[quote]NEW YORK — Cleveland Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth was suspended without pay for the season Thursday after pleading guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk. He cannot participate in any team activities until his reinstatement after the Super Bowl.
“Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to Stallworth released by the league. “The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations.”
Stallworth struck 59-year-old Mario Reyes on March 14 in Miami. He pleaded guilty June 16 to DUI manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and was suspended indefinitely by Goodell two days later.
“Regardless of the length of my suspension, I will carry the burden of Mr. Reyes’ death for the rest of my life,” Stallworth said in a statement. “I urge NFL fans not to judge NFL players or me based on my tragic lapse in judgment. I am a good person who did a bad thing. I will use the period of my suspension to reflect, fulfil my obligations, and use this experience to make a positive impact on the lives of those who look up to NFL players.”
Stallworth drew a 30-day jail sentence and reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the family of Reyes, who was leaving his crane operator job when he was struck.
Goodell said he didn’t take into account the sentence in determining Stallworth violated the league’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
Goodell held a hearing with Stallworth, his representatives and union officials Aug. 5. He also met privately with Stallworth on Monday at the 28-year-old player’s request.
“As you recognized both at and following the hearing, guilt or innocence as a matter of criminal law is not the same as a violation of NFL policies,” Goodell wrote.
Stallworth signed a US$35-million, seven-year contract in 2008. He earned a $4.5 million roster-signing bonus the night before the crash. He will lose the remaining $745,000 on his contract for 2009.
Browns coach Eric Mangini wouldn’t say whether he was open to bringing Stallworth back next season.
“In terms of that, in terms of what the future holds, there’s really no decision that’s been made, there’s no timetable that’s been set,” he said. “The focus is on what we have to do here, the players that are here and that’s really the direction we’re headed.”
This was Goodell’s second high-profile disciplinary decision in the last three weeks. On July 27, he conditionally reinstated Michael Vick after the quarterback served 18 months in prison for running a dogfighting ring.
Police said Stallworth had spent the night drinking at a Miami Beach club and had a blood-alcohol level of .126, above Florida’s .08 legal limit. Besides jail time, his sentence included two years of house arrest, eight years of probation and other restrictions.
Prosecutors have said surveillance video showed Reyes running across MacArthur Causeway and being hit by Stallworth’s 2005 Bentley. On a recorded 911 call, Stallworth said that Reyes “came out of nowhere.” A police report said Reyes was rushing to catch a bus home.
A college star at Tennessee, Stallworth has also played for the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints. His first year with Cleveland was marred by injuries. He hurt his leg in training camp, sidelining him for most of the season.
When the Browns signed Stallworth in 2008 they hoped he could be a complementary No. 2 receiver and take pressure off Braylon Edwards. But Stallworth never got going because of the injury and made only seven starts. Edwards spent the season dropping important passes and Cleveland finished 4-12.
Once it became apparent Stallworth could miss time, the Browns signed 12-year veteran David Patten and drafted Brian Robiskie and Mohammed Massaquoi in April to add depth at receiver.
“I can say that I respect the commissioner very much and I respect the process and I respect the decision,” Mangini said. “Our focus, mine and the team’s focus, is on the task at hand and getting ready for the season.” [/quote]
[url]http://www.winnipegsun.com/sports/football/2009/08/13/10454621.html[/url]
yay
Football sucks, who cares.
[highlight](User was banned for this post ("If you don't care don't post." - ventilated))[/highlight]
General celebrity jailtime. 30 days and pay a bunch of money to those you hurt and you'll be fine.
[QUOTE=Alde;16674424]Football sucks, who cares.[/QUOTE]
Do you have [img]http://d2k5.com/sa_emots/emot-downs.gif[/img] or are you begging for a ban?
Haha, answers my question, enjoy your ban.
[QUOTE=Alde;16674424]Football sucks, who cares.[/QUOTE]
u suck
[QUOTE=Alde;16674424]Football sucks, who cares.
[highlight](User was banned for this post ("If you don't care don't post." - ventilated))[/highlight][/QUOTE]
It beats baseball
He really should get more than that in my opinion. 30 days in jail and a year's suspension for drunk driving and killing a guy...if I did that...if anyone without his status did that, their life would be over. Makes me sick that just cause he's a football star he gets away with murder.
It's great that they focus on his suspension from one season of football, instead of the drunk driving, and killing an innocent pedestrian
[B]FOOTBALL STAR BANNED FOR ONE SEASON[/B]
- Oh, and he also killed a man.
I hate America.
Don't hate America, hate the morons who live in it.
Not all of us are ignorant idiots across the pond..
[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;16678663]I hate America.[/QUOTE]
ima troll luk at me xD!!!
[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;16678663]I hate America.[/QUOTE]
lol just cuz were bttr then u
[QUOTE=tacoriffik;16675894]It beats baseball[/QUOTE]
How does this man get a disagree?
Wow, 30 days of prison time? If it was just any other guy he would have spent years in jail.
[QUOTE=tacoriffik;16675894]It beats baseball[/QUOTE]
wat
get out
unlike football or rugby it atleast requires some degree of skill
[quote]DUI manslaughter[/quote]
I misread that as DIY manslaugher and I lol'd
You watch, he'll do the Celebrity Sorry move.
[B] I FOUND JESUS. I READ THE BIBLE. I LOVE GOD, HE TURNED MY LIFE AROUND. [/b].
Fuck dis shit. Only more evidence that celebs and the like really are above the law. Especially in the fuckin USA and UK, the law is a travesty.
30 days of prison? FUUUUUUUUCK YOOOOOUUUUUU!!!!!
[quote]Stallworth drew a 30-day jail sentence[/quote]
So you get a month in prison for manslaughter? Nice to know one person's life means so little.
this thread is not very friendly towards non-americans
the title (or AT LEAST the OP) should specify that "Donte Stallworth" is an "American Football"-player playing in the "NFL", so us non-americans know what this thread is about
football sucks.
[QUOTE=Mark Johnston;16695134]football sucks.[/QUOTE]
I too dislike "american football"
[QUOTE=HolyCrusade;16682676]Wow, 30 days of prison time? If it was just any other guy he would have spent years in jail.
wat
get out
unlike football or rugby it atleast requires some degree of skill[/QUOTE]
You obviously never played football in your life.
[QUOTE=Funcoot;16697298]You obviously never played football in your life.[/QUOTE]
Who cares about the damn sport, he drunk drove and killed a man and gets a light sentance. He should've been tried like any other person regardless of his social status.
[QUOTE=Moby-;16697407]Who cares about the damn sport, he drunk drove and killed a man and gets a light sentance. He should've been tried like any other person regardless of his social status.[/QUOTE]
Where did I say he shouldn't?
[QUOTE=Funcoot;16697298]You obviously never played football in your life.[/QUOTE]
Dear god, do you have access to my inner thoughts?
Do you have video cameras that watch my every move?
You clearly do not.
Because you're wrong.
Baseball and soccer are the only good sports. :smug:
[QUOTE=HolyCrusade;16698268]Dear god, do you have access to my inner thoughts?
Do you have video cameras that watch my every move?
You clearly do not.
Because you're wrong.[/QUOTE]
Then you sucked, got your ass kicked. So clearly if people can beat you in something, it must not take skill.
[QUOTE=Doriol;16698374]Baseball and soccer are the only good spots. :smug:[/QUOTE]
I only like soccor because of the chance people will get so bored and start a riot.
Soccer is incredibly fun to play. :colbert:
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