. … Roc Alexander, the oft-burned cornerback in last season’s playoff game against Indy, had a nice breakup of a pass in the morning session. …
Clarett found himself trapped behind the line about four times in team drills. He also fumbled once during the afternoon session. … Mike Anderson was first in the pecking order among tailbacks, although Tatum Bell got plenty of work with the first unit and said he didn’t read anything into the rotation.
Shanny says:
“You’re going to be disappointed in one side. Obviously, we felt good about the defense. They had five turnovers today. It’s something we’ve been stressing. Guys made some plays.” – Shanahan on the afternoon practice that was dominated by the defense.
