Several NFL general managers crossed Maurice Clarett off their lists after the former Ohio State running back opted not to work out at the league’s annual scouting combine, the latest red flag on a short career path lined with them.
Jerry Angelo was not one of those general managers.
In his first comments on Clarett’s ground-breaking decision, the Bears’ GM said Friday he would have preferred Clarett participate in the combine workouts, but “character” issues have not yet scared the Bears away from him.
“I’m not going to sit here and be turned off by anybody until we get all the facts done, and right now there’s a lot of hearsay,” Angelo said. “We’re investigating just like other teams are. I’m not going to say we’re turned off.”
Angelo’s openness to consider Clarett surprised some given the general manager’s tendency to favor players who have had productive college careers. To put it in terms Angelo likes to use, Clarett’s ceiling looks more impressive than his floor, and the Bears tend to worry more about good floors when drafting.
Clarett enters the draft with 1,237 yards in one injury-plagued freshman season and with more controversy than football credentials.
“Everything about this guy is unique,” Angelo said. “You like to have history with a player, but it all has changed. The draft has changed radically, in particular, the last five years. Guys who would go in the fourth round are going in the second round now. The colleges aren’t manufacturing more players. We’re just creating more of a demand.”
The Bears, drafting 14th, have a demand at running back but also want to address needs on the defensive line and in the pass rush through the draft. Until Clarett gets timed in the 40-yard dash and takes a strength test, as he plans to do in April in Columbus, Ohio, nobody can say whether he will go closer to the second round or the seventh.
“If he runs a 4.4 [40-yard dash], some of those clouds will go away, [but] if he doesn’t, it could turn into a thunderstorm,” Angelo said. “He’s running his own course, and those who are interested will follow.”
The presence of former Ohio State running backs coach Tim Spencer on their staff makes the Bears more likely to keep following, as well as better equipped to handle Clarett and the concerns that will accompany him to the NFL. A player as immature as Clarett apparently is probably will require extra mentoring a familiar face like Spencer could provide.
“Obviously, we’re going to draw off Tim’s experience with him,” Angelo said.
After the combine wraps up Tuesday, Angelo will shift his focus to a free-agency period in which the Bears will seek to fill needs at offensive tackle and the defensive line, among other areas. The Bears may have as much as $14 million available under the salary cap.
Avoiding discussion of specific players, Angelo said people shouldn’t assume the Bears would pursue only left tackles among available tackles on the market. That raised speculation that the Bears will have interest in Kansas City right tackle Jon Tait, who would be familiar with new Bears offensive coordinator Terry Shea.
“It might be a tackle, just a tackle, not necessarily a left tackle,” Angelo said. “I see us being more active than probably since I’ve been here for the obvious reason, too, that we have a new coaching staff.”
Whether the Bears sign an offensive tackle during free-agency also will affect where Marc Colombo plays when–and if–he gets back on the field. Colombo reported to Angelo earlier this week that he felt better than he had in a long time and had begun to get in and out of his stance.
The Bears will keep Colombo out of the three mini-camps and hope he can be ready for training camp, where Angelo said he could be penciled in at left tackle in a best-case scenario.
That might mean a change of positions for Mike Gandy, last season’s starting left tackle who also can play guard. Angelo also hinted that defensive end Phillip Daniels’ shaky status on the roster had more to do with the decision to limit Daniels’ role in coach Lovie Smith’s defense than with his $3 million salary.
– The Bears announced Friday that end-zone ticket prices will increase for the 2004 season to $55, up $5. Other ticket prices will remain unchanged.
