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Maurice Clarett-injuried on the way to being a bust?


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Stubborn groin injury has Clarett's future in limbo

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News

August 16, 2005

ENGLEWOOD - Maurice Clarett on Monday called his ongoing absence because of a right groin injury "part of camp" and was unable to put a timetable on his return.

"I'm just getting strength back into it," the Denver Broncos running back said of the injury, one of several terse answers he gave reporters.

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Clarett first missed practice Aug. 5 but returned the next day. He hasn't been on the field since, missing six days and the Broncos' 20-14 preseason-opening victory against the Houston Texans.

He stayed home during Denver's four-day buildup to the game, putting his status on the depth chart, and perhaps the roster, into question.

"I'm not going to talk about making the team. It's about giving yourself a chance to compete," coach Mike Shanahan said. "And if you don't practice, you can't compete."

Asked about his status on the team, Clarett responded, "I'm still on it."

But he currently isn't in the picture to start, which ultimately he'll need to be to be rewarded under his incentive-laden contract.

Clarett has fallen to fifth on the depth chart, with three and possibly four tailbacks likely to make the roster.

"I'm not really thinking about winning the job or anything," Clarett said. "I'm just worried about getting healthy right now."

Broncos assistant strength and conditioning coach Greg Saporta indicated Clarett's regimen during the 4 1/2 days Denver spent in Houston included about 3 1/2 hours of daily treatment and two half-hour cardiovascular conditioning sessions.

"He seems to be doing better," Saporta said. "He's begun some pool work. Groins are like hamstrings, a day-to-day thing. You don't know how long it'll be or how long it will take to get back on the field."

Clarett maintained the decision to stay in Denver wasn't really his and that he merely is following directions related to his rehabilitation.

This is his first groin problem.

"According to him, it doesn't feel a whole lot better than when we left," Shanahan said, adding the running back told head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos the injury "is still quite sore."

"We thought he might improve over a three- or four-day time frame with all the treatment and the work he's had," Shanahan said. "But it seems to be bothering him, so we'll just have to wait and see."

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