How I’m Feeling
I can’t hold these feelings in anymore. I want to play football again. I have a deep desire to play. I love the game. I have so much penitentiary aggression pinned up inside of me. I want to hit someone. I want to run the ball. I want to tackle someone. I want to play. I am going to play somewhere. I cannot accept how things ended. I won’t accept how they ended. I am 220, rock solid. I am moving swift, running fast, and jumping high. My mind is right and my life is in order. I am 25 but I feel like I am 18. I am still young. Those who do support me deserve and want to see me out there playing again. I play with some pretty good athletes back here. In the penitentiary you could say basketball is football. Back here everything is aggressive. Everything is intense. I know I am an asset to someone’s locker room on so many levels. I’ve survived some of life’s worst struggles. I am not a statistic. I am still here and I am still living. I didn’t and won’t give up. I am a winner. I am optimistic. I am inspirational. I am alive. I want to play for the love and the respect. I want to play for the underdogs. I want to play because I know how to really well. Hopefully, they’ll open these gates soon and I’ll be able to get out on the field again. I am healthy mentally and physically. I am rock solid. I train hard. I go hard. I’m HERE.
May 25, 2009 at 12:54 pm
That’s great to hear! You could come to Detroit and help the Lions… Talk about your underdogs…
May 25, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Good luck.
May 25, 2009 at 1:54 pm
You might not want to hear this, but I honestly am praying that you can achieve this goal.
I pray that God finds you an opportunity to play professionally when you leave, and I pray that you use that opportunity to do good for others. Through reading your blog, I realize how much you love the important things in life – family, loved ones, etc. I simply pray that you have the opportunity to use your “name” for the best in this world. Everyone deserves a second chance if their heart is in the right place.
May 25, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I can’t wait for you to get back on the field. I’m rooting for you.
May 25, 2009 at 2:31 pm
when do you get out?
May 25, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Hi Maurice,
I believe with your current mind-set you will have no trouble convincing coaches that you are ready. But, don’t let that aggression you now feel come out negatively if you have a few set-backs on the way. You will undoubtedly run into a few skeptical coaches and owners. But, in the end you will win them over to the new you.
And, if you do get back onto the field, don’t forget your studies. You may say you wouldn’t, and I believe you, but it would be easy to put them off until the future. Remember, Barry Sanders took courses at Oakland University in Michigan when he was with Detroit. Shaq O’Neal eventially graduated. Juwan Howard studied in his NBA team bus during trips and graduated with his class.
This is what drew me to your website initailly, your desire for education. I have faith that you will take care of both you body and your mind.
Nancy
May 25, 2009 at 9:01 pm
good to hear. there are a ton of people who would love to see you play again. i hope everything works out for you. you are an amazing football player!!!
May 26, 2009 at 9:43 am
You can do it!
May 26, 2009 at 9:56 am
Maurice,
Iam 100% sure that you gonna play football again.We see that in your words and actions.
Besides playing football you are gonna be a inspiration to a lot of young man in America and world wide.
Peace,
Felipe
May 26, 2009 at 3:49 pm
My suggestion to you is to get out of Ohio and start somewhere fresh, without the distractions and drama of so-called friends. Take your girlfriend and start anew and give her the peace that she deserves being by your side.
I went through the same situation, been through the pen, but when I got out and went back to the neighborhood, I realized that I would go right back in if I didn’t get out where I was at. I moved from Florida to Chicago, started fresh and turned a new leaf. Now I have I have 3 beautiful children and a life I am proud of.
As a football player, I understand that frustration that you want to vent through a tackle or dodging through a broken tackle, but you also need to find peace other ways beside physically, such as looking into your child’s eyes or being the husband and father that you can be.
You got my email, if you want to communicate, let me know. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.
May 26, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Work hard, stay focused and good luck
May 26, 2009 at 8:55 pm
[...] [Broncos] Former Broncos' Maurice Clarett Wants To Play Football Again In a recent blog entry, former Denver Broncos draft pick, Maurice Clarett has expressed an interest to play football again. " I can't hold these feelings in anymore. I want to play football again. I have a deep desire to play." Source: mauriceclarett.wordpress.com [...]
May 26, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Maurice –
Best of luck to you, and I hope that you once again achieve greatness by getting a 2nd chance in the NFL. Elite athletes only have a small window to display their skills in the NFL. Being that you are still young, many teams should give you another look.
Because of your past choices, you will be under a microscope, so be aware of that. Any false move, many people will want to overreact. Surround yourself with positive people (family, true friends, & the right agents), who support you as a person first and athlete second. Show your future professional football team that you will do anything and everything to achieve greatness. You will achieve success once again if you really want to!!! You have an athletic gift that not many people in the world have.
After your successful transition back, you will become a great role model for many of our youths. You will also pave the way for other athletes that need a 2nd chance. Make sure that you stay motivated and remember the (personal, academic & athletic) goals that you have set for yourself. Be an inspiration to many!!
