Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

Donte' Stallworth returns to the field

Posted by Mike Florio on August 13, 2010 8:25 AM ET
On Thursday night, Ravens receiver Donte' Stallworth played in an NFL game for the first time since the March 2009 accident that changed his life -- and ended the life of Mario Reyes, a 59-year-old Miami resident.

Stallworth caught one pass for 26 yards against the Panthers, and he's expected to make the Baltimore team and play an important role in the rotation.

A recent article from Les Carpenter of Yahoo! Sports suggests that Stallworth's return could have come a lot sooner, but for his decision to take full responsibility for the accident. Per Carpenter, Stallworth "ordered" his lawyers to accept a plea deal to felony DUI manslaughter despite evidence that easily created reasonable doubt as to whether Stallworth's legal intoxication actually "caused" Reyes' death. Put simply, Reyes was out of the crosswalk on a busy highway, and it's entirely possible that Stallworth would have struck and killed Reyes even if Stallworth had never consumed a drop of alcohol in his life.

Carpenter's article also hints at other unreleased evidence that would have helped Stallworth's case. Per Carpenter, Stallworth refused to permit the lawyers to do it.

But Stallworth didn't want Reyes' family to relive the incident in court. "He could have taken 15 different approaches," Stallworth friend Steve Boucher said. "He could have had people persuade him to take a more aggressive [defensive] position. He wouldn't do that. He took responsibility.

"His biggest concern was for the gentleman's daughter. He wanted [Reyes'] family to know he was remorseful."

Carpenter reports that Stallworth's lawyers repeatedly "shouted" at the 2002 first-round pick to fight the case.

The irony," lawyer David Cornwell told Carpenter, "is that a lot of the media and public was angry with the deal that he took. And the thing they wanted, for him to go to trial, was the thing he was trying to avoid for the family."

The anger came not from the deal itself, but from the apparent wrist slap Stallworth received; a brief jail term and a year of low-grade house arrest. But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ignored the lenient sentence and the evidence that pointed to a possible acquittal and focused on the end result -- a guilty plea to felony DUI manslaughter.

For that, Stallworth missed a full year of football.

But he's now free to play, and Stallworth shared with Carpenter the message that he's conveying to "anyone who will listen."

"Any little decision you make will have a subsequent reaction," Stallworth said. "Be cognizant of your decisions."

For Stallworth, two key decisions have shaped the past two years. The decision to drive drunk, and the decision to take full responsibility for a consequence that his drunk driving may not have actually caused.




(from ProFootballTalk)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
I have to be honest. I don't know if I would have had that kind of integrity if my lawyer was telling me I had alternatives.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Pack93z
14 years ago
While one still can't condone or in any shape justify his decision that night.. one has to somewhat applaud his actions in accepting responsibility and taking some compassion for the family of the man taken.

While I am sure there is more to this story.. but on the surface this seems refreshing to me that a guy that had the means to fight the system, took a different path and accepted responsibility for his actions.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/ 

Donte' Stallworth returns to the field
Posted by Mike Florio on August 13, 2010 8:25 AM ET
NFL_stallworth.jpgOn Thursday night, Ravens receiver Donte' Stallworth played in an NFL game for the first time since the March 2009 accident that changed his life -- and ended the life of Mario Reyes, a 59-year-old Miami resident.

Stallworth caught one pass for 26 yards against the Panthers, and he's expected to make the Baltimore team and play an important role in the rotation.

A recent article from Les Carpenter of Yahoo! Sports suggests that Stallworth's return could have come a lot sooner, but for his decision to take full responsibility for the accident. Per Carpenter , Stallworth "ordered" his lawyers to accept a plea deal to felony DUI manslaughter despite evidence that easily created reasonable doubt as to whether Stallworth's legal intoxication actually "caused" Reyes' death. Put simply, Reyes was out of the crosswalk on a busy highway, and it's entirely possible that Stallworth would have struck and killed Reyes even if Stallworth had never consumed a drop of alcohol in his life.

Carpenter's article also hints at other unreleased evidence that would have helped Stallworth's case. Per Carpenter, Stallworth refused to permit the lawyers to do it.

But Stallworth didn't want Reyes' family to relive the incident in court. "He could have taken 15 different approaches," Stallworth friend Steve Boucher said. "He could have had people persuade him to take a more aggressive [defensive] position. He wouldn't do that. He took responsibility.

"His biggest concern was for the gentleman's daughter. He wanted [Reyes'] family to know he was remorseful."

Carpenter reports that Stallworth's lawyers repeatedly "shouted" at the 2002 first-round pick to fight the case.

The irony," lawyer David Cornwell told Carpenter, "is that a lot of the media and public was angry with the deal that he took. And the thing they wanted, for him to go to trial, was the thing he was trying to avoid for the family."

The anger came not from the deal itself, but from the apparent wrist slap Stallworth received; a brief jail term and a year of low-grade house arrest. But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ignored the lenient sentence and the evidence that pointed to a possible acquittal and focused on the end result -- a guilty plea to felony DUI manslaughter.

For that, Stallworth missed a full year of football.

But he's now free to play, and Stallworth shared with Carpenter the message that he's conveying to "anyone who will listen."

"Any little decision you make will have a subsequent reaction," Stallworth said. "Be cognizant of your decisions."

For Stallworth, two key decisions have shaped the past two years. The decision to drive drunk, and the decision to take full responsibility for a consequence that his drunk driving may not have actually caused.


"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Packers_Finland
14 years ago
You seriously missed the other thread named Donte Stallworth, posted by Wade, containing the exact same article, and comments toward Donte?

http://www.packershome.com/ForumsPro/viewtopic/t=9569.html 

Edit: Added link
This is a placeholder
Pack93z
14 years ago
Yep... apparently so.. I am human. šŸ˜‰
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Wade
  • Wade
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
S'ok. At least you got the accent in his first name, which I forgot.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
Formo
14 years ago
This is good.
UserPostedImage
Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!
Zero2Cool
14 years ago

I have to be honest. I don't know if I would have had that kind of integrity if my lawyer was telling me I had alternatives.

"Wade" wrote:



Reading that article, I gained more respect for Donte.
UserPostedImage
Zero2Cool
14 years ago
Shawn did this on purpose to get back at me for the Justin Harrell thread.
UserPostedImage
Pack93z
14 years ago
My evil little plot has been exposed. šŸ˜‰
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
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