Donte Stallworth

Donte Stallworth is a wide receiver in the National Football League for the Baltimore Ravens. Stallworth was suspended without pay for one season by the NFL on August 13, 2009. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/13/AR2009081303342.html

After being reinstated by the commissioner following Super Bowl XLIV, Stallworth signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens for the 2010 NFL Season.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4921333

On June 16, 2009, Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, 10 years probation and ordered to do 1,000 hours of community service.http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2009/06/16/stallworth.html?sid=101 Stallworth also reached an out-of-court settlement with the family of Mario Reyes, the pedestrian that was killed in the incident. The details of the settlement were not announced, however it contains a clause preventing the family from suing for wrongful death.http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11861749

Auto Accident

Stallworth, who hit a pedestrian in March of 2009, was cooperating and was detained by Miami police while toxicology tests were conducted.Miami Herald: Fatal wreck involving NFL player snarls traffic to the beach (March 14, 2009) According to unconfirmed reports, Stallworth's blood-alcohol level was slightly over the legal limit.CBS4.com: Report: Stallworth Over Legal Limit, Unconfirmed A police sketch later revealed that Reyes was not using a nearby crosswalk at the time he was hit.CBSSports.com: Police: Man Hit by Stallworth Wasn't in Crosswalk

Police allege that Stallworth struck and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes on the McArthur Causeway in Miami on the morning of March 14, 2009.ESPN: Stallworth involved in fatal accident (March 14, 2009) Stallworth was subsequently charged with felony DUI manslaughter on April 1, 2009. The charge carries a mandatory jail sentence, which could be as much as 15 years.WSVN (Miami): Criminal Charges Expected Against Stallworth for Fatal DUI He appeared in a Miami court the following day.ESPN.com: Stallworth Appears in Court in Miami

On April 3, 2009, news agencies reported that Donte Stallworth was already in the NFL's substance-abuse program before his DUI incident. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that he was in the substance-abuse program as far back as March 2007, before he had signed with the New England Patriots.

Football Career

Prior to playing in the NFL, Stallworth played college football with the Tennessee Volunteers, recording 1,747 yards and 13 touchdowns. He left college early and was selected 13th overall in the 2002 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints.Official Site of the Cleveland Browns: Donte Stallworth

Stallworth made his professional debut with the Saints in 2002, playing in 13 games, averaging 45.7 yards per game and scoring eight touchdowns. He continued with the Saints for an additional three seasons, playing in all 16 games in 2004 and 2005. Prior to the 2006 season, Stallworth was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played for one year and averaged a career-high 60.4 yards per game. In 2007, Stallworth went to the New England Patriots, then signed with the Browns as a free agent on March 1, 2008.NFL.com: Donte' Stallworth His contract with the Browns was for seven years and $35 million, which included $10 million in guaranteed money.http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story?id=09000d5d806fa085&template=with-video&confirm=true

On December 12, 2008, Stallworth was fined $5,000 for unnecessary roughness after hitting another player with his helmet during an interception.ESPN.com: Kevin Mawae, Donte Stallworth, Tommy Kelly Fined

On January 18, 2010 SI.com reported that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will most likely reinstate Stallworth, which will make him eligible to sign with any team for the 2010 season.http://www.realgmfootball.com/src_wiretap_archives/15505/20100118/goodell_likely_to_reinstate_stallworth/ The reinstatement takes place after the Super Bowl. Stallworth will return to the Browns. Reports say he will most likely be released from the team.http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/02/cleveland_browns_will_have_to.html The Browns subsequently released Stallworth on February 8, 2010 before the official reinstatement by Goodell.http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Cleveland-Browns-release-Donte-Stallworth-ahead-of-reinstatement-020810

The Baltimore Ravens signed Stallworth to a one year, $900,000 contract on February 19. After the signing Stallworth said, "I have a lot of people I am thankful for. I cant let any of these people down, including my family, Commissioner Goodell and the Ravens."http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bthesite/bs-bthesite-sports-vensel-stallworth0219,0,1484633.story<ref/>

Quotes

"''Now that I'm back playing, it's not in the back of my mind. 'It's something I deal with every day, waking up in the morning and going to sleep at night. It's a tough situation for everyone involved. .. If I could go back and take that night over, I would. ... I'm not a bad person. That's now how my mom raised me." - Donte Stallworthhttp://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/04/01/sports/AP-FBN-Ravens-Stallworth.html

"It's getting there. It's a process and luckily we have a little time. The season doesn't start until the end of July, really, with training camp, so I've got some time." - Donte Stallworth, on getting ready for the 2010 seasonhttp://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-donte_stallworth_off_to_fast_start_in_baltimore_html-2010522

Statistics By Season

2002: 13 games, 42 receptions, 594 yards, 8 touchdowns, 2 yards rushing
2003: 11 games, 25 receptions, 485 yards, 3 touchdowns, 3 yards rushing
2004: 16 games, 58 receptions, 767 yards, 5 touchdowns, 37 yards rushing
2005: 16 games, 70 receptions, 945 yards, 7 touchdowns, 2 yards rushing
2006: 12 games, 38 receptions, 725 yards, 12 touchdowns
2007: 16 games, 46 receptions, 697 yards, 3 touchdowns, 12 yards rushing
2008: 11 games, 17 receptions, 170 yards, 1 touchdown, -4 yards rushing
2009: Did not play (Suspension)