2009 NFL Off Season Thread

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Its pathetic. Wasn't Stallworth drunk at the time? Strong evidence suggests that Marvin Harrison shot a guy, he hasn't spent a second in jail as far as I know. OJ cuts his ex wifes head off, he walks free. If it wasn't for the fact that OJ's latest crime was caught on video, he probably would have walked again.

Stallworth won't be the only drunk driving murderer playing in the NFL next year. Disgusting stuff.

To be fair, the LA DA's office is fully responsible for letting OJ walk. The screwed up so much. They made it easy for Simpson's 'dream team'.

I'd like to see Stallworth banned for life. Won't happen.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I'd like to see Stallworth banned for life. Won't happen.

I figure that Vick should get the lightest ban from Goddell out of the three pending suspensions (Burress, Vick, Stallworth) with Stallworth getting the most severe.

I figure a 3 or 4-year ban for Stallworth would be as effective as a lifetime ban. Vick and Burress should each receive around a year (Burress for being a repeat loser and Vick for the massive amount of negative publicity he brought on the NFL and the Falcons). By not putting a lifetime ban on Stallworth, Goddell leaves himself wiggle room to impose a ban when something extreme is done by a player. But you're right, it won't happen.

It's sad when financing a dog-fighting ring and allegedly killing a couple dogs lands you harder time than killing an innocent person. Say what you want about Vick, but at least he had to pay the price for his actions.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Stallworth won't be the only drunk driving murderer playing in the NFL next year. Disgusting stuff.

Want to really get mad? Google "Leonard Little".

In football related news, Brandon Marshall has updated his blog (think it's like Bmarshall15.com, haven't looked, radio reported it) basically saying "peace out" to Denver. Can't blame this one on McDaniels, although I'm sure the McD haters will try to. Hopefully they can get a decent roster player or some picks for him. Hefty hit on the offensive side though.

[Clever_Iggy]

From BMarshall15:

To whom it may concern. Life is filled with change, and where I am in my life now change is probably best. It’s hard leaving an organization ran by one of the best owners in all of sports, and someone who’s been there for me through my ups and downs. The hardest thing was hearing Mr. B wish me luck in the future, but we both came to the conclusion that this is probably the best thing for me to grow on and off the field.

I thank the Denver fans who embraced my emotion and play on the field and showing me love every time I step outside my door.

[carom]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

I figure that Vick should get the lightest ban from Goddell out of the three pending suspensions (Burress, Vick, Stallworth) with Stallworth getting the most severe.

I disagree with you. I think that Stallworth will get the lightest punishment because unlike the other two he cooperated with authorities (for the most part) throughout his troubles while the other two did their best to deny, lie, and deceive the authorities and the NFL.

Personally I think they should all be blackballed from the NFL, but that would mean they would probably end up in the CFL.

Last night on the show E:60 they did a feature on Dwayne Goodrich. He is a former Cowboys player who killed 2 good Samaritans and seriously injured 2 other people with his car in a hit and run. He is currently serving 7 and 1/2 years in a texas medium security prison.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Want to really get mad? Google "Leonard Little".

In football related news, Brandon Marshall has updated his blog (think it's like Bmarshall15.com, haven't looked, radio reported it) basically saying "peace out" to Denver. Can't blame this one on McDaniels, although I'm sure the McD haters will try to. Hopefully they can get a decent roster player or some picks for him. Hefty hit on the offensive side though.

Yeah, Little is who I was referring to.

As for Marshall....I just don't get it.

[Pagal4321]

Wow, so much happens when you leave for 5 days. 1. Favre to the Vikings seems like a a formality now, and as a Vikings fan I'm still awfully disgusted. Sure, if he's 100% healthy he will make the team better (I think?!), but I hate him.....don't think that will ever change. Ugh. 2. Brandon Marshall....seriously? Just another case of a primadonna wide receiver that has all the football skill in the world but has nothing going on between his ears. Whether this is to be blamed on his agent or Marshall himself, this little power play of theirs isn't guaranteed to work, and I would laugh for days if the Broncos just decide to sit on his contract. 3. Dante Stallworth.....the leniency given to these athletes is getting disgusted. What Stallworth (and Little) have done is about 100 times worse, in my opinion, than what Vick did. People have been killed, and he's getting 30 days in jail? I hope Goddell throws the book at him.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

I figure that Vick should get the lightest ban from Goddell out of the three pending suspensions (Burress, Vick, Stallworth) with Stallworth getting the most severe.

