We’ve obtained a copy of the full letter sent by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth. The letter points out that, on August 5, Stallworth met with Goodell for a hearing regarding the punishment to be imposed as a result of the player’s guilty plea to DUI manslaughter.
The August 5 hearing was attended by Stallworth and his “counsel, other friends and advisors, and representatives of the NFLPA.”
But the letter also mentions a private meeting that occurred earlier this week.
As we hear it, Stallworth returned to New York on Monday, August 10, to meet individually with Goodell. The trip occurred with Court approval, given that Stallworth remains on “community control.”
Goodell also discloses in his letter that the decision was based on a review of “audio and videotaped evidence,” which presumably is a reference to the 911 call following the accident and the video that inadvertently was captured by a nearby security camera.
The bottom line, however, remains that Stallworth opted to drive while more alcohol in his system than the law permits. And Goodell points out (as indicated in the publicly-released excerpts) that players have at their disposal the ability to obtain transportation if they’re inebriated, via the “Safe Ride” program.
Failure to take advantage of this avenue sealed Stallworth’s fate and, more dramatically, the fate of Mario Reyes.
“Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man,” Goodell wrote. “The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations.”
Moving forward, Stallworth will have the ability to appeal the ruling. The fact that the same person who made the decision will also determine the appeal shouldn’t cause Stallworth to get his hopes up.
I can never understand why these guys continue to drink and drive. I’m poor and I still take cabs. If I had all that cash, I’d have a limo take me everywhere (and not just when I was drunk).
Goodell should have sent a letter to the Reyes Family explaining why he can keep his animals under control. Any other average Joe would be sitting in jail for 10 years.
I can never understand why the person who rules and the person who hears appeals are the same.
Also, an appeal looks like an avoidance of responsibility (i.e. something Venus & Serena Williams and the sick aniaml scumbag thug Vick would do)–which also does NOT seem to be Stallworth’s m.o. throughout this ordeal.
you know, the thing that is upsetting in this whole thing, is that everybody is only pointing to the fact that a man died (while illegally crossing a highway, mind you) in this accident that probably would have happened whether Stallworth was over the limit or not…add that to the fact that Stallworth DID try to do the right thing (i.e. he DID take a cab home but had gone back in the early morning to get his vehicle a few hours later…assuming he had quit drinking). THAT is why he “got off” with a light sentence.
What he did was stupid, dangerous, illegal, and ultimately ended someone’s life. That being said lets not forget that Mr. Reyes contributed to the accident by running into the street at an area of the road that is not designated as a cross walk and at a time of day when the sun shines directly into drivers eyes. I am not attempting to take Stallworth’s side here, but I have read comments from previous posts that are calling for Donte’s head on a platter, and I ask those of you who are saying these things to take these facts into consideration when passing your judgements.
How many of the holier than thou commenters here have made the poor decision to get behind the wheel of your car when you have had a few drinks. I can say that back in my 20′s I made the same poor choice that Stallworth did, and I got lucky not to hurt anyone in doing so.
I agree with ‘bigtimesuperstar’ these guys should pay people to drive them around when they are drinking, but like I said above most of the people commenting on this site have driven while under the influence at least once in our lives, and like me most of us got lucky in not hurting ourselves or others.
1. bigtimesuperstar says: August 13, 2009 11:59 AM
I can never understand why these guys continue to drink and drive. I’m poor and I still take cabs. If I had all that cash, I’d have a limo take me everywhere (and not just when I was drunk).
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Amen, brother.
WeMissYouDan, your comment is only cool if you say it in the Hulk Hogan voice….
You have to love Goodell. “the stain” is right.
What Stallworth did was idiotic, stupid, etc. he should have never been on the road. Simple fact is that neither should have Mr. Reyes. If Stallworth isn’t on the road Mr. Reyes is still here. If Mr. Reyes isn’t on the road, Mr. Reyes is still here.
Big Stretch appears to have been stretched just a bit too far. First, he states how stupid Stallworth was, then he excuses that stupidity by finding fault in the victim. You do realize all rights to excuse driving drunk and high are forfeited when one sits behind the wheel.
Whether Mr. Reyes jaywalked or not had nothing to do with Donte’s decisions. A reasonable person would think an alert and sober driver would be in a better position to avoid a pedestrian. People can call for Donte’s head on a platter until the cows come home. They are not the law. He committed vehicular manslaughter and only received a slap on the wrist. How cruel! On top of that next year at this time he will be back in training camp. I
wonder where Mr. Reyes will be.
For the record, I have never been an alcohol drinker. That does not make me holier, it just makes me more fortunate.
Yes, Kidekk, if what you are saying is true, then Stallworth would have somehow made it to his destination without incident, or wreak havoc on a different victim(s).
If he did not cause harm, then he would continue to ignore the rules and we all would be none the wiser. He would continue to press his luck until he, possibly, crashes into your mother crossing the street. According to your logic, I am sure you will think she got what she deserved.
Blame the victim. Blame the victim.
Not to condone or carry Donte’s water, but a Google search of “drunk pedestrian + deaths” suggests a whole different way of looking at the same situation he is presently punished for.
Who tickets or breathalyzes a drunk, dead pedestrian who stumbled – or jaywalked – into the path of an oncoming vehicle?
Is it just possible Mr. Reyes is equally culpable for his own accidental death? You make the call.
Looks like the Commish got something in common with Dewey Asswhole, he choked on another big one!
Baseball First, how am I blaming the victim when they were both in the wrong? In the battle of human vs. car, car wins 100% of the time. It’s illegal to drive under the influence, and it’s illegal to jaywalk. Where did I say he got what he deserved? All I said was that he was also responsible for his own death. Or is Stallworth more wrong for being where he shouldn’t have legally been than Mr. Reyes who was also…..where he shouldn’t have been.
And given your logic, Mr. Reyes would have also continued to “ignore the rules,” and “press his luck” until he, possibly, met the same fate. Because, you know, he wouldn’t have learned from it and it would, possibly, be your mother who hits him. According to your logic, it would also be the fault of someone else, given that Mr. Reyes can’t possibly be held responsible for his actions. Or would you do the same thing? That is walk/run/hurry out into the middle of live traffic in order to catch your bus, knowing full well the danger, but willing, stupidly, to put your fate in the hands of others?
“What he did was stupid, dangerous, illegal, and ultimately ended someone’s life. That being said lets not forget that Mr. Reyes contributed to the accident by running into the street at an area of the road that is not designated as a cross walk and at a time of day when the sun shines directly into drivers eyes.”
If Stallworth had time to flash his headlights and honk his horn, he certainly had time to stomp on the brakes. Sounds like the sun in the eyes excuse doesn’t hold up very well.
On another tangent, the fact that Goodell is allowed to hear the appeal of the punished that he himself imposed is pure, unadulterated bullsh!t.
Thank you for thanking me for my commment.