Maurice Clarett was arrested again this week. The former Buckeye running back from Ohio State was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and multiple traffic violations. More charges could be filed. He shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Police attempted to detain Clarett after they observed him making an illegal U-turn in his SUV. Clarett led police on a highway chase that ended only after he drove over a strip of spikes and was forced to stop in a restaurant parking lot. A police helicopter tracked the vehicle during the chase.

Refusing to obey multiple orders to abandon the vehicle, police removed Clarett and used a mace after a stun gun was ineffective because Clarett was wearing a bulletproof vest. It took several officers to handcuff him and he continued to resist arrest, attempting to kick the doors of the truck.

Police discovered a loaded AK-47 assault rifle, three loaded handguns and an open bottle of Gray Goose Vodka in the truck.

Clarett, 22, is awaiting trial in a separate incident on charges of aggravated robbery and again carrying a concealed weapon after displaying a handgun in a cell phone robbery in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

How powerful to have fallen.

In 2002, as a true freshman, Clarett rushed for a Buckeye record 1,237 yards and 18 touchdowns. He scored the game-winning touchdown in OSU’s 31-24 double-overtime win over Miami Florida in the Fiesta Bowl clinching Buckeye’s first National Championship since 1968.

Clarett was suspended for the 2003 athletic and academic year after filing a false police report claiming more than $10,000 worth of clothing, electronics, and CDs from a vehicle he had borrowed from a local car dealer.

Clarett challenged the NFL draft rule that one must wait three years after finishing high school to testify. Clarett originally won entry into the draft, but that decision was overturned on appeal, and the Supreme Court settled the matter denying any further appeal. Clarett was represented in the case by David Kenner, the longtime attorney for infamous hip-hop mogul Marion “Suge” Knight.

Clarett was selected in the third round of the draft out of Denver in 2005. With a million-dollar debt in legal fees, Clarett turned down the standard $413,000 signing bonus and signed an incentive-laden contract that would have made him rich if he’d signed. become a star.

But he came into camp with a strong 247 and ran a disappointing 4.72 40. He subsequently missed the first two weeks of camp with a hamstring strain before being suspended.

Prior to today’s arrest, Clarett was said to be interested in joining one of the Ohio Indoor Football League franchises, claiming he had something to prove. He was supposed to join the Mahoning Valley Hitmen of Youngstown, which is scheduled to start play in January.

Maurice Clarett’s story is not unusual and it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling sympathy for this tragic waste of talent. Don’t feel sorry for Maurice Clarett! He is a dangerous criminal who should be taken off the streets.

Sometimes athletes are just bad.