I figure a 3 or 4-year ban for Stallworth would be as effective as a lifetime ban. Vick and Burress should each receive around a year (Burress for being a repeat loser and Vick for the massive amount of negative publicity he brought on the NFL and the Falcons). By not putting a lifetime ban on Stallworth, Goddell leaves himself wiggle room to impose a ban when something extreme is done by a player. But you're right, it won't happen.

It's sad when financing a dog-fighting ring and allegedly killing a couple dogs lands you harder time than killing an innocent person. Say what you want about Vick, but at least he had to pay the price for his actions.

I think the major difference you're glossing over between Vick and Burress/Stallworth is the thought that went into committing their respective crimes. While both Burress and Stallworth made incredibly stupid decisions that were extremely dangerous, and in Stallworth's case cost a man his life, they were not intentional acts. That doesn't mean they should go unpunished, but you and I both know that reckless acts are far different than intentional acts.

Vick was a systematic criminal, he not only participated in an illegal activity he essentially bank rolled and managed a criminal organization. While the consequences of his actions didn't involve a threat to human life, he demonstrated a conscious intent to commit repeated criminal acts. I don't necessarily think that his punishment should exceed that of Burress or Stallworth, but I can certainly see the difference between the scenarios.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by valo403

I think the major difference you're glossing over between Vick and Burress/Stallworth is the thought that went into committing their respective crimes. While both Burress and Stallworth made incredibly stupid decisions that were extremely dangerous, and in Stallworth's case cost a man his life, they were not intentional acts. That doesn't mean they should go unpunished, but you and I both know that reckless acts are far different than intentional acts.

Vick was a systematic criminal, he not only participated in an illegal activity he essentially bank rolled and managed a criminal organization. While the consequences of his actions didn't involve a threat to human life, he demonstrated a conscious intent to commit repeated criminal acts. I don't necessarily think that his punishment should exceed that of Burress or Stallworth, but I can certainly see the difference between the scenarios.

Colin Cowherd was trying to make that exact point today on his show. I don't agree. Negligence that results in human death should be punished to a greater degree than it is. To me, you can argue Stallworth deserves a harsher penalty without caving on Vick's punishment or trying to make his crimes out to be worse than they really were.

Burress' is the least serious of the 3 IMO.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I wonder if the fact that the person who was killed was jaywalking had any bearing on the sentencing?

It's quite possible if Donte was completely sober he may have hit that guy. The guy jumped a 4 foot barrier on a freeway to cross the road! Would you expect a pedestrian on say Glenmore tr?

Not saying the sentence was correct but when I first saw the coverage of the accident on CNN my first though was "what the hell was the guy doing crossing that road"?
I'm fairly sure paying the family a couple of mill didn't hurt though.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Burress' is the least serious of the 3 IMO.

Disagree, NY is trying to clean up guns and they seem to being doing a fair job considering some US citys less than half the size have more gun related murders.

They would set a dangerous president for the courts by letting him walk.

[ResAlien]

Not that it makes it better, but Stallworth also got:

2 years house arrest
8 years probation
Lifetime license suspension

Seems like they switched what he might have got jail wise for house arrest and probation. If any of you CP lawyers see that let me know, I'm curious. Funny enough, we always joke at work that if we ever get in trouble we need "Leonard Little's Lawyer", because he makes Johnny Cochran look like Jackie Chiles.

With Marshall, I realise this will sound kind of dumb being the internets and all, but since he showed up I've said to buddies "Oh man, he could be really good, but his attitude, I don't know, he might end up as another TO." From word go his personality and actions have seemed to give off the me first attitude that seems to be so prevalent in WR's now. Just always seemed like a stats driven guy, who cares if the team wins as long as you get your touches, right? He was saying all the right things after the Cutler debacle, and now the truth comes out.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

I figure that Vick should get the lightest ban from Goddell out of the three pending suspensions (Burress, Vick, Stallworth) with Stallworth getting the most severe.

