Donte' Stallworth
Encyclopedia
Donté Lamar Stallworth is an American football
wide receiver
is currently playing for the Washington Redskins
of the National Football League
. He was drafted
by the New Orleans Saints
in the first round (13th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Tennessee
.
Stallworth has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles
, New England Patriots
, Cleveland Browns
, and Baltimore Ravens
. He was suspended by the NFL for the 2009 season after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter charges in Florida
.
, California
. He attended Grant Union High School
in Sacramento, California
where he was a star in football and track and field. He was a high school teammate of former Minnesota Vikings
running back Onterrio Smith
, Seattle Seahawks
safety C. J. Wallace
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
wide receiver Paris Warren
.
at the University of Tennessee
for the Volunteers
, where his nickname was "Hands," as his teammates watched his ability to come up with seemingly impossible catches on a regular basis. Upon leaving for the NFL, his 1,747 reception yards ranked ninth in the school's all-time list. His 40-yard dash was a 4.29 and he majored in psychology.
in the first round (13th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
. He made his NFL debut versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 8. He caught eight touchdown passes in 2002
, his rookie year, but saw less action the next season. As a full time starter in 2004
, he had 767 receiving yards and five touchdowns. In 2005
, he recorded a career-high 70 receptions for 945 yards with seven touchdowns.
for linebacker Mark Simoneau
and a conditional fourth round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft
. In Stallworth's first game with the Eagles, less than two weeks after the trade, he caught six passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. Due to a nagging hamstring
injury, he missed three games early in the regular season
, but finished the year with 725 yards and five touchdowns. Hamstring injuries have been a persistent problem throughout his professional career.
In March 2007, The Philadelphia Inquirer
reported that Stallworth was in the league substance abuse program.
on a reported six-year deal worth $
30 million with $3.5 million guaranteed. The contract was incentive laden, meaning that the Patriots could release him if he underperformed for a small fraction of the full contract. On February 22, 2008, the Patriots declined the option on his contract and he became a free agent
.
. However, he had just 17 catches for 170 yards and one touchdown for the Browns in 2008 and then missed the entire 2009 season after being suspended by the NFL following his conviction on manslaughter charges. On February 8, 2010, after being reinstated by the NFL, the Browns terminated Stallworth's contract.
.
On August 28, 2010, Stallworth broke his foot in a preseason game against the New York Giants
. Head Coach John Harbaugh stated that this injury was not season-ending and Stallworth would be back after the Ravens' bye
week. Stallworth made his return to the active Ravens roster in October, but his highlight of the season came during a game against the Carolina Panthers
where he made his first catch as a wide receiver for the franchise during a regular season game.
On December 23, 2010, Stallworth was voted by his teammates and awarded the Ed Block Courage Award
for 2010. But his stats were grim. He had just two REC, 82 yards (67 yarder against the Pittsburgh Steelers), and seven rushes for 45 yards.
on July 29, 2011
On November 8, 2011, Stallworth was released by the Washington Redskins
and put on waivers.
On November 15, 2011 Stallworth re-signed with the Redskins after Wide Receiver Leonard Hankerson
and Defensive End Kedric Golston
were put on Injured Reserve.
in Miami Beach, Florida
. Stallworth was headed toward the beach when he hit Mario Reyes, 59. Police initially investigated the accident further to see if charges against Stallworth would be warranted.
Stallworth admitted to drinking the night prior to the accident. He had taken a taxi home from the bar and had gone to sleep. The next morning, he woke up and drove to get some food and had no idea he was still drunk. According to early reports Stallworth was legally drunk at the time of the accident; news sources reported that his blood alcohol content
was 0.12, over the nationwide legal limit of 0.08. Stallworth claims that he flashed his car's headlights to warn Reyes before striking him. A Miami Beach police report said Reyes was not in a crosswalk on the busy causeway when he was struck by the black 2005 Bentley Continental GT
driven by Stallworth. Police estimated Stallworth was driving about 50 mph in a 40 mph zone. The construction crane operator was trying to catch a bus home after finishing his shift around 7:15 a.m.
Stallworth was charged with DUI and second degree manslaughter
on April 1, 2009; he surrendered to police on April 2, 2009, and was released on $200,000 bail. He pled guilty, and received a sentence of 30 days in jail, plus 1,000 hours of community service
, 2 years of house arrest
, and 8 years probation. He has also received a life-time suspension of his Florida state driver's license.
