Former Ohio State football star Maurice Clarett may have been in possession of firearms last week to protect himself against mob activity, ESPN reported.

ESPN learned Clarett was linked to Hai Waknine, an alleged member of an Israeli crime organization, The Jerusalem Group, after he left Ohio State. The former Buckeye reportedly met Waknine in the summer of 2004 and the convicted felon became Clarett's financial sponsor. Waknine gave the troubled football star money, a BMW, bodyguards and a beach home in Malibu, Calif., under the terms that he would be reimbursed and reportedly receive 60 percent of Clarett's rookie contract.

Clarett was unable to repay Waknine when he was cut from the Denver Broncos squad in 2005 and ESPN reported that the alleged mobster cut Clarett off financially.

Clarett's lawyer, Nick Mango, told ESPN he received a threatening postcard at his office that may have come from Waknine. Clarett's attorneys also received an anonymous phone call after Clarett's arrests last week, when he was allegedly wearing a bulletproof vest and in possession of four guns and a hatchet, alerting them to Clarett's ties with Waknine.

Mango told ESPN he thinks Clarett's debt to Waknine is related to the recent threats.

Waknine went on trial in June, when he pleaded guilty to a single racketeering charge, confessing that he threatened violence to extort money from several people. He is expected to receive a nine-year prison term at his sentencing Sept. 11.

Clarett is awaiting trial for robbing two people of a cell phone on New Year's Day. He was arrested again last week following a chase with police. Clarett was caught with four guns and police had to use pepper spray to subdue him.