Maurice Clarett Withdraws Request for Early Release

Once regarded as the best player in college football, Maurice Clarett was sentenced to serve 3 1/2 years of a 7 1/2 year sentence in 2006 as a result of a robbery and gun possession convictions. Hoping to revive a dream of what was once supposed to be a promising football career, Maurice Clarett filed a request for early release from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Today, in a letter sent to the Ohio Parole Board on Monday, Maurice Clarett withdrew his request for early release giving up on playing professional football in 2010 as he had hoped.

While details of the letter withdrawing his request for early release were not disclosed, Maurice Clarett's recent blog post from prison may shed some light on why he decided to forgo his request.

Maurice Clarett blogged:

"I'm a man and I struggle. I'm not speaking of anything specific. I'm just talking in general. Depression comes and depression goes."

"Old thoughts often tackle my emotions and leave me paralyzed momentarily. Does anyone know what it feels like to be stuck mentally for days on end? Depressing thoughts are the invisible weight we all hate to carry but at times is inevitable."

Although a star running back at Ohio State, trouble and controversy never seemed to be too far behind Maurice Clarett. In 2003, he was suspended by Ohio State for violating NCAA rules. Clarett then attempted to enter the NFL early but was denied due to the leagues eligibility requirements which he unsuccessfully challenged.

Eventually, Maurice Clarett was drafter by the Denver Broncos in the third round in 2005, but he was hurt in training camp and was cut without playing a down.

Now, Maurice Clarett has appeared to resign himself to finishing out his prison sentence. Pursuant to his plea agreement, Clarett is scheduled to be released at the end of 2010 if he behaves himself. For the time being, he will just have to continue blogging which he does by calling family members on the phone who type the blog posts for him.

Written by Gabriel Dorman
gabedorman@gmail.com
www.criminaldefenseduilawyer.com/blog/