NFL - Stallworth suspended indefinitely

Eurosport - Fri, 19 Jun 07:58:00 2009

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has confirmed that Cleveland Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth has been suspended indefinitely following his guilty plea to manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth is shown in a Miami-Dade County courtroom - 0

Stallworth, 28, was sentenced on Tuesday to 30 days in jail for the car crash that killed a pedestrian on Miami Beach.

"The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable," Goodell wrote in a letter to Stallworth.

"While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL Commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL."

Tests showed Stallworth had a blood alcohol level of 0.126, well above Florida's legal limit of 0.08, when he hit and killed 59-year-old construction worker Mario Reyes on March 14, court documents said.

Stallworth had been drinking at a Miami Beach club before crashing his black Bentley into Reyes, who was walking across the MacArthur Causeway after his shift as a crane operator.

"There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league," wrote Goodell.

"Accordingly, I have decided to suspend you indefinitely, effective immediately."

Stallworth, a seven-year NFL veteran, signed a seven-year, $35 million deal with the Browns last year but played in only 11 games due to injuries.

His jail term will be followed by two years of house arrest and eight years' probation, and his driver's license has been suspended for life.

Stallworth was also ordered to pay $10,000 in fines and perform 1,000 hours of community service.

Reuters

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  1. goog riddance

    From , on Sat 11 Jul 9:05AM

  2. I would of thought 10 years in prison would of been­ fair.

    From malcolm t, on Sun 28 Jun 1:40AM

  3. A right decision I believe. Yep, the Browns are gonna­ suck even more than they usually do but he has no one­ to blame but himself. The 30 days in jail is nothing­ really when you consider that someone died because of­ his recklessness. The real punishment though: "His­ jail term will be followed by two years of house arrest­ and eight years' probation, and his driver's­ license has been suspended for life. Stallworth was­ also ordered to pay $10,000 in fines and perform 1,000­ hours of community service." - whilst quite steep­ will never satisfy the the family of the one lost. This­ is not real justice.

    From doug, on Sun 21 Jun 10:51PM

  4. Always been the case that if you want to kill some1­ & not get done for murder,hit them with a car,sad­ but true

    From METZ, on Sat 20 Jun 3:23PM

  5. Only 30 days! Is this the norm in america. “Don't­ drink and drive they say but if do and happen to kill­ an innocent bystander don't worry you’ll only go to­ jail for 30 days”. Soon people will only be given a­ fine for causing death on the road. Punishment for­ crime is getting more lenient by the day – I blame it­ on a society that always wants to shift responsibility­ on someone or something else. “We humans are animals­ they say, animals don’t have to be responsible”. May­ God help us.

    From Peter, on Fri 19 Jun 4:49PM

  6. Can't believe only 30 days in jail. Am I reading it­ right?

    From barry.singleton1, on Fri 19 Jun 3:51PM
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