BJD7642

The New York Times reports WR Mike Williams, the star wide receiver who left USC after his sophomore season in the wake of RB Maurice Clarett's victory in federal district court that struck down the NFL's age restrictions, filed his own federal lawsuit in Manhattan yesterday. He sought an injunction that would allow him to be in the NFL draft, which begins Saturday, despite an appeals court ruling yesterday that stayed the lower court decision in the Clarett case. Williams's lawsuit asserts that the NFL made conflicting statements about its age requirements as a result of the district court's ruling, causing Williams to forfeit his college eligibility. Agent Michael Azzarelli said he hoped the federal court would grant Williams a hearing date today. He described Williams as disappointed and surprised by yesterday's stay, issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

BJD7642

ESPN\'s Len Pasquarelli reports a stay was granted Monday by a federal appeals court until it rules on the NFL\'s appeal of an earlier decision that allowed former Ohio State RB Maurice Clarett and eventually USC sophomore WR Mike Williams to be part of the 2004 NFL Draft. A stay in the proceedings technically will keep Clarett and Williams out of the draft Saturday at least temporarily, but a ruling could come down in their favor beforehand that would make both eligible to be selected. If Clarett and Williams are declared eligible for the draft after it takes place, the NFL already has said the two would be part of a supplemental draft. It\'s possible that Clarett, Williams and seven other undistinguished underclassmen could seek further recourse from the courts, but more unlikely that they can have the stay overturned before the draft begins. There is a possibility that the parties could arrive at a middle ground -- perhaps a settlement that would permit Clarett and Williams to be included in a supplemental draft. Federal appeals court judges and an NFL lawyer suggested that Clarett could go into a supplemental draft if he\'s ruled out of the main draft. The issue of the supplemental draft came up after the three judges questioned Clarett\'s lawyer, Alan Milstein, about whether the NFL must accept players who don\'t meet negotiated eligibility rules.

chRxis

i feel for mike, but i do hope (as bad as this sounds) that he isn\'t allowed to play in the NCAA next year if this latest NFL appeal falls through for him... see, USC won\'t be the same without him, thus paving the way to an undisputed nat\'l championship for LSU.