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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 19, 2009

Browns' Stallworth suspended by NFL


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Receiver Brandon Marshall, who skipped the Denver Broncos mandatory minicamp last weekend, gets fired up during his own youth camp in Aurora, Colo.

ANDY CROSS | Denver Post via AP

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Donte' Stallworth

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NEW YORK — Cleveland Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth was indefinitely suspended by the NFL yesterday for driving drunk and killing a pedestrian in Miami.

"The conduct reflected in your guilty plea resulted in the tragic loss of life and was inexcusable," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a letter to Stallworth.

"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 said.

Stallworth, who will not be paid during the suspension, pleaded guilty this month to a DUI manslaughter charge for striking Mario Reyes on March 14. He began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday and has reached a financial settlement with the family of the 59-year-old construction worker.

After jail, Stallworth must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation. The house arrest provisions would allow him to play.

Goodell said that, eventually, he would contact Stallworth's representatives before determining the length of the suspension.

The NFL Players Association said it would have no comment. Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said the team would comment later.

BRONCOS

MARSHALL HOLDS YOUTH CAMP

Holdout wide receiver Brandon Marshall has reported to camp — his own.

The Denver Broncos Pro Bowl receiver, who skipped the team's mandatory minicamp last weekend in a contract dispute, is holding a two-day youth football camp for 500 kids ages 7-18 at a high school in Aurora, Colo.

Marshall declined to answer questions about his status with the Broncos, other than to say he and his agent are communicating with the team. Earlier this week, his agent said team owner Pat Bowlen would try to accommodate his wishes. Marshall posted a farewell to Denver fans on his blog.

Marshall, who is recovering from hip surgery, is set to make $2.2 million next season.

BUCCANEERS

ROOKIE QB FREEMAN IN MIX

Two months after drafting Josh Freeman as their quarterback of the future, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not ruling out the prospect of him earning the starting job much sooner than expected.

Veterans Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich remain the frontrunners, however the team's first-round draft pick has been impressive during offseason workouts and this week's minicamp.

"I'm going to play the best guy," coach Raheem Morris said, looking forward to the start of training camp on Aug. 1. "I don't want to give anybody anything. I want that quarterback to take it. Then I want all of us to be able to say, 'That's our quarterback.' "

Freeman was the 17th player selected in the draft following a standout career at Kansas State.

STEELERS

THREE DRAFT PICKS SIGN

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed a trio of draft picks to three-year contracts.

The Steelers signed receiver Mike Wallace, defensive end Ra'Shon Harris and center A.Q. Shipley yesterday. Six of their nine picks from this year's draft are now under contract.

Wallace was a third-round pick out of Ole Miss. Harris was selected in the sixth round out of Oregon and Shipley in the seventh from Penn State.

OUTSIDE THE LINES

LEAF TO SURRENDER TODAY

Ryan Leaf's attorney says the former NFL quarterback is back in West Texas and plans to surrender today on burglary and drug-related charges.

Bill Kelly said he was in court all day yesterday and couldn't get Leaf processed to face one count of burglary and eight drug-related counts associated with the painkiller Hydrocodone.

Leaf was indicted in May in Canyon, Texas, where he coached quarterbacks at West Texas A&M. He was arrested Wednesday in Washington state while returning from Canada and told authorities he planned to fly to Texas that night after posting bond.