As expected, the Browns terminated Stallworth’s contract Monday, the same day he was reinstated by the NFL after his season-long suspension without pay for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk.
Stallworth, who was under contract with the Browns through 2014, is now free to sign with any team.
The move ends the Browns’ unfortunate experience with Stallworth, who was signed by former General Manager Phil Savage to a seven-year, $35 million contract in 2008, with almost $10 million guaranteed.
An eight-year veteran, Stallworth was supposed to be the blockbuster offensive free agent to compliment Braylon Edwards, who had caught 16 touchdown passes in 2007. Instead, Stallworth gashed Edwards’ stocking foot with his cleat during training camp and Edwards never seemed to catch up from the setback that season.
What’s more, Stallworth suffered from a quad injury most of that lone season and started only seven games, catching 17 passes for 170 yards. Because he earned about $9,605,000 from the Browns in salary and bonuses, it works out to about $565,000 per catch. Stallworth will not receive the balance of the contract, including a $1 million bonus due March 18.
Because the salary cap will most likely be abolished next month, the Browns won’t take a cap hit from the move. In the unlikely event there is a cap, he’d only count for $435,000.
The Browns announced the termination in a one-sentence statement, with no comment from team officials. An hour later, Stallworth wrote on his twitter account of Browns GM Tom Heckert: “I LOVE TOM HECKERT!!!! He was my guy in Philly and he’s my guy now … always … nothing but love from me to him.”
Stallworth’s ordeal began March 14, when he struck and killed Florida pedestrian Mario Reyes while driving drunk. The accident came one day after Stallworth earned his second $4.5 million bonus from the Browns.
Stallworth was found to have a blood-alcohol level of .126 — well above Florida’s legal limit of .08. He was convicted of DUI manslaughter and served 24 days of his 30-day jail sentence. He also reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the Reyes family, believed to be the bulk of the $4.5 million bonus.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said during his Super Bowl press conference last week that he met with Stallworth about a month ago and that Stallworth was “in a better place than he was.” He added that the receiver recognized what he did wrong and has prepared himself to return to the NFL.
Via:Cleveland.com/Mary Kay Cabot
