Maurice Clarett's relationship with an admitted football gambler will be investigated by the NFL's security office if the suspended Ohio State running back enters the draft in April, league spokesman Greg Aiello told ESPN on Friday.

The league's standard pre-draft background check of draft-eligible players would include an examination of Clarett's close association with benefactor Robert Dellimuti, Aiello told ESPN.

"We will explore those reports as we would with any player," Aiello said in a statement. "We have strong policies on gambling activities. The reports raise serious questions and we will do our normal background check to determine the facts."

An NFL rule prohibits players from "associating with gamblers or with gambling activities in a manner tending to bring discredit to the NFL."

Alan Milstein, Clarett's lawyer, said in a statement Wednesday that Clarett was unaware of any gambling activity by Dellimuti, according to ESPN. Regarding an NCAA rule that prohibits players from providing inside information to gamblers, Milstein told ESPN that Clarett had no reason to believe any comments he has made to Dellimuti have been used for gambling purposes.

Dellimuti has told ESPN that he bet on "football" -- but not on the Buckeyes.

Dellimuti, 38, was a central figure in the NCAA investigation of Clarett last year that involved extra benefits, including payments for the cell phone Dellimuti provided Clarett during his stellar freshman season, ESPN reported.

The indefinite suspension of Clarett by Ohio State led to his filing the lawsuit challenging the NFL's early-entry draft rules. U.S. District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin on Thursday sided with Clarett, declaring him eligible for the draft. The NFL has said it will appeal the landmark ruling but doesn't expect a decision before the April 24-25 draft weekend.

Aiello declined to speculate on how the NFL might respond if the league is uncomfortable with Clarett's relationship with Dellimuti, ESPN said. But he noted that every stadium and practice facility in the NFL has a poster that warns players about the prohibition on gambling-related activity, including associating with gamblers.

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