Best of luck and I wish you future success. You definitely have a fan in me….
- Jason
May 26, 2009 at 11:27 pm
My prayers and thoughts will be with you everyday until you make it back on top. My mom has told me my whole life that if you surround yourself with positive energy, good will, and good people, the universe will unfold for you the way you want it.
I will admit i am a very critical person, and i will also admit that i used to be a hater. i would go to school and bash you. call u a stereotypical “thug”. but then i got to college and had to do a whole lot of soul searching and learned many hard lessons in the hardest ways just as you did. In hindsight, i know i was wrong about you.
I really hope you have the ability to make it out of there as easily and swiftly as possible. and i hope to see u in the NFL, putting up 1000 yards a season the way you once dreamed. i hope i can buy your jersey one day man.
May 27, 2009 at 5:38 am
You have so much left in your life to accomplish
May 27, 2009 at 6:17 am
Hey man, I’m rooting for ya… With the UFL coming up and everything, there’s no doubt in my mind you’ll make it back… just remember bro, EVERYTHING happens for a reason… I knew you weren’t just another back when you took that ball from Sean Taylor, now THAT was a play that only a true blooded champion would make, you’re a Bullet-Proof Tiger on that gridiron, can’t wait for you to show everyone else
May 27, 2009 at 11:17 am
Maurice,
Embrace God in your life and He will answer all your prayers. If you dont make it back playing football. Just remember their are plent of kids that looked up to when when your was on the field. Lecture and inspire them into doing right. Keep your head up And would love to meet you one day. Keep in touch.
May 27, 2009 at 11:42 am
[...] Monday, he made it clear that he intends on playing again. I want to play. I am going to play somewhere. I cannot accept how things ended. I won’t accept [...]
May 27, 2009 at 12:21 pm
U can still tear it up maurice.. shouts and good look from Youngstown
May 27, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Maurice, Has anyone ever told you that God loves you and that He has a wonderful plan for your life? I have a real quick, but important question to ask you. If you were to die this very second, do you know for sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you would go to Heaven? Let me quickly share with you what the Holy Bible reads. It reads “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. The Bible also reads, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. And you’re a “whosoever” right? Of course you are; all of us are.
I’m going to say a quick prayer for you. Lord, bless Maurice and his family with long and healthy lives. Jesus, make Yourself real to him and do a quick work in his heart. If Maurice has not received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, I pray he will do so now. Maurice, if you would like to receive the gift that God has for you today, say this after me with your heart and lips out loud. Dear Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive me of my sin. Wash me and cleanse me. Set me free. Jesus, thank You that You died for me. I believe that You are risen from the dead and that You’re coming back again for me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Give me a passion for the lost, a hunger for the things of God and a holy boldness to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m saved; I’m born again, I’m forgiven and I’m on my way to Heaven because I have Jesus in my heart. As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I tell you today that all of your sins are forgiven. Always remember to run to God and not from God because He loves you and has a great plan for your life. I am on disability with emotional problems but God has turned my life around. I enjoy OSU football and live in Cincinnati. The Bengals have always loved big backs, going back to OSU’s Pete Johnson in the 70′s and 80′s. I pray you have a successful career to glorify God. Time is short Maurice. you have a lot of time to think. Jesus is your only hope.
May 27, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Good luck man. Really, good luck. I remember being in college watching your saga unfold. Every cocky analyst talked about wasted talent this and wasted talent that with that smug look on their faces. Honestly Maurice, I am rooting for you. Why might you ask am I rooting for you?
Because I feel we are very similar. Like yourself, at a young age (I am 26) I didn’t appreciate anything and messed my life up real bad (ending up in jail and having my family and gf turn their backs on me). I was born into wealth and I guess I grew up spoiled. When things didn’t work out the way I wanted I just made situations worse. Details are irrelevant. All that matters is that we have both made seriously bad choices in life.
People say that the life of an NFL runningback is the shortest and by the time they hit age 28 they are done. I don’t think this is the case with you since you haven’t been taking punishment from long practices and BRUTAL games. It’s not the age that is important factor for RB shelf life it is the punishment they take. You haven’t had any NFL punishment so I believe you can compete until you are say 33. Remember, a man is at his prime at about the age of 30 if he is healthy. Don’t give up. Most people are stupid and ignorant. So don’t listen to those average stupid coaches and scouts.
A 40 yd dash can’t measure a man’s desire to prove everyone else wrong or his ACTUAL game speed. Good luck my man!
Oh one more thing Maurice since I have been in jail (although only for 4 months). Once you get out in the world, things change. You don’t see the world the way you saw it caged up. You can never forget that fire and routine you found while incarcerated. Never forget all the realizations you came to during all that idle time reading and staring at the walls while locked up. Never forget bro. I am rooting for you.
May 27, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Pain is temporary, Pride is FOREVER. I wish you nothing but the best!
