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Does reputation, fame, and star power influence the NFL? You bet. Let’s look at the case of Terrell Owens, Eli Manning and Maurice Clarette. Each case is different, but is worth a look. In the end, fame, reputation and star power does influence decisions, even in the NFL.

Let’s start with Terrell Owens. Owens enters free agency, but his agent was a day late in turning in the paperwork. Owens still technically property of the San Francisco 49ers, so the Niners traded him to Baltimore for a high draft pick. Owens complains and wishes he was in Philadelphia.

He files for a case and eventually the NFL succumbs. In the end, Owens get his wish. Baltimore gets compensation for a rescinded trade. The 49ers gets a high draft pick and an aging wounded lineman named Brandon Whiting. 1-0 NFL Studs.

Eli Manning was poised to be the #1 pick of the 2004 NFL Draft. San Diego gets first pick and have expressed interest in Manning, since they desperately needed a QB. Eli didn’t want to play for San Diego, a team he and his family have said to be inferior and not committed to winning.

Charger fans must really hate the Mannings by now. He gets drafted by San Diego anyways. Manning pouts. The New York Giants picked a QB 3 picks later and swaps QBs with San Diego. Manning gets his wish to be in New York.

San Diego gets several high picks this year and next year for the trade with New York. 2-0 NFL Studs. The real winner is San Diego. If Manning does not pan out, it going to cost the New York Giants dearly since it looks like they mortgaged their future to get Manning.

Maurice Clarette. He wants to join the NFL as a underclassman. The NFL prohibits the drafting of underclassmen. Clarette goes to court in a landmark case to allow him to play. The lower and higher courts ruled in favor of the NFL.

The draft is over. Clarette was not drafted. In the meantime, he’s out of school and will probably never play for the NFL. He could always join the NFL as a walk on, but he wants better money since drafted players have better contracts. Tough luck! Hard lesson. Stay in school. Play the NFL game.

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