Maurice

Clarett

By all accounts, Clarett has done nothing to climb the depth chart in Denver so far. He remains fifth, behind four players with more experience.

''He’s just got a sore groin. It’s nothing serious. It’s not torn,’' coach Mike Shanahan said. NFL Network’s Adam Shefter had a very interesting report Wednesday saying that Clarett has realized he’s not as good as he thought and is regretting his decision to pass up $410,000 in guaranteed money. Shefter suggested Clarett wasn’t guaranteed to make the team.

Both NFL Network and profootballtalk.com have reported that Clarett is upset about being fifth on the depth chart because he won’t reach incentives in his wacky contract. Clarett reportedly wants to get cut, but many believe Denver will stash him on injured reserve this season.

Unsurprisingly, Clarett is struggling to survive his first football action in a couple years. He’s buried on Denver’s depth chart.

He’s not ready to play this week, and is probably too far down the depth chart to get into the first-team heavy third game. Unless injuries strike, Clarett looks like a practice squad player or gameday inactive at best.

This story gets better every day. According to the report, Clarett’s groin injury flared up the day that Shanahan denied Clarett’s request.

We continue to be surprised how little attention this story is getting. Clarett has been accused by teammates, reporters, and coaches of faking an injury because of his spot on the depth chart. We doubt he’ll play a snap for the Broncos this season.

Maybe he read the local paper today. In it, both teammates and coaches reportedly questioned Clarett’s desire to play football. Currently fifth on the depth chart, Clarett is far from guaranteed to make the Broncos roster.

Looks like he took the news about Mike Bell pretty hard. The former Ohio StateBuckeye was seen making an illegal U-turn, then ran over stop sticks, but continued despite a flat tire and rammed a police car before being subdued. Clarett, coincidentally, had two court dates in the next week for other incidents.

An assumed member of an Israeli crime organization called The Jerusalem Group reportedly became Clarett’s sponsor and adviser in late 2004. He gave him cash, a BMW, bodyguards, drivers and beachfront lodging in Malibu, while agreeing to receive 60 percent of Clarett’s rookie contract. After the Broncos released him, he was cut off and has received death threats since. A recent cryptic postcard is now being investigated by law enforcement.