Earlier post:
Everyone else has a comment about Cleveland Browns receiver Donte Stallworth's 30-day prison sentence (plus community service, house arrest, etc.) for DUI manslaughter. In essence, here's mine: Please see yesterday's post.
Stories keep referring to how Stallworth is considered to be a "man" for actually stopping after he ran over the person, and allowing himself to be tested/arrested/charged. And that he really feels bad about all of this.
Please. If you or I got into our Bentley (not) at .126 or whatever alcohol level, then ran over some guy - jaywalking or not; our former life, livelihood, etc. etc. would be over right there. And no one would be patting us on the back for being a man about stopping the car. And, of course, most of us would have no celebrity's option to unleash our wallets, paying the victim's family (a lot), and possibly helping influence a lesser prison sentence.
It was an unfortunate accident, involving excess with alcohol. I believe that Donte Stallworth is very sorry and he has said so. But, if Eric Mangini and the Browns are serious about having quality individuals on the team going forward, he's cut, and soon. In other words: This is a test (of/for that approach).
That said: Donte Stallworth will likely be suspended from play for around eight games or so by the NFL commissioner. I think that Mr. Stallworth may then be brought back by the Browns, at least for the rest of the '09 season. This may be a financial (salary cap hit) decision. After 2009 all bets are off, but I wager that it still would be mainly a football and money decision.
The appropriate public "tut-tutting" about the "seriousness of the charges" has already begun by the Browns. But it's pro sports. It's a business...about trying to win. Serious and not-so-serious crimes happen all of the time with the wealthy
So, we'll see...
Note: Mr. Little, though acquitted of the more serious charges in a 2004 incident, has experienced further problems after 1998.
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