The Cleveland Browns won't have receiver Donte' Stallworth on the roster for the 2009 season.
It remains to be seen whether he'll be welcomed back to Cleveland in 2010.
"In terms of that, and in terms of that the future holds, there's really no decision that's been made," coach Eric Mangini said Thursday. "There's no timetable that's been set. As I said, we're going to focus on what we have to do here, the players that are here and that's really the direction we're headed."
Stallworth, who will be reinstated after Super Bowl XLIV, is under contract with the Browns through 2014.
As a result of the suspension, Stallworth loses a 2009 base salary of $745,000. He earned a $4.5 million roster bonus the day before the accident that claimed the life of Mario Reyes, and that resulted in Stallworth's one-year suspension.
Under the labor agreement, the Browns cannot recover the roster bonus.
In 2010, Stallworth is scheduled to earn a base salary of $1.5 million.
Mangini won't commit to Stallworth in 2010
Posted by Mike Florio on August 13, 2009 6:28 PM ET
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Damn $4.5M and he gets to sit on his ass for a year.
The Browns have no reason to let him go right now. There isn't a big anti-Stallworth faction out there that I can tell and from most of the comments here and elsewhere it seems most people feel for him and believe the penalty was fair. Plus with everyone aiming their hatred at Mike Vick right now, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot being sent Stallworth's way.
That's 5 straight stories that aren't Vick related, that's enough.
Please give us another Vick rumor. I'm consumed with them.
I may be mistaken but the NFL suspened him for the 2009 season BUT the judge sentenced him to TWO years of house arrest. Practice all you wany but that sounds like the 2010 season is out also.
@funinmaui -- the terms of the house arrest stipulate that he is allowed to leave his house for work-related activity. That would mean games, practices, team meetings, etc. That was the point of the court date his lawyer had just a couple days ago--to confirm that attending practices etc. would be considered "work related." The judge said yes.
So once he is reinstated, he would be able to do everything anyone else on the team was doing--except, of course, partying with the boys after work.
i thought it was an unpaid suspension.
but that begs the question whether the $4.5M STILL counts against the browns sal cap, paid or not.
Hopefully Mandummy will be gone by the time Stallworth comes back.
Stallworth won't ever be any good in 2010 and beyond.
How can anyone be down on Mangini? You must be a Squeeler fan trying to stir the pot.
We have an entire season to see how good he is. So far he 100 times better than Romeo. The players are buying in. There is discipline and focus at camp.
At least let the guy hang himself.