On July 10, 2009, Stallworth was released from jail after serving 24 days of a 30-day sentence.
The Associated Press reported on June 16, 2009, that Stallworth and the Reyes family reached a financial agreement, avoiding a civil lawsuit. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed.
On August 13, 2009, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
stated that Stallworth would be suspended for the entire 2009 season without pay. Stallworth was reinstated after Super Bowl XLIV
.
A Yahoo! Sports story published August 12, 2010, reported that Stallworth's lawyers indicated he could have fought all charges with "an excellent chance of being found innocent," but that Stallworth chose to be convicted of a felony to do what he felt was morally right. The article later notes that David Cornwell, one of Stallworth's attorneys, felt there was irony in the reaction to Stallworth's decision because the public and media criticized the plea deal without knowing the full story.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
is currently playing for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the first round (13th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
.
Stallworth has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. He was suspended by the NFL for the 2009 season after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter charges in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Early years
Stallworth was born in SacramentoSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He attended Grant Union High School
Grant Union High School (Sacramento, California)
Grant Union High School is a public high school in Sacramento, California, United States.-Notable alumni:*Don Doll, American football player*Gene Filipski, American football player*David Kilson, American football player*Leron Lee, American football player...
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
where he was a star in football and track and field. He was a high school teammate of former Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
running back Onterrio Smith
Onterrio Smith
Onterrio Raymond Lloyd Smith is a former professional American football Running back who played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
safety C. J. Wallace
C. J. Wallace
Cecil James Wallace, Jr. is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
wide receiver Paris Warren
Paris Warren
Paris Jazz Warren is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
.
College career
Stallworth played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
for the Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
, where his nickname was "Hands," as his teammates watched his ability to come up with seemingly impossible catches on a regular basis. Upon leaving for the NFL, his 1,747 reception yards ranked ninth in the school's all-time list. His 40-yard dash was a 4.29 and he majored in psychology.
New Orleans Saints
Stallworth was selected by the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the first round (13th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. He made his NFL debut versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 8. He caught eight touchdown passes in 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
, his rookie year, but saw less action the next season. As a full time starter in 2004
2004 New Orleans Saints season
The 2004 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 38th as a member of the National Football League. They matched their previous season's output of 8–8, and the team finished the season on a four game winning streak.-Staff:-Schedule:-References:...
, he had 767 receiving yards and five touchdowns. In 2005
2005 New Orleans Saints season
The 2005 New Orleans Saints season began with the team trying to improve from their 8–8 record from 2004. The Saints played two preseason games in the Louisiana Superdome before being forced to evacuate New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina...
, he recorded a career-high 70 receptions for 945 yards with seven touchdowns.
Philadelphia Eagles
On August 28, 2006, Stallworth was traded to the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for linebacker Mark Simoneau
Mark Simoneau
Mark Lee Simoneau is a former American football linebacker who played for ten seasons in the National Football League. He played college football at Kansas State and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played for the Falcons from 2000–2002, before he was...
and a conditional fourth round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. In Stallworth's first game with the Eagles, less than two weeks after the trade, he caught six passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. Due to a nagging hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury, he missed three games early in the regular season
2006 Philadelphia Eagles season
The 2006 Philadelphia Eagles season ended in the Eagles finishing 10–6, reclaiming the NFC East, and winning a playoff game at home. The season ended in a Divisional Round playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, but was seen as a success in the face of the adversity of losing starting quarterback...
, but finished the year with 725 yards and five touchdowns. Hamstring injuries have been a persistent problem throughout his professional career.
In March 2007, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
reported that Stallworth was in the league substance abuse program.
New England Patriots
On March 11, 2007, Stallworth agreed to terms with the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on a reported six-year deal worth $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
30 million with $3.5 million guaranteed. The contract was incentive laden, meaning that the Patriots could release him if he underperformed for a small fraction of the full contract. On February 22, 2008, the Patriots declined the option on his contract and he became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
Cleveland Browns
On March 1, 2008, Stallworth signed a seven-year, $35 million deal with the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. However, he had just 17 catches for 170 yards and one touchdown for the Browns in 2008 and then missed the entire 2009 season after being suspended by the NFL following his conviction on manslaughter charges. On February 8, 2010, after being reinstated by the NFL, the Browns terminated Stallworth's contract.
Baltimore Ravens
On February 16, 2010, Stallworth signed a one-year, $900,000 deal with the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
.
