PatsWin2002
08-18-2005, 03:10 PM
http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=334&storyID=4464
As Camp Wraps, Clarett Returns
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The end of training camp marked a beginning for Maurice Clarett -- at least in terms of his recovery from a lingering groin injury.
The rookie running back practiced for the first time in 10 days Thursday morning, occasionally getting some carries against the Broncos' No. 1 defense and absorbing a shot from safety Nick Ferguson over the course of his morning.
<img align="right" hspace= "5" vspace="5" src="http://www.denverbroncos.com/resources/custom/Images/Top%20Stories/2005/clarett_maurice_050818.jpg">
Clarett's return came one day after Head Coach Mike Shanahan told reporters at his post-practice press conference that "if you're not practicing, then obviously it doesn't help your chances," in what was part of a response to a question about Clarett's shot of making the 53-man roster.
But those words had nothing to do with Clarett's return, Shanahan emphasized.
"I wasn't trying to send him any message," Shanahan said. "He knows when he's healthy and can play. He's been getting treatment for the last seven or eight days. He practiced today, and looked fine. It didn't look like there was any setback."
Clarett declined comment after the practice, heading into the team's headquarters building while toting several shoulder pads, performing the traditional post-practice duty of a rookie.
"You can't make the club in the tub, that's what everybody says," wide receiver Rod Smith said. "We've got a lot of competition, man."
Cornerback Darrent Williams -- who said that he and Clarett "talk a lot" -- defended the running back.
"He knows there's a lot of pressure on him, but he hasn't been healthy," Williams said. "It's one of those things -- you've got an injury, you don't want to be hurt, but it's a thing you've got to get through. We put him on the field too early, he's not going to have any production for us, so it's not any use to put him out there right now, but when he gets healthy, I think he'll get rolling."
But Smith believes that in order to do so, the young players -- Clarett included -- must learn to play hurt, and to seek treatment when needed.
"I tell the young guys all the time -- because sometimes they don't have time to go and get treatment or they don't have time to do the little extra things to try and get their bodies where it needs to be -- and I say, 'You know what? That's your fault,'" Smith said. "The trainers can only treat you if you're there, and if you don't let them know things are happening, you're the one that's going to suffer in the end.
"It's a grind, that's what it is. That's kind of the thing that separates who's going to be on the team and who's not, who can come up and still make those plays when they're a little bit hurt. There's a difference between being hurt and injured. When you're injured that's another thing. Courtney Brown is injured. That's a totally different scenario.
"But if you have a tweak here and there -- it's been that way for me all camp, but at the same time I find a way to get going each and every morning to come out here and practice. Some of those guys are going to have to grow up quick with that because in this business they're not going to wait on you."
Williams concurred.
"You've got to fight through it," he said. "I'm nicked up too -- an ankle, a knee -- but I come out here every day and I don't even think about it when I'm on the field."
As for Clarett, Shanahan believes the weeks to come represent a re-start to camp for the rookie runner.
"Any time you're out of practice for as long as he's been -- eight or nine days -- it's almost like starting over," Shanahan said. "You've got to get your legs back, back in football shape. He missed a lot of reps, knowing what to do from an offensive standpoint. It takes some time. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and we can get a chance to evaluate him."
As Camp Wraps, Clarett Returns
By Andrew Mason
DenverBroncos.com
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The end of training camp marked a beginning for Maurice Clarett -- at least in terms of his recovery from a lingering groin injury.
The rookie running back practiced for the first time in 10 days Thursday morning, occasionally getting some carries against the Broncos' No. 1 defense and absorbing a shot from safety Nick Ferguson over the course of his morning.
<img align="right" hspace= "5" vspace="5" src="http://www.denverbroncos.com/resources/custom/Images/Top%20Stories/2005/clarett_maurice_050818.jpg">
Clarett's return came one day after Head Coach Mike Shanahan told reporters at his post-practice press conference that "if you're not practicing, then obviously it doesn't help your chances," in what was part of a response to a question about Clarett's shot of making the 53-man roster.
But those words had nothing to do with Clarett's return, Shanahan emphasized.
"I wasn't trying to send him any message," Shanahan said. "He knows when he's healthy and can play. He's been getting treatment for the last seven or eight days. He practiced today, and looked fine. It didn't look like there was any setback."
Clarett declined comment after the practice, heading into the team's headquarters building while toting several shoulder pads, performing the traditional post-practice duty of a rookie.
"You can't make the club in the tub, that's what everybody says," wide receiver Rod Smith said. "We've got a lot of competition, man."
Cornerback Darrent Williams -- who said that he and Clarett "talk a lot" -- defended the running back.
"He knows there's a lot of pressure on him, but he hasn't been healthy," Williams said. "It's one of those things -- you've got an injury, you don't want to be hurt, but it's a thing you've got to get through. We put him on the field too early, he's not going to have any production for us, so it's not any use to put him out there right now, but when he gets healthy, I think he'll get rolling."
But Smith believes that in order to do so, the young players -- Clarett included -- must learn to play hurt, and to seek treatment when needed.
"I tell the young guys all the time -- because sometimes they don't have time to go and get treatment or they don't have time to do the little extra things to try and get their bodies where it needs to be -- and I say, 'You know what? That's your fault,'" Smith said. "The trainers can only treat you if you're there, and if you don't let them know things are happening, you're the one that's going to suffer in the end.
"It's a grind, that's what it is. That's kind of the thing that separates who's going to be on the team and who's not, who can come up and still make those plays when they're a little bit hurt. There's a difference between being hurt and injured. When you're injured that's another thing. Courtney Brown is injured. That's a totally different scenario.
"But if you have a tweak here and there -- it's been that way for me all camp, but at the same time I find a way to get going each and every morning to come out here and practice. Some of those guys are going to have to grow up quick with that because in this business they're not going to wait on you."
Williams concurred.
"You've got to fight through it," he said. "I'm nicked up too -- an ankle, a knee -- but I come out here every day and I don't even think about it when I'm on the field."
As for Clarett, Shanahan believes the weeks to come represent a re-start to camp for the rookie runner.
"Any time you're out of practice for as long as he's been -- eight or nine days -- it's almost like starting over," Shanahan said. "You've got to get your legs back, back in football shape. He missed a lot of reps, knowing what to do from an offensive standpoint. It takes some time. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and we can get a chance to evaluate him."