While the NFL proved Thursday that it can be a place for second chances, it also showed a chilly side for mercy-seekers who break the law. Michael Vick is now back in the league after 18 months in prison for his dogfighting transgressions. But Commissioner Roger Goodell issued strong words for Cleveland Browns’ wideout Donte Stallworth, who pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and served 24 days in jail for a drunken driving accident that left a 59-year-old Florida pedestrian dead. Goodell said the 28-year-old speedster broke the league’s substance-abuse and personal-conduct rules. “In that respect, you are clearly guilty of conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the NFL,” Goodell said. “Despite a repeated emphasis on the importance of avoiding driving under the influence of alcohol, you chose to drive under circumstances where you were legally impaired. Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man. The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations.” But Stallworth, whose blood-alcohol level was .126, much higher than the Florida state limit of .08, implored the public to forgive him. “I urge NFL fans not to judge NFL players or me based on my tragic lapse in judgment,” Stallworth said in a statement. “I am a good person who did a bad thing. I will use the period of my suspension to reflect, fulfill my obligations, and use this experience to make a positive impact on the lives of those who look up to NFL players.” He will forfeit his entire $745,000 salary this season.

Stallworth Had Pot in His System
Cleveland Browns wideout Donte Stallworth, now serving 30 days in jail for striking a man with his car and killing him in March, had marijuana in his system at the time of the accident, the athlete’s attorney acknowledged Tuesday. “Evidence leaked or released over the coming days and weeks will reflect exculpatory statements and acts by Donte’, the presence of marijuana in his blood, and it will highlight the critical issue of causation,” David Cornwell said in a statement, confirming a report in the the Miami Herald on Tuesday, based on anonymous sources, that Stallworth tested positive for marijuana. Hall of Famer Jim Brown had told a Miami radio station last month that marijuana was found in Stallworth’s system on the night he struck and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes. Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and is serving a 30-day sentence, with two years of house arrest to be served after that. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Stallworth indefinitely. “The NFL’s substance abuse policy addresses the specific discipline that may be imposed for use of illegal substances,” Cornwell said. “We are confident that Commissioner Goodell will respect existing league polices and consider all of the evidence when making his disciplinary assessment.”

Pistons Fire Mike Curry
Detroit Pistons Coach Michael Curry was fired Tuesday after just one season at the helm. The once-powerful Pistons wrapped up last season with a losing record and an embarrassing first-round exit from the playoffs. A year earlier, Joe Dumars, president of Basketball Operations for the Pistons, fired Flip Saunders, who led the team to the Eastern Conference finals in each of his three seasons.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth has struck a deal with prosecutors to limit his jail time for striking a pedestrian with his car in Miami in mid-March. Stallworth, 28, has agreed to plead guilty to DUI manslaughter for his role in the death of 59-year-old Mario Reyes. Stallworth, who was looking at a possible 15-year sentence, is expected to serve a short jail sentence, followed by a lengthy probation period, Terry Chavez, a spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office told The Associated Press. Stallworth had been drinking at a Miami bar before getting behind the wheel of his 2005 Bentley. “There is a plea agreement and it’s going to be presented to the judge,” Stallworth attorney Christopher Lyons said. Stallworth’s blood-alcohol level was gauged at .126 after the crash; Florida’s limit is .08. The plea agreement was made possible because Stallworth has cooperated with investigators and issued a statement shortly after the crash expressing sympathy for Reyes’ family. “He’s shown remorse and taken responsibility from day one,” Chavez said.  Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured much of the year.

The teammates of Browns receiver Donte Stallworth say that the image of their embattled compadre – a typical, spoiled, rich, partying athlete who has little regard for others or the law – is way off the mark, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. “Donte is the complete opposite of the image you may believe right now,” former Browns center LeCharles Bentley told the paper. He has known Stallworth since they were both rookies in New Orleans in 2002. He’s not the only one defending Stallworth, who accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian with his car one Miami morning in mid-March. “Of course, Donte made a poor choice, and you can never get back a life,” said Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. “No one knows that more than Donte. But people should know that Donte is a great person who made a terrible mistake, not a terrible person.” Stallworth’s friends say he is absolutely devastated over the death of pedestrian Mario Reyes, 59. Stallworth will be arraigned April 23 on charges of DUI manslaughter; he faces four to 15 years in prison if convicted. In addition, he could be suspended by the NFL for violating its conduct and substance-abuse policies. Stallworth had a blood-alcohol level of .126 – over the .08 legal limit in Florida, according to the toxicology report.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who struck a pedestrian with his car in Miami last month, was charged Wednesday with DUI manslaughter. Initially, no charges were filed as authorities awaited the results of his blood alcohol level. Stallworth’s blood-alcohol level was reportedly 0.126 percent; the state’s legal limit is 0.08 percent. The 28-year-old Stallworth could spend as much as 15 years in prison if convicted for the March 14 accident that killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes. Stallworth has said that he was “grief-stricken” over Reyes’ death. In 2008, Stallworth signed a seven-year contract with the Browns worth $35 million. Recognized as one of the league’s speedy receivers, Stallworth has played for New England, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Cleveland Browns wideout Donte Stallworth, who hit a pedestrian with his car earlier this month, is being investigated to determine whether alcohol played a role in the fatal accident. Stallworth has told Miami Police officers that the 59-year-old construction worker was rushing to catch a bus in the early morning hours of March 14 when he struck him with his Bentley. He had flashed his lights, but the incident occurred too fast for Stallworth to avoid hitting the man, the wide receiver said. But a report released by police on Tuesday refuted Stallworth’s account. The man was not in the crosswalk, the report says, citing comments from callers and an accident scene analysis. Stallworth was driving about 50 mph, 10 mph above the speed limit, and a police diagram shows that Reyes was hit in the far left lane of the six-lane MacArthur Causeway – not in a nearby crosswalk. The report says that Stallworth stopped a few feet away. No charges have been filed against Stallworth pending the outcome of blood tests to determine whether alcohol was a factor. Among the calls from people who dialed 911 that morning are a woman who said, “There’s a man laying in the middle of the road…He’s dead. He’s dead … He was just laying in the middle of the road. I think he’s dead.” Stallworth’s attorney said his client is cooperating with police. Stallworth, who was scheduled to receive a $4.75 million signing bonus the day before the accident, has said he is “grief-stricken” over the accident. He signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns before last season but was injured most of the year.

Cleveland Brown wide receiver Donte Stallworth was driving drunk when he struck a pedestrian with his car and killed him last weekend, according to a Miami television station and newspaper. Both WSVN-TV and the Miami Herald cited unnamed sources who say that Stallworth’s blood-alcohol level was .12 – .04 over the legal limit. Read the rest.