On August 28, 2010, Stallworth broke his foot in a preseason game against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Head Coach John Harbaugh stated that this injury was not season-ending and Stallworth would be back after the Ravens' bye
Bye (sports)
A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
week. Stallworth made his return to the active Ravens roster in October, but his highlight of the season came during a game against the Carolina Panthers
2010 Carolina Panthers season
-Coaching staff:-Preseason:The Panthers preseason schedule was announced on March 31, 2010.-Regular season:-Week 1: at New York Giants:The Panthers began their season at New Meadowlands Stadium for an NFC duel with the New York Giants. In the first quarter, Carolina got the stadium's very first...
where he made his first catch as a wide receiver for the franchise during a regular season game.
On December 23, 2010, Stallworth was voted by his teammates and awarded the Ed Block Courage Award
Ed Block Courage Award
The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to selected players in the National Football League , who are voted by their teammates as role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Named in memory of Ed Block, a well-liked humanitarian and trainer for the Baltimore Colts, the...
for 2010. But his stats were grim. He had just two REC, 82 yards (67 yarder against the Pittsburgh Steelers), and seven rushes for 45 yards.
Washington Redskins
Stallworth signed a one-year deal with the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on July 29, 2011
On November 8, 2011, Stallworth was released by the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and put on waivers.
On November 15, 2011 Stallworth re-signed with the Redskins after Wide Receiver Leonard Hankerson
Leonard Hankerson
Leonard Hankerson is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Redskins with the 79th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.-Early years:...
and Defensive End Kedric Golston
Kedric Golston
Kedric Golston is an American football defensive end currently playing for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia.-Early life:Golston attended and played high school...
were put on Injured Reserve.
Manslaughter charges
On the morning of March 14, 2009, a 2005 Bentley coupé driven by Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian at the eastern end of the MacArthur CausewayMacArthur Causeway
The General Douglas MacArthur Causeway is a six-lane causeway which connects Downtown, Miami, Florida and South Beach, Miami Beach via Biscayne Bay....
in Miami Beach, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Stallworth was headed toward the beach when he hit Mario Reyes, 59. Police initially investigated the accident further to see if charges against Stallworth would be warranted.
Stallworth admitted to drinking the night prior to the accident. He had taken a taxi home from the bar and had gone to sleep. The next morning, he woke up and drove to get some food and had no idea he was still drunk. According to early reports Stallworth was legally drunk at the time of the accident; news sources reported that his blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes....
was 0.12, over the nationwide legal limit of 0.08. Stallworth claims that he flashed his car's headlights to warn Reyes before striking him. A Miami Beach police report said Reyes was not in a crosswalk on the busy causeway when he was struck by the black 2005 Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Continental GT
-Flying Spur:The four door Continental Flying Spur saloon was first displayed at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The Flying Spur utilizes most of the technical underpinnings of the Bentley Continental GT, and was introduced to European and North American markets in the summer of 2005...
driven by Stallworth. Police estimated Stallworth was driving about 50 mph in a 40 mph zone. The construction crane operator was trying to catch a bus home after finishing his shift around 7:15 a.m.
Stallworth was charged with DUI and second degree manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
on April 1, 2009; he surrendered to police on April 2, 2009, and was released on $200,000 bail. He pled guilty, and received a sentence of 30 days in jail, plus 1,000 hours of community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
, 2 years of house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
, and 8 years probation. He has also received a life-time suspension of his Florida state driver's license.
On July 10, 2009, Stallworth was released from jail after serving 24 days of a 30-day sentence.
The Associated Press reported on June 16, 2009, that Stallworth and the Reyes family reached a financial agreement, avoiding a civil lawsuit. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed.
On August 13, 2009, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
Roger Goodell
Roger S. Goodell is the Commissioner of the National Football League , having been chosen to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue on August 8, 2006. He was chosen over four finalists for the position, winning a close vote on the fifth ballot before being unanimously approved by acclamation of the...
stated that Stallworth would be suspended for the entire 2009 season without pay. Stallworth was reinstated after Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
.
A Yahoo! Sports story published August 12, 2010, reported that Stallworth's lawyers indicated he could have fought all charges with "an excellent chance of being found innocent," but that Stallworth chose to be convicted of a felony to do what he felt was morally right. The article later notes that David Cornwell, one of Stallworth's attorneys, felt there was irony in the reaction to Stallworth's decision because the public and media criticized the plea deal without knowing the full story.