Tribune editorial staff

Monday's ruling by a federal appeals court barring former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett and other underclassmen from being drafted in this weekend's NFL draft is delaying the inevitable.

Clarett and others like him

should be allowed to play if they are physically able. Clarett, for example, is plenty big enough, fast enough and strong enough to play football in the NFL. In fact, he is bigger than most of the league's running backs and as fast or faster than many.

The NFL says players must be out of high school at least three years before they can join the big leagues. However, the NFL teams should have

the luxury of deciding whether or not they want to take a chance on a

player with little or no college football experience.

We hope the appeals court eventually sides with Clarett and others, such as Southern California sophomore wide receiver Mike Williams. Clarett and Williams both filed actions in court Monday. Clarett's attorney, Alan Milstein, filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking for a stay of a federal appeals court's decision preventing Clarett from being in the draft. Williams, meanwhile, filed his own lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan on Monday, saying the NFL had issued conflicting statements about eligibility for the draft, causing him to sacrifice his college career.

Players such as Clarett and Williams are exceptions. They are physically ready to play professional football, no matter what NFL officials say.

We are a bit concerned, however, changing the three-years-out-of-high-school rule could lead to many high school athletes thinking they are ready for the NFL when, in fact, they are not. Too many will look at the NBA and the success of athletes such as LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal, who all went straight from high school to the pros.

NFL officials are correct when they say professional football is much more physical than basketball and, therefore, the success of a younger athlete would not be as likely.

However, when a football player is obviously ready for the pros, he should not be denied the right to play.