Clarett to Pass on Workouts

Suspended Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett won’t take part in off-season workouts even though he has been cleared by the school.

“I think he felt he didn’t want to work out until he got reinstated by the NCAA,” Ohio State Athletic Director Andy Geiger said.

Geiger learned about the player’s decision from Coach Jim Tressel.

Despite his suspension, the school permitted Clarett to participate in individual winter conditioning workouts that started last week.

Clarett has been suspended since September for accepting improper benefits from a family friend and then lying about it to investigators.

Ohio State officials have said they did not expect to contact the NCAA about possibly reinstating Clarett until late March.

Clarett has filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York challenging the NFL rule that says a player must be out of high school for at least three years before he can be eligible for the draft. Under that rule, the sophomore would have to wait at least one more season before entering the draft.