Clarett Case Comes to an End

On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Clarett v. NFL, the case in which former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett challenged the NFL's age limit. There was little chance of the Court taking the case, since the legal issue remains relatively new. In addition, despite Clarett's legal team asserting that the case would have an impact on a number of other players, Clarett is eligible for this month's draft, meaning the case most likely would have been ruled moot (not affecting the legal rights of the parties).

For now, this ends the legal struggle against the NFL's requirement that a player be three years out of high school in order to be eligible for the draft. I say "for now" because it is only a matter of time before another football player challenges the rule, in hopes for a more favorable ruling. And, depending on how the collective bargaining session in the NBA proceeds, rumors abound that basketball may soon have a similar eligibility limitation. This, too, will most definitely prompt litigation. Eventually, the Supreme Court will hear this case. The result will change the face of sports, and the law, for some time to come.

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