WR Donte' Stallworth has been suspended for the 2009 season without pay by Commissioner Roger Goodel. Stallworth had been suspended indefinitely after pleading guilty to DUI manslaugher on March 15, and met with Goodell on Aug. 5. In a letter to Stallworth, Goodell said: "As you recognized both at and following the hearing, guilt or innocence as a matter of criminal law is not the same as a violation of NFL policies. Here, longstanding league policies make clear that discipline is warranted "if a player is convicted of or admits to a violation of the law...relating to the use of alcohol." The degree of discipline may take into account "aggravating circumstances, including but not limited to felonious conduct or felonious injury or death of third parties..." All of those factors are present here. There is no question that your actions had tragic consequences to an innocent man and his family, and that you have violated both the Substances of Abuse and Personal Conduct Policies. In that respect, you are clearly guilty of conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the NFL." 81/3/2009

Stallworth will be allowed to leave home confinement to train with a strength and conditioning coach. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy on Tuesday modified the conditions of Stallworth's house arrest to allow him to go elsewhere to train five days a week.
08/11/2009