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By Bill Williamson

Denver Post Staff Writer

DenverPost.com

LenDale White is defending himself against ugly claims and an even uglier comparison.

 

The former Chatfield High School and Southern California star never thought his name would be mentioned with Maurice Clarett's as the NFL's April 29-30 draft approaches. Clarett, a flameout with the Broncos last year, was an infamous draft prospect, and White is hearing he's the next Clarett.

 

"I am not Maurice Clarett," White said upon his return to Denver, where he will attempt to rehabilitate his injured hamstring and bruised image in the next couple of weeks.

 

"I never violated team rules. I never robbed anyone," he said. "I just haven't run a 40-yard dash and I gained five pounds. That's all that has happened."

 

White's success story at USC seems to have been tarnished this offseason. Many league observers believe the running back's draft stock plummeted after USC's pro day April 2. White tweaked a hamstring while bench pressing at the beginning of a workout, which was attended by 150 NFL coaches, scouts and other personnel. He didn't take part in the remainder of the timing day, nor did he work out at the NFL combine in February.

 

White, who played at 252 pounds in the Rose Bowl national championship game against Texas, weighed 244 at USC's pro day. He was 238 at the combine.

 

White said he doesn't have a weight problem and never felt better in a game than he did against Texas.

 

He finished his 2005 season at USC, his junior year, with 197 carries for 1,302 yards - 6.6 yards per carry - and 24 touchdowns. He also had 14 receptions for 219 yards and two TDs.

 

Still, because of his weight and lack of 40-yard dash times, there is speculation White will not be a top pick.

 

"I'd be shocked if I'm not a first-round pick," White said. "Some people say top 10, some people say second round. It's just talk ... Nobody knows."

 

White said he is hurt by recent talk of him falling down the draft board because he is lazy and overweight.

 

"I don't know why anybody would want to tear down other human beings like that," White said. "I had one bad day because of my hamstring, and people try to tear you down."

 

White, who soon will see a specialist for his hamstring, said he is about 75 percent healed and won't have a problem heading into training camp. He plans to have a private workout for interested teams and said he will run the 40 and do every drill he was scheduled for at USC's pro day.

 

"I'm going to do it for myself," White said. "I want to show that I can run and I can perform when I'm healthy. I want to prove that for myself."

 

While White cringes when compared to Clarett, there's one similarity White wouldn't mind: being drafted by the Broncos. White said he has had limited contact with the Broncos, who have the No. 15 and No. 22 picks in the first round and are in the market for a running back.

 

"I think I'd fit in Denver great," White said. "The Broncos run a zone attack all day, and that's what I did at USC. Being in Denver would be great with me."

 

Footnote

 

Broncos punter and kickoff specialist Paul Ernster said he is healed from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his kicking knee. Ernster was injured during pregame warm-ups against Kansas City on Sept. 26. He has returned to punting and is participating in the team's offseason workouts.

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Wait...He hurt his hammy while benchpressing? I thought it was hurt already and he tweaked it some other way. Im not sure, but Ive never heard of anyone tweaking or pulling a hamstring while benching.

 

Ive read thats what happened, but I didnt know thats really what he was claiming.

 

This guy is a whack job...

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Honestly, I've got to take LenDale's side on this one. Assuming he eventually runs a 40-yard dash (before the draft) and it's not a bad one, he's done nothing to tarnish opinions of his ability.

 

If you liked the way he played at USC, then you like the way he played at 250+ pounds. And I'll say this -- White certainly didn't run like a 250-pound guy, except when he was running people over.

 

He's a very good power runner who would be deadly in Denver.

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Honestly, I've got to take LenDale's side on this one. Assuming he eventually runs a 40-yard dash (before the draft) and it's not a bad one, he's done nothing to tarnish opinions of his ability.

 

If you liked the way he played at USC, then you like the way he played at 250+ pounds. And I'll say this -- White certainly didn't run like a 250-pound guy, except when he was running people over.

 

He's a very good power runner who would be deadly in Denver.

 

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I think he could be very good anywhere he goes if he gets a decent OL. He was a power runner at USC, and I dont think him not running a 40yd dash would make any change on how he plays. But it WOULD change his draft predictions. If teams pass on him in the top 15, someone will get a steal of a RB if you ask me.. But hes still kinda whacky.

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"I never violated team rules. I never robbed anyone," he said. "I just haven't run a 40-yard dash and I gained five pounds. That's all that has happened."

