MySports Today

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally reinstated Michael Vick to the NFL today.  Vick is allowed to participate in all pre-season workouts and practices, and he will be allowed to play in the final 2 games of the pre-season.  Goodell will not allow Vick to play in regular season games right off the bat, but he will reconsider activating Vick to a full reinstatement situation by Week 6 of the NFL regular season.  That means if Vick can find a team to take a shot on him, he could play in NFL regular season games as early as October 18th or 19th…

Pretty surprising news considering the hard line that Goodell has taked with respect to other NFL players who have gotten into trouble off the field.  The one difference with Vick is that he served serious jail time (18 months jail time and house arrest) for his involvement in running an interstate dog fighting ring.  Plaxico Burress and Donte Stallworth are 2 NFL players whom Goodell has indefinitely suspended for their actions off the field, and many believed that Goodell would continue Vick’s indefinite suspension even after personally meeting with Vick last week. But I guess things went well enough with Vick for Goodell to feel that Vick had served his debt to society.  If Vick joins with a squad soon, and stays out of trouble for the next few months, it looks like we might see Vick on the football field at some point during the 2009 NFL schedule.  Guess we will have to wait and see…

Several NFL sources have indicated that they expect NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to take harsh actions against Michael Vick and Plaxico Burress under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.  Goodell recently came down harsh on Donte Stallworth who had pled guilty to DUI manslaughter in the death of a Miami construction worker in March.  Stallworth recieved a 30-day jail sentence, 2 years house arrest and 8 years of probation, and Goodell extended that punishment by suspending Stallworth indefinitely.

League sources expect Goodell to indefinitely suspend each of Vick and Burress as well.

Vick is set to be released from federal confinement in mid-July.  Vick served 20 months in jail for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring.  Goodell has indicated that he wants to see Vick show remorse for his actions, and that might mean that Vick will need to stay out of trouble for some period of time before Goodell allows Vick to sign with a team.

Burress has yet to be indicted for his actions this past November.  Burress was charged with possessing and firing an unregistered gun in New York City.  His case has been postponed until mid-September and he refused to accept jail time while negotiating a plead deal with prosecutors.  While Goodell would probably rather see the criminal justice system take action against Burress before the NFL does, because of the slow pace of the proceedings, that will likely not be the case.  Expect Goodell to announce some punishment against Burress before he is able to report to any team’s mini camp for the 2009-2010 NFL season.

Stay tuned…

The NFL has suspended Donte Stallworth indefinitely.  It’s about time!  Stallworth pleaded guilty to vehicular DUI manslaughter in Miami earlier this week.  Stallworth was driving drunk when he killed a pedestrian back in March 2009. Stallworth was sentenced to 3-days in jail, 2 years house arrest and 8 years of probation.  He has a permanent lifetime ban on ever obtaining a driver’s license.  The house arrest agreement with prosecutors would have allowed him to resume his NFL playing career later this year, but Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Stallworth under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Goodell had this to say about Stallworth’s plea deal with Miami prosecutors in a letter to the player.  “The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable.  While the criminal justice system has determined the legal consequences of this incident, it is my responsibility as NFL commissioner to determine appropriate league discipline for your actions, which have caused irreparable harm to the victim and his family, your club, your fellow players and the NFL.”  Goodell has always taken a hardline with players who violate the NFL’s personal conduct policy.  League sources have suggested that Stallworth will not be allowed to play during the 2009-2010 NFL season, and that Goodell will re-visit Stallworth’s case at the beginning of 2010.  Assuming Stallworth stays out of trouble during the next 12 months or so, Goodell would then consider allowing Stallworth to play during the 2010-2011 NFL season.

It’s about time someone stepped up to the plate and issued a warranted punishment for Stallworth’s actions.

Donte Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI Manslaughter this week and began serving a 30-day jail sentence. Stallworth killed pedestrian Mario Reyes while driving drunk in his 2005 Bentley in Florida back in March 2009.  Stallworth had been drinking at a swanky Miami Beach hotel bar and was legally intoxicated (.126 blood-alcohol level) at the time of the driving incident.  Stallworth had this to say about the tragedy:  “I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy.  I will bear this burden for the rest of my life.”  Stallworth’s attorney had this to say: ” He acted like a man.  He remained at the scene.  He cooperated fully.”

Reyes had finished his shift at around 7:15am and was rushing to catch a bus home.  Reyes was not in a cross-walk when Stallworth hit Reyes.  Stallworth was driving approximately 50MPH in a 40MPH zone, he stopped immediately after the accident and told police that he had hit Reyes.  Prosecutor Katherine Fernandez Rundle said Stallworth’s cooperation with police, his willingness to accept responsibility and his previous lack of criminal record all contributed to the plea agreement with the state (Stallworth faced 15 years in prison).  Stallworth must honor a lifetime ban on holding a driver’s license and he will serve 2 years house arrest after the 30-day jail sentence is served.  In addition to that, Stallworth will be on 8-years of probation.

Stallworth should be able to resume his NFL career, although Commissioner Roger Goodell could take action against Stallworth under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

What is it with these damn NFL players?  Professional athletes always seem to think that they are above the law.  Now I know that Stallworth really seems contrite in his actions after the fact, but the fact is – he killed a man for driving drunk.  Getting a 30-day jail sentence when he could have served 15 years seems pretty light to me.  His actions and willingness to accept responsibility must have played a role in the sentencing, but come on.  I guess we’re willing to led drunk drivers get away with anything as a 1st-time offender.  Let’s just hope Stallworth gets help and stays out of the driver’s seat as required by his sentencing.