Fortunately for wide receiver Plaxico Burress there is a silver lining in accepting a two-year plea deal from Manhattan’s district attorney. He will be able to sign and play for a team upon completion of his prison sentence for one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, said commissioner Roger Goodell.
His suspension from the league will run concurrent with his prison sentence. The one-time Super Bowl hero’s legal woes started last November when the 32-year-old accidently shot himself in the thigh inside the Latin Quarters nightclub.
“This is a very sad day because I think a very good man, who is a brilliant athlete, is unfortunately going to spend 20 months in prison,” said Burress’ lawyer Benjamin Brafman. “After an agonizing period of discussion, Plaxico decided that he wanted to put this behind him as soon as possible.”
While some people are more dismayed that Michael Vick has been given a second chance in the National Football League after actually serving time for his criminal transgressions, it was NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and not the law, who laid a heavy hand on Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver Donte Stallworth.
Yesterday Stallworth, who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter after mowing down 59-year-old Mario Reyes in Miami on March 14 while intoxicated, was suspended without pay for an entire season. The 28-year-old wide receiver was sentenced to 24-days in jail and reached an undisclosed financial settlement with Reyes’ family who was leaving his job when killed.
That was not enough for the commissioner who in a letter to Stallworth wrote, “Your conduct endangered yourself and others, leading to the death of an innocent man. The NFL and NFL players must live with the stain that you have placed on their reputations.”
Stallworth’s wallet will also take a hit this year as he is set to lose the remaining $745,000 left on the seven-year, $35 million contract he signed with the Browns in 2008.
After an 18-month prison stint for running a dog fighting ring, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was reinstated with conditions by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. If Vick can find a team, he will be able to participate in preseason practices, workouts and can play in the final two preseason games.
Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6. Until then, Vick would be prohibited from participating in actual games but available for all other team activities. No teams have showed any interest as of yet but the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Jets have already commented that would not sign the former pro-bowl quarterback.
In case you forgot, here’s a clip of what Mike Vick can do and why he will be picked up by another NFL team this year.
