Marinovich To Make A Comeback

Todd Marinovich, a 1991 first-round NFL draft pick with a troubled history, was cleared Friday by the league to pursue a comeback.

"He's very excited," said Leonard Shulman, Marinovich's lawyer. "He has been working towards this for the past six months."

Marinovich, 29, has not played in the NFL since 1992. He was cut by the Los Angeles Raiders at the end of the 1993 training camp.

After nearly a year off, the former Southern Cal quarterback resurfaced in 1994 to play in the CFL. He lasted three weeks before a serious knee injury required surgery.

Marinovich was sentenced to six months in jail in 1997 after pleading guilty to a felony charge of cultivating marijuana.

Although Marinovich was not technically suspended, Shulman said, the league established guidelines for his return, including enrolling in a rehabilitation program, counseling and intermittent drug testing, Shulman said.

"We were successful in demonstrating that through his probation (from the 1997 drug conviction) he was being tested regularly, and for the last 18 months he had been clean," Shulman said.

Although the league didn't specify terms for Marinovich's reinstatement, Shulman said he expected monthly, unscheduled drug testing to continue.

"We support that and Todd supports this also," the lawyer said. "We were not asking for reinstatement without condition."

Shulman said Marinovich threw during a recent workout with USC's seniors that was attended by several NFL scouts.

"At least six teams talked to us directly about their interest," Shulman said.

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