 

This comparison is stupid. Media making a story where there isn't one.

 

Anyway, Scouts know what they see on tape. They know the guy can play. Since he has never run a 40 and tends to get injuries right before scheduled runs it just appears he is hiding something. If you ask me it's more of a power/control thing. "We want you to run, what we say goes. We will make things difficult for you until you do what we say...." :D

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Scouts, GM's, Coaches, Owners... they are all looking for any reason to bump someone up or de-value them before the draft so they put every scrap of information available on a guy under the microscope. It might not be fair, but White has done this to himself. He'll be drafted (not nearly as high as he would like) and if he works hard he could possibly do well in the league. So, in that repsect I think a comparison to Clarett is probably unfair... but you can't display yourself as out of shape, or as an injured whiner, and not expect some major consequences on the brink of your professional career.

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He's a very good power runner who would be deadly in Denver.

 

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...or Pittsburgh.

 

I'm hoping the negative press continues and he slips to #32

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This guy hasn't done anything to help his stock. I don't think the work ethic is there. He is just banking off the Rose Bowl game and the fact that he had more TD's then the No. 1 pick Reggie Bush. The guy has talent but his mind isn't there.

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This guy hasn't done anything to help his stock. I don't think the work ethic is there. He is just banking off the Rose Bowl game and the fact that he had more TD's then the No. 1 pick Reggie Bush. The guy has talent but his mind isn't there.

 

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Was that true while at USC or just after the season? f after the season I can see comparisons to Clarett.

 

He could use structure whereever he goes.

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Why won't he run a 40? Because he knows that in a footrace he can't beat anyone?

 

(simplistic statement of the day ahead) The NFL is tougher than the Pac-10. White won't be able to elude anyone or run over people like he did in college. He will be a stiff.

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Everyone that hates now. Remember your words. Because in the right system he could easily be 1,300 yrd 15-18 TD back. My not be this yr but in yr 2 and 3. We may be hearing the same thing if this draft was done again White would be a top 4 pick. Sometime workouts lie. Stats dont always. And some are just Game time player that are game breakers. Just look at Jared Allen DE went in the 5th round and producing. And of course Tom Brady.

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Everyone that hates now.  Remember your words.  Because in the right system he could easily be 1,300 yrd 15-18 TD back.  My not be this yr but in yr 2 and 3.  We may be hearing the same thing if this draft was done again White would be a top 4 pick.  Sometime workouts lie.  Stats dont always.  And some are just Game time player that are game breakers.  Just look at Jared Allen DE went in the 5th round and producing.  And of course Tom Brady.

 

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+1 I've got a good feeling about White in the NFL.

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he's done nothing to tarnish opinions of his ability.

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I don't think it's his ability that teams are worried about Swiss.

 

It's his head. He's definitely coming across as a bit of a Whack Job.

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Everyone that hates now.  Remember your words.  Because in the right system he could easily be 1,300 yrd 15-18 TD back.  My not be this yr but in yr 2 and 3.  We may be hearing the same thing if this draft was done again White would be a top 4 pick.  Sometime workouts lie.

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Work ethic is the real issue. He had weeks to get ready for the USC pro-day and was about 8 lbs. heavier than in the championship game. He may need a system that enforces discipline.

 

If you can't work out to be a highly paid millionaire something is wrong.

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If my hammy was only 75% healed, there is no way I'd run the 40 before the draft.

 

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But why has he never run the 40 before either? Seems to me he is slow, knows he's slow and has let his college production speak for itself. Well, we all know the NFL is a faster game, and thats why the combine and campus workouts are so improtant. College production doesn't guarantee NFL success - ask Andre Ware, David Klingler, Kelly Washington, Ron Dayne, Anthony Thompson, or Maurice Clarett.

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I agree. If he's was going full tilt benching, I can see how he can re-injure an already pulled hammy.

 

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If Reggie Bush kicked my ass lifting I may say I had an injured hamstring too.

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It might not be fair, but White has done this to himself.  He'll be drafted (not nearly as high as he would like) and if he works hard he could possibly do well in the league.  So, in that repsect I think a comparison to Clarett is probably unfair... but you can't display yourself as out of shape, or as an injured whiner, and not expect some major consequences on the brink of your professional career.

 

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It is a weird time to get lazy ... he may not be getting the best advice from those around him. Still, all the crap that Clarett got involved in makes the comparison unfair -- Clarett got this kind of lazy, tooo, but his idiocy went much farther.

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