In need of a second chance to play professional football, Maurice Clarett tracked down a guy who gave him his first chance.
Who can forget that April day in 2005 when the Broncos drafted Clarett with the final pick of the third round?
The Broncos’ general manager that year was Ted Sundquist, who is now Randy Mueller’s right-hand man for the United Football League’s Omaha Nighthawks.
It’s hardly a coincidence that Clarett’s unlikely comeback begins Sunday when he tries out for the Nighthawks in Omaha. There is no signing bonus. No promise for a spot on an impressive roster that includes Jeff Garcia, Ahman Green, Andre Hall and Jeb Putzier. This is just a job interview for a player who has not carried the ball in seven years.
“And yet he’s only 26,” Sundquist said.
It was Clarett who, from his Ohio halfway house, tracked down the Nighthawks through the UFL office. Sundquist talked personally to Clarett twice by phone in the past week.
“I heard a different man,” Sundquist said. “It didn’t catch me offguard. The funny thing about it is it didn’t take us too long to think about it.”
When Clarett was briefly with the Broncos during his failed training camp of 2005, he was an overweight 240 pounds and mad at the world. Clarett told Sundquist he is now 220 pounds.
After he was released by the Broncos, Clarett lost his way. He is now a convicted felon who had been incarcerated for 3 1/2 years on gun and aggravated robbery charges.
Clarett this week received permission from an Ohio judge to leave his halfway house so he could try out with the Nighthawks.
He has not played a competitive game since 2003, when as a freshman sensation he helped Ohio State stun Miami in the national championship game.
He has since become the poster child for how fast and far a star can fall.
“People will pick and choose what they want to remember about Maurice Clarett,” Sundquist said. “But to know Maurice Clarett you’ve got to start from the very beginning, and you’ve got to go all the way to this point. You have to take in the entire story, to be willing to understand every point on the timeline.”
For a military man, and graduate of the Air Force Academy, Sundquist sure is New Age when it comes to dealing with today’s athletes.
“I’ve always been fascinated by leadership styles and management techniques,” Sundquist said. “Basically, I’ve always held the belief that the game belongs to the players.”
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