Originally Posted by T@T

Disagree, NY is trying to clean up guns and they seem to being doing a fair job considering some US citys less than half the size have more gun related murders.

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

To me, you can argue Stallworth deserves a harsher penalty without caving on Vick's punishment or trying to make his crimes out to be worse than they really were.

Burress' is the least serious of the 3 IMO.

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

What Stallworth (and Little) have done is about 100 times worse, in my opinion, than what Vick did.

Originally Posted by carom

I disagree with you. I think that Stallworth will get the lightest punishment because unlike the other two he cooperated with authorities...

Originally Posted by valo403

I think the major difference you're glossing over between Vick and Burress/Stallworth is the thought that went into committing their respective crimes.

Looks like Goddell has some very tough decisions to make. I thought it was a no brainer that Stallworth gets the most severe punishment, but apparently not.

Just to be clear, I wouldn't be totally opposed to having all three blackballed to send a message - the problem with that is that Goddell has set a precedent and anything similar or worse is going to have to carry an equal sentence.

[burn_baby_burn]

I think Goodell's hands are tied by the players union. If it was solely up to the league I'm sure all of these players would be banned. Look at Michael Phelps and his bong picture controversy. He was not protected by a union and he was banned without a training allowance for three months immediately. He had no choice and could not appeal.

[mykalberta]

WTF is with this Brandon Marshall stuff. Is he figuring his stats might tank with no Cutler so wants out now before contract time comes with decreased numbers?

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

WTF is with this Brandon Marshall stuff. Is he figuring his stats might tank with no Cutler so wants out now before contract time comes with decreased numbers?

I wouldn't be surprised if that's a big part of it.

[ResAlien]

Gleamed from what I've heard and read, mixed with a bit of my own opinion:

Marshall has realised a few things. He's realised that he will no longer have Cutler forcing every throw his was, inflating his numbers. He realised that if the CBA gets crapped, and there is an uncapped year, he will only be an RFA, and will miss out on a big payday. There is rampant speculation that his hip is far worse than anyone is letting on, hence his "I don't trust the Broncos medical staff" stance and his refusal to even see them. True, he is outplaying his current contract, and deserves to be paid like a top 20 receiver. They said today on the radio he's about the 50th guy down on the list for pay. Like Woody Paige said in his article the other day though, his trade value is going to be real low, seeing as how he is "one 911 call away from sitting for 8 games".

Basically he's seeing dollar signs flying out the window every direction he looks, and is trying to grab what he can.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by T@T

It's quite possible if Donte was completely sober he may have hit that guy. The guy jumped a 4 foot barrier on a freeway to cross the road! Would you expect a pedestrian on say Glenmore tr?

Not saying the sentence was correct but when I first saw the coverage of the accident on CNN my first though was "what the hell was the guy doing crossing that road"?
I'm fairly sure paying the family a couple of mill didn't hurt though.

If he wasn't drunk and wasn't speeding I'm sure he would not have any charges against him. That could be the reason for the lesser sentence. If he would have driven up on a side walk or ran a red light and killed a pedestrian the punishment would have been more severe.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Here's my guesses on suspensions:
Vick 4 games
Burress 7
Stallworth 10-12

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Sowa

Here's my guesses on suspensions:
Vick 4 games
Burress 7
Stallworth 10-12

Thanks,
Chris

Really? You think all three suspensions will be that short? I think the fact that Vick served a pretty long jail sentence will mitigate his suspension. As for Burress and Stallworth, I think they'll both be suspended at least a season (whether that's the 2009 or 2010 season will be interesting as Goddell wanted to wait to see what the courts would do before suspending).

As for the Union's protest of any extremely lengthy suspension - how much sway does the union really hold? It seems to me that Goddell has been able to wield the "Player Conduct Policy" almost without resistence - Tank Johnson, Henry, PacMan, etc...