Wreckless
08-07-2009, 02:01 AM
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 6, 2009
The suspended Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth said he felt he had done “irreparable harm” to the family of the man he killed while driving drunk and was ready to accept whatever ruling N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell makes on his future.
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Stallworth, suspended indefinitely by the league for killing Mario Reyes while driving drunk in Miami, met with Goodell in New York on Wednesday about a possible reinstatement.
Stallworth was recently released from jail after serving 24 days for his D.U.I. conviction.
In a statement released Thursday, Stallworth apologized for his actions and vowed to conduct himself “in a manner that more accurately reflects who I am and meets the high standard expected of all N.F.L. players.”
“I recognize that there is a difference between the legal standard in my criminal case and the standard to which N.F.L. players are held,” Stallworth said. “It is clear that I exercised poor judgment and caused irreparable harm to Mario Reyes, his family, the N.F.L., its owners, coaches, employees and to my fellow players.”
Stallworth thanked Goodell for the opportunity to express his remorse and said he would accept whatever punishment Goodell handed down. The league has given no indication when Goodell will rule on Stallworth.
Around The League
PATRIOTS ACQUIRE BURGESS The Patriots obtained defensive end Derrick Burgess, a two-time Pro Bowler who was holding out in hopes of being traded, from the Raiders. The Patriots gave up undisclosed draft considerations for Burgess, who is coming off an injury-plagued season. The trade was announced on the ninth day of Burgess’s holdout.
TITANS TO WEAR MCNAIR DECAL The Titans will honor the slain former quarterback Steve McNair by wearing a No. 9 decal on their helmets this season, starting with this weekend’s Hall of Fame Game against the Buffalo Bills. The N.F.L. spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league found it appropriate to approve the 1.25-inch decal in memory of McNair, who was killed July 4. He played 11 seasons with the Titans and led the team to its only Super Bowl appearance.
HARASSING CALLS REPORTED The woman who has accused Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of raping her at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino where she worked told the authorities she has received many threatening and harassing phone calls. In a police report filed with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, the 31-year-old woman said she had received “well over 100” annoying messages since she filed a civil suit against Roethlisberger on July 17 in Washoe District Court in Reno.
NO COMMENT ON CRABTREE The San Francisco 49ers will not comment on an online report that their top draft choice, Michael Crabtree, is willing to hold out the entire season. ESPN.com quoted Crabtree’s cousin and adviser, David Wells, as saying that Crabtree was prepared to sit and re-enter the N.F.L. draft next year.
OTHER- AROUND THE LEAGUE Kansas City claimed quarterback Matt Gutierrez off waivers from New England. He will compete with Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen as the backups to Matt Cassel. ... Pittsburgh right guard Darnell Stapleton will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday and the team has no timetable set for his return. ... Cleveland guard Rex Hadnot was carted off the practice field after sustaining an injury to his left knee. ... The rookie safety William Moore, Atlanta’s second-round pick from Missouri, is expected to miss two to four weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
Published: August 6, 2009
The suspended Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth said he felt he had done “irreparable harm” to the family of the man he killed while driving drunk and was ready to accept whatever ruling N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell makes on his future.
Skip to next paragraph
Should Eli Manning be the highest paid player in the N.F.L.? Discuss this and all the training camp news on the Times’s pro football blog.
Go to The Fifth Down Blog »
Stallworth, suspended indefinitely by the league for killing Mario Reyes while driving drunk in Miami, met with Goodell in New York on Wednesday about a possible reinstatement.
Stallworth was recently released from jail after serving 24 days for his D.U.I. conviction.
In a statement released Thursday, Stallworth apologized for his actions and vowed to conduct himself “in a manner that more accurately reflects who I am and meets the high standard expected of all N.F.L. players.”
“I recognize that there is a difference between the legal standard in my criminal case and the standard to which N.F.L. players are held,” Stallworth said. “It is clear that I exercised poor judgment and caused irreparable harm to Mario Reyes, his family, the N.F.L., its owners, coaches, employees and to my fellow players.”
Stallworth thanked Goodell for the opportunity to express his remorse and said he would accept whatever punishment Goodell handed down. The league has given no indication when Goodell will rule on Stallworth.
Around The League
PATRIOTS ACQUIRE BURGESS The Patriots obtained defensive end Derrick Burgess, a two-time Pro Bowler who was holding out in hopes of being traded, from the Raiders. The Patriots gave up undisclosed draft considerations for Burgess, who is coming off an injury-plagued season. The trade was announced on the ninth day of Burgess’s holdout.
TITANS TO WEAR MCNAIR DECAL The Titans will honor the slain former quarterback Steve McNair by wearing a No. 9 decal on their helmets this season, starting with this weekend’s Hall of Fame Game against the Buffalo Bills. The N.F.L. spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league found it appropriate to approve the 1.25-inch decal in memory of McNair, who was killed July 4. He played 11 seasons with the Titans and led the team to its only Super Bowl appearance.
HARASSING CALLS REPORTED The woman who has accused Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of raping her at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino where she worked told the authorities she has received many threatening and harassing phone calls. In a police report filed with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, the 31-year-old woman said she had received “well over 100” annoying messages since she filed a civil suit against Roethlisberger on July 17 in Washoe District Court in Reno.
NO COMMENT ON CRABTREE The San Francisco 49ers will not comment on an online report that their top draft choice, Michael Crabtree, is willing to hold out the entire season. ESPN.com quoted Crabtree’s cousin and adviser, David Wells, as saying that Crabtree was prepared to sit and re-enter the N.F.L. draft next year.
OTHER- AROUND THE LEAGUE Kansas City claimed quarterback Matt Gutierrez off waivers from New England. He will compete with Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen as the backups to Matt Cassel. ... Pittsburgh right guard Darnell Stapleton will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday and the team has no timetable set for his return. ... Cleveland guard Rex Hadnot was carted off the practice field after sustaining an injury to his left knee. ... The rookie safety William Moore, Atlanta’s second-round pick from Missouri, is expected to miss two to four weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.