Clarett Fails to Break 4.7

Maurice Clarett expected to blow away everyone with his workout in Indianapolis on Saturday at the NFL combine. Instead, he might have blown his chance to go early in the draft in April.

Clarett managed a 40-yard time above 4.7 seconds; because he was not among the five fastest, no official time was provided.

That’s not nearly fast enough for a first-day draft prospect.

“It was a rough one,� Clarett told NFL Network. “I’ve been working so long to get to this day, doing better at practice, and I kind of mess it up.�

Clarett challenged the league’s draft rules in court, winning early, then seeing an appellate court overturn the decision, making him ineligible for the 2004 draft. He sat out the 2003 season at Ohio State because of a suspension.

*

Pittsburgh Steeler running back Jerome Bettis agreed to another pay cut and will play for at least one more season.

This is the second consecutive season the NFL’s No. 5 career rusher has accepted a substantial pay cut.

He was to have made $4,484,000 next season but will play for about $1.5 million -- or about $500,000 more than his base salary last season.

*

All-Pro receiver Muhsin Muhammad agreed to a six-year contract with the Chicago Bears one day after being released by the Carolina Panthers.

The Bears will give him a $12-million signing bonus, which is guaranteed money.