The Warrenton native has faced his share of disappointments. And as he prepares for his final venture toward a potential career in the NFL, he knows the challenge may be more mental than physical. Clinger has watched several promising leads develop but none have landed him in the pros. "You've got to think pretty positive," said Clinger. "You can't just go asking people to let you back in. They have to find you." He will leave early this Saturday for what he calls his last attempt at an NFL career. In October of 2008, Clinger garnered interest from an Arena 2 Football team located in Spokane, Wash. At the time, he was helping coach the Warrenton football team. After looking deeper into the program, Clinger decided to take the Shock's offer of a spot on the offensive line. "They said 'we're ready to sign you. You don't have to do anything. Just show up,'" explained Clinger. Other teams, including the St. Charles-based River City Rage, had talked to him about signing, but the Shock appealed best to Clinger. "I've been contacted for a year-and-a-half by arena teams," said Clinger. "I usually just turned them down, because I never thought lineman made it out. But they showed me the proof that they had guys on practice squads in the NFL right now." The franchise's track record is also appealing. Spokane finished the 2008 regular season 15-1 and were the league champions in 2006. The Shock have lost just seven games in three years of existence. But Clinger most liked that Spokane has its own full-time arena. "Most teams have to share facilities," said Clinger. "But they have their own, which is a big advantage. They have their own staff there, which makes it a lot easier to work comfortably." He hopes a successful season in the AF2 league will result in renewed attention from NFL teams - or at least an invite to mini-camp. If AF2 doesn't work out, Clinger will begin looking at careers beyond football. "The best thing I've been told is to give yourself a timeline," said Clinger, sharing advice from others in his situation. "There's a lot of guys who keep trying and put off their professional careers outside of football until it was really late. I don't want to be that guy." There was a time when everything seemed it would fall into place - on more than one occasion. When Clinger graduated from the University of Missouri in 2007, his name made its way onto potential draft lists. Unfortunately, the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Clinger was rehabbing a should injury that made teams leery of taking a risk. When the final day of the draft concluded Clinger was still without a home. After four years on the front line for the Tigers, Clinger's football future was suddenly in jeopardy. Guys he had lined up with and even the man he protected -ðquarterback Brad Smith - had found their way on to NFL rosters. Clinger was just hoping to catch a break. He received a call from the New York Giants, who offered him a signing bonus as a free agent. But when Clinger arrived in New York, the franchise began to voice additional concern about his injury and waived him following a failed physical. By the time he could obtain updated medical results from LSU confirming his should had healed, teams had already filled their rosters. Joel settled back in at Warrenton, hit the weight room and began surveying his other options. Persisent to make it to the NFL, he pursued what appeared to be another promising lead. A developing All-American League was approaching its first-ever draft. But as players were preparing for mini-camp, they were informed that the league's investors were unable supply the necessary funds. The league folded. After committing three months of prep time to the venture, Clinger was again dealt disappointing news. In a system filled with NFL hopefuls, Clinger realizes its up to him to sell himself. And without any current film, that has presented a challenge. "I went to a Pro Day at Mizzou (last spring)," said Clinger. "They said 'you look good, your numbers are good, but you need film.' It's all numbers, and you've got to stand out in some way. They're already looking at the next year's crop out of college." He has been spending up to two hours a day in the weight room at Warrenton High School. Clinger's final few days in his hometown will be a blur, as he prepares for a season that starts in just two weeks. Joel is planning to attend Mizzou's Pro Day on Thursday to offer support to other NFL hopefuls. He says it will be somewhat of a family reunion for him, before he departs for a 17-game schedule at Spokane. The Shock begin their season against Arkansas on March 18.