Almost a "done deal" for Chase Clement?

May 28, 3:02 AMRice Owls ExaminerNate Griffin

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Anthony Vasser/Rice Sports Information

How much longer will Chase Clement have to wait before signing on the dotted line and becoming a professional football player? A day or so, a couple of days?

I realize that as a journalist, my job is to be objective and non-biased! But, I must also be honest and state the obvious---hard work deserves reward and it doesn't necessarily take a journalist to come to that conclusion. Let's face it---people who work hard and achieve through that hard work, deserve opportunities to succeed at the next level.

Clement is one such person who deserves an opportunity and will soon get it. But, in the meantime, waiting has been a challenge. "I can definitely say that it's been frustrating because so many scouts left "Pro Day" saying that I've gotta get a shot somewhere. And when something like that doesn't happen, you know immediately, you think gosh, what now---what next, what's going to happen?"

Clement continues. "At the same time there was a period there where I finally had to say---you know what? These are the cards I'm dealt. Something will develop---just gotta keep working hard and keep having faith that something will happen. So, I got to a point where I said, you know what? This is the way it is and it's gonna work out. So, I'm gonna stop worrying about it!"

There were other top quarterbacks in the country who went through the same agony on draft day as Clement which made the situation a little more palatable but still frustrating. For example Chase Daniel of Missouri and Graham Harrell of Texas Tech---neither were drafted. But, both were initially signed to free agent contracts shortly following the draft---Daniel, by the Washington Redskins and Harrell, by the Cleveland Browns. He worked out during the Browns mini-camp.

"Well there are other guys that are going through what I'm going through---that's just part of it. But, what makes that tougher is that each team---they've got their board of number 1, number 2, number 3 guys that they want. And when you have that many quarterbacks that are avalable for free agency---now if you're number 2 on three teams boards--- if there are that many quarterbacks out there, they, (NFL teams), all have their number one guy that they picked up in free agency---that makes it tough. So, while we were sitting there through the draft, my agent was saying let's hope that there are teams that have picked guys up because that will take them off the board for other teams in the later rounds and free agency." That logic should have opened a spot for Clement, but did not. Seemingly, a perfect opportunity would have been with the New Orleans Saints.

"That was a team we talked to and they, (his agents), really liked and they, (Saints), wanted to bring me in. But numbers wise, they just couldn't make it happen. Because I was hoping to get a tryout down there and it just didn't work out and I don't know why. But, I thought I was going to have an opportunity to go down there and, at least, try out. But, it just didn't happen. But, yes, certainly that's a team you look at and say well---that would be a perfect fit. But, teams have certain directions that they want to take and I just wasn't part of it---at least, not right now any way."

Clement had the interest of other NFL teams as well. "Tennessee was the biggest one. There were some things that went on there that I wanted to get into. That was a team that I thought I was going to go to and it just didn't work out. Then I talked to Coach Kubiak and the Texans quite a bit---got a lot of good feedback from them. But, same type deal. They just said "we just don't want to bring in a fourth guy because we're just so loaded and everything." 

Say what you want. But, Clement knows part of the reason why NFL teams hesitated to take him. Teams have told him that he has the ability and everything that he needs to play in the league. But, it always goes back to that one thing that NFL teams want to see in an NFL quarterback---height. "People will say---oh---he's 6 feet and this and that---I think that's just a bad excuse. That might just be an easy way to kinda say that's why we're not taking you."

Ok...let's point to five former and current NFL quarterbacks slightly above or below 6 feet tall---Drew Brees/Saints---Doug Flutie/ESPN---Jeff Garcia/Raiders---Seneca WallaceSeahawks, and Hall of Famer, Fran Tarkenton/retired. Four have gone on to have successful careers in the NFL, while three are still playing.

There are some NFL and CFL teams that could care less about height. In the case of Chase Clement, it just happens to be a CFL team north of the border---the 15-time Grey Cup Champion, Hamilton Tiger Cats. "The good thing about that is they've shown a lot of interest and they obviously like me---for them to come and get my rights. So, in saying that, that's a good thing in knowing that a team out there does want you. So, now it's a matter of following through with that---if that happens to be the road to take." I posed the question to Chase. Is it safe to ask if you might be playing "north of the border next season"? His response---"absolutely!"

I've listed names of a few quarterbacks who have played "north of the border" and have done quite well. Maybe, you've heard of them---Warren Moon, the ONLY player to be enshrined by both the CFL Hall of Fame and the NFL Hall of Fame---Doug Flutie, 1984 Heisman Trophy Winner, College Football Hall of Fame, 3 Grey Cups, MVP in all three---Jeff Garcia, 4-time CFL All-Star and 4-time NFL Pro Bowl selection.

That's pretty good company in which Chase Clement could find himself---real soon---maybe, in a day or two!

Chase working out for the scouts at Rice Pro Day/Courtesy Karren Warren