Cleveland wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth was sentenced to 30 days for DUI manslaughter on Tuesday after an agreement was reached between Stallworth and the victim’s family.
It is possible that Stallworth will be able to play in the NFL this football betting season although no one knows yet how much of a suspension NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will levy against Stallworth. Goodell is expected to rule before football odds are on the board and before training camp begins next month.The Browns, who are considered football betting longshots this season, are well aware of Stallworth’s situation. ”The Browns are very conscious of the seriousness of the charges to which Donte’ Stallworth pleaded guilty to today,” Browns General Manager George Kokinis said. ”We are continuing to evaluate the situation and will make the decisions that we believe are in the best interest of the Cleveland Browns.”
Stallworth was convicted of driving drunk when he hit pedestrian Mario Reyes although it was reported though that Reyes was not in the crosswalk. Stallworth was cooperative from the beginning and remorseful. He and his attorney worked out a deal with the State Attorney’s Office and the victim’s family. Stallworth will serve 23 or 24 days in jail and then basically be on probation for the next 10 years. He also loses his drivers license forever and must perform 1,000 hours of community service.
Some people believe that Stallworth got off easy but state attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle wanted to set the record straight. ”We have looked at the unique facts involved with this charge, Mr. Stallworth’s excellent pre-incident history of community service, abundant references that attest to his good character, his lack of any traffic violations or criminal convictions, his full and complete post-incident cooperation with law enforcement and his willingness to accept complete responsibility for his actions,” Rundle said.
”The terms of the plea have been agreed upon between the State Attorney’s Office and the police, and has been extended with the full endorsement and consent of the Reyes family, who believe this plea and its timing are in the best interest of their 15-year-old daughter, the sole remaining child of Mario Reyes. Although no sentence can ever restore Mr. Reyes to his family, the provisions of this plea will provide closure to them and appropriate punishment for Mr. Stallworth’s conduct and the effects of his actions that night.”
The Cleveland Browns, who are 60-1 in football odds at the sportsbook to win the Super Bowl, really won’t be greatly affected in football betting with or without Stallworth this season. The Browns are considered football betting longshots at the sports book even in their own division this season.