Donte’ Stallworth, the wide receiver for the Clevland Browns, is the latest example of the shiney and ,once thought, indestructible shield of sports immortality taking another hit to its reputation.
Last week, Stallworth was driving along the Miami Beach causeway and then struck and killed a pedestrian along the side of the road. It was learned through a blood test yesterday that Stallworth was considered legally drunk while driving his Bentley.
Is it any coincidence that the most popular sports league, with the most publicized, enforced and stringent disciplinary policy, has the most eggrecious acts of criminal misconduct? The alarming trend for the NFL is that each year the amount of criminal arrests has increased, ecspecially in the wake of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s heightened disciplinary policy for the players.
Michael Vick, world renound quaterback for the Atlanta Falcons and dog killer, was last seasons tragedy for the NFL with his federal conviciton of orchestrating a dog fighting ring. This years tragedy, seems to be Stallworth’s possible voluntary manslaughter charge which could bring up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Though the offseason is just beginning, lets hope for the NFL’s sake that this is the only tragedy the loyal fans of the league have to endure.
The question that needs to be asked, considering the increasing trends of criminal behavior by the players, is that if the commissioner’s current conduct policy is hitting the players where it really hurts and if it can be considered a true deterrent to these examples of blatant disregard for the criminal justice system.
Perhaps the commissioner will look at penalties that takes more money away from these players, perhaps he can take years instead of games away from these players, or perhaps he can get in front of this growing problem and institute better guidelines up front for the drafting of better quality and character guys for their prospective teams.
With the hard economic times forcing the NFL to sevre 150 plus jobs, several teams cutting 20 to 30 positions, the commissioner voluntarily taking a pay cut, and ad revenues dissapearing, it is no time for the NFL to panic and look the other way if big name stars get into hot water. The integrity of the game is more valuable and important than salvaging a few ratings and a few more ticket sales by keeping these players that break the law on the field.
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