May 27, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Hey Maurice,
I’ve watched you since you played freshman at Austintown. I’m happy to hear it seems like you’ve got your head on straight again. I hope this works out for you and being from Youngstown there is nothing more that I love to see than people from that area succeed. It won’t be easy though just keep fighting and good things will happen weather thats with sports or in some other area of life. Good luck to you.
May 27, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Maurice
I was a student at Ohio State during that magical season. Being an international student, I was not much into football. You were the reason I started watching football. Man, you were great! Then, as I watched with horror, things fell apart. Now, you have to put things back together for yourself and for your family. I was a witness to your triumph and to your fall. Now, I want to witness your resurrection.
Cheers!
Mukul
May 27, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Love your posts, I check in from time to time…gotta tell you, I got a little excited to hear you say you wanna play football again. I loved the way you played at OSU…not so much the attitude, but it appears you’ve matured. Good luck! Would love to see it happen.
May 27, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Dude, I hope you get out and get a chance to play again. I think you should, even if it’s arena football for Canadian football. If your blog is any indicator you will be inspirational to your teammates.
You inspire me and I am certainly not an athlete!
Good luck!
May 28, 2009 at 5:09 am
You’ll get another shot. I can’t wait to see you prove the critics wrong.
May 28, 2009 at 11:38 am
God bless you Mo! Stay positive!
May 28, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Maurice,
You deserve and get my deepest respect. A second chance is everyone right in the human race.
You and your teamates are responsible for helping me feel good about myself in being a born Buckeye. You see I left Ohio in 87′ because I wasn’t getting along with my family after dropping out of Ohio U. Not knowing what I was going to do with myself I just knew that Athens, OH. Were I’m from. Wasn’t going to cut it. So I left for Florida. Relatives invited me down. I started a life in Jacksonville where I still live today. I since made amendes with my mother and my step father is nolonger in the picture. But the change in culture here was tough. Real tough. Made some bad decisions that set me back no major trouble but I felt like I was just going in circles. Never making anything of myself.
College football here is big among the people here. I was shunned by many people here because I wasn’t a gator fan or seminole or a hurrican. I was and always will be a buckeye. So when you and the 02 team took on and beat the canes. Man what a feeling I had from that point on. Feeling proud of what or who you are is a trait that I lacked. Now grante I didn’t get into a parking lot brawl after 02′ championship trying to get to my car. But 06′ after the lost to the gators I letterly had to fend off two different guys trash talking me from outside the doors of BW3 to my car. I had a Troy Smith jersey on and that made me a target. I held my temper and my head and never let them get to me. If I have learned anything after that its never be ashamed of where I from and who I am.
I have good life now and a women like yours that loves me unconditionally. We have a good life and we visit Ohio when we can. She is a FSU grad. I took her to the shoe in 07′ vs. MSU and to see here face when we walked inside has awsome.
I’m self employed now. Have a small stripping and vinyl graphics business now and I love it.
Just to let you know I have the Col. Dispatchs picture of you diving through the line for a touchdown against Miami. Its framed and hanging up in my game room where it has and always will be.
May 28, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Maurice,
It seems you have gained a focus and purpose during your time in prison. I hope the days go quickly and you are given the chance to follow your dream in order to give yourself and your loved ones the life you always dreamed of. Everyone deserves a second chance and you are no exception. Stay the course and it will happen. I leave you with the words of the Greek Historian, Plutarch; “The measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune.” I truly believe you can turn this negative into one giant positive. Take care, be safe, and God Bless.
May 28, 2009 at 2:57 pm
maybe you could start a program for inner city kids with less opportunities than many of us; who have a lot to overcome in avoiding mistakes that lead them into trouble and incarceration. Your story and perspective could be invaluable in saving many lives.
May 28, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Maurice- keep being driven, work on Your mind, learn,study. Work hard on Your body, get ready to play again. Before You know it You’ll return to society, Your family & Your fans. We’re all waiting for You!
May 28, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Maurice, keep being driven! Work on Your mind, study,learn. Work hard on Your body for when You play again! Before You know it You’ll be in Society w/ Your family, friends & fans-We’re all waiting!!!
June 2, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Good luck Maurice i’m praying for you
June 4, 2009 at 9:54 am
good luck bro, but if football doesn’t work out for you, what else would you like to do?
June 7, 2009 at 1:37 am
ay bro …..everybody messes up …just gotta learn how to turn that negative stuff into the good….use all that built up agression you have in side at one of them workouts when you get out…you use that agression you have aint no team goin walk out without having signed you…youve already been blessed with a great gift from god…..he just tryn make you work to keep it….life is a struggle till the day of death….i went to ysu in youngstown live in pittsburgh now…i hate ohio state but i could not hate you …u were the JIM BROWN of of this new era…..when you get out just stay focused on the goal dont let the youngstown mentality get at you …you got big things to do