Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Every individual is different. Sometimes one person can have so much promise and opportunity and then self-destructive tendencies take over and he squanders it all. It’s silly to draw big-picture conclusions when it was all about one single human and the havoc he created.

This wasn’t about a failure of the system. This wasn’t about a major university using a kid and then throwing him aside when he was no longer useful.

This was about one guy who, if he hadn’t been so determined to defy authority and do whatever he wanted to do, could have had a spectacular college career and gone on to glory and riches in the NFL.

Instead, he melted down. He has demons specific to him, and no amount of support from Jim Tressel and the Ohio State community, or from Mike Shanahan and the Denver Broncos’ franchise, could have deterred him.

He had all that support. He blew it. He did this to himself.

And if his mental health is an issue, he needs to get help. But this particular tragic situation begins and ends with Maurice Clarett.

Exhibitions a farce
As the game of football has progressed over the years, adjustments have been made because players have become bigger, stronger and faster. Rules about spearing with one’s helmet, or hitting the QB late, or hitting someone just out of bounds, have become more stringent, and officials are more likely to make these types of calls more quickly.

Much of the concern comes down to economics. Owners spend millions of dollars on the services of players. As a result, rules have evolved that favor the player and his well-being.

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And I can understand that.

What I don’t understand is why in the heck they still have four exhibition games before a 16-game regular season.

Clinton Portis recently complained publicly about the fact that he dislocated his shoulder in a game he shouldn’t have been playing in. He’s right.

Exhibitions are farces. There’s no need to play four of them. Two would be fine. Maybe even one. But it’s just common sense that the more a player is exposed to a violent game, the greater the chance he’ll suffer an injury. Allowing veterans and regulars to play significant minutes in exhibition games is just asking for trouble. And usually, each year, trouble occurs.

Why are owners so eager to put their investments at risk? Does the revenue from exhibitions make up for the possible loss of a star player, someone who could help you get to the postseason and beyond? It doesn’t make sense.

Roger Goodell, get on that

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