Cliff Harris: Going Down?

Blue Horseshoe may love Anacott Steel, but neither Bud Fox nor Gordon Gekko would touch the stock that is Cliff Harris. He’s gone from the “man,” to “no man’s land.” He came to “lock s*** down,” but nearly found himself locked up. And nearly a year-ago was thought by some to be a potential first-round draft pick, to now by those same people, to go undrafted. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

I’ll preface everything I’m about to say with the following disclaimer: I’m not a Cliff Harris fan. That’s not to say I root against him, rejoice in his various misdeeds, or wish him ill-will, but in spite of his propensity for an occasional big play I never bought the hype surrounding his performance on the field. Before and after his occasional interception or return for a touchdown, he’d frequently get beat in coverage, had a propensity for bonehead plays on Special Teams, and his two handfuls of indiscretions off-the-field made Steve Stiffler look responsible. Having said that: I’m in the minority.

Most Duck fans loved him, the vast majority of the media openly embraced his combination of highlights (On the field) and lowlights (Off the field), and many of “the league’s” talent evaluators gushed about his potential to make plays on the NFL level. He had the necessary instincts, the innate ability to perform in the spotlight, and the required ego to stand on an island, stare-down some of football’s elite talent and say, “not today, not on my watch.” But as it turns out, what he doesn’t have are the measurables needed to overcome a string of legal misdeeds, multiple team suspensions, and a tale of woe which culminated with him watching his ex-teammates, on his ex-team, led by his ex-coach win the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1917, from Section-25, Seat-Nowhere.

At last month’s NFL Combine, Cliff ran a 4.68 40-yard dash (5^th slowest amongst the 41 cornerback participants) and followed it up with similar times at the Pro Day in Eugene. Shortly following his workout, long-time NFL scout and current NFL Network contributor Gil Brandt – who was present at the aforementioned Pro Day – suggested that due to his subpar performances, coupled with his character issues, Harris may have worked his way completely out of April’s NFL Draft.

Hard to believe? Not really, history’s full of talented players who allowed the illusions created by those close to them and through a lifetime of entitlement to skew the realities of life, and subsequently derail a promising career. Names like Maurice Clarett, Ryan Leaf and Todd Marinovich come to mind. Not to mention Cade McNown, Lawrence Phillips and Tiki Barber. That’s right, Tiki Barber, the borderline hall-of-fame running back who left the NFL in his prime on the wings of a “can’t miss” career as a broadcaster, only to come crawling back to a league that didn’t want him, from the “can’t miss” career that wanted him less. Cliff Harris is not the first player who’s wasted the gifts life handed them for free, but he is our most recent example of such. And it’s not funny or good to see, but merely another product of an environment of our own doing.

Anyone who grew up playing sports, watched as a parent, or had their eyes open in high school or college is cognizant of the treatment exceptionally talented athletes receive. From the time they’re old enough to be singled-out, players the likes of Cliff Harris are not only told they’re “special,” but are treated accordingly. They’re privy to the exception rather than the rule, they’re led to believe they’re above the law, and coaches often put them above the “team” and likely others on it. As a result, they likely have little respect for the law, even less for authoritative figures, and often never learn the concept of “team.” It’s all about them, all the time.

Until it’s not…and that’s where Cliff finds himself now.

He came to Oregon as an All-American, but left prematurely as a victim of his own doing. He was afforded numerous opportunities to right his own wrongs, but zigged when he should’ve zagged at nearly every crossroads encountered during his tenure in Eugene.

Do I feel sorry for him? No, but I am saddened by anyone who has an opportunity to make life easier, but then fails to capitalize on said opportunity and only realizes such after it’s passed them by.

Cliff Harris was once projected as a first-round draft pick, but due to intellect rivaling Lloyd Christmas he now finds himself hoping for a mere opportunity. He went from a sure thing, to a long shot. A safe bet, to long odds. And a favorite, to an underdog.

Is he a can’t miss stock? Not anymore, but he is worth keeping an eye on. I wish him well, hope he at least gets a shot, and will be curious how his story ends. He’s still a young man, and like Bud Fox, young men